Introduction
Naivasha means ‘Rippling Water' and the glittering waters of Lake Naivasha resemble a gem strung along the stunning necklace that is the Great Rift Valley. The approach from the top of the escarpment into the Great Rift Valley is perhaps one of the most stunning views in Kenya, with the stark volcanic outline of Mount Longonot standing sentinel behind the lake.
The fresh water Lake Naivasha is home to a huge diversity of bird life, including the fish eagle and hundreds of handsome pelicans. The Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary, sitting within the rim of an extinct volcanic crater and reached by boat, is home to waterbuck, gazelle and giraffe, and is a lovely spot for a walk. Walking is also fun in the nearby Hells Gate National Park, where herds of eland, impala, wildebeest and giraffe roam amid the tortured, convoluted volcanic landscape, as vultures and buzzards hover above the steam vents and dormant volcanoes.
For the complete experience, a tailor made tour around the region should take in Elsamere, the former home of Joy Adamson of Born Free fame, and now a museum. Another travel highlight is the Lake Naivasha Country Club. Now a hotel, this was once a key venue for the infamous, decadent, promiscuous, hedonistic, Happy Valley set immortalised in the film White Mischief.
