The Great Rift Valley Attractions
A Lake Naivasha boat dock © wordcat57
Lake Naivasha
Recognised for its abundance of birdlife and beautiful scenery,
and with the nearby attractions of Elsamere and Hell's Gate
National Park, Lake Naivasha is a popular destination and a place
of pilgrimage for bird fanatics. The lake is a shimmering
waterscape of floating hyacinth surrounded by mountains, and the
skies above are pierced by the distinctive cries of the fish eagle.
Brightly coloured kingfishers dart into the waters from their
papyrus perches and ugly Marabou storks strut along the shoreline
like cantankerous sergeant majors. The trees are home to Colobus
monkeys and at night the earth shudders with the movement of
grazing hippos. The fertile soils and fresh water supply have made
this one of the major agricultural regions in Kenya and farmlands
surround the lake giving way to forests of acacia on the mountain
slopes. The southern shore of the lake is lined with hotels,
campsites and guesthouses, prettily situated either on the shore or
higher up on the slopes of the mountain with fantastic views over
the lake. Boat trips are a popular way to explore the lake and also
the private Crescent Island Game Sanctuary.
