Hells Gate National Park – A Walk on the Wild Side
Named for the intense geothermal activity within its boundaries, the Hell’s Gate National Park is a remarkable quarter of the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric Parks in Africa. Hell’s Gate is an ideal venue for a day trip from Nairobi where, in addition to the bio-diversity that includes raptors, visitors can enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing and a natural spa.
Park size
At only 68 sq. km (25 sq. mi) Hell’s Gate is a compact park. But there’s much to see in the arresting geographic features packed into this dramatic place of grassland, cliffs and gorges. The park rises 1,900 meters or 6,200 feet above sea level.
Location
Hell’s Gate is 90 km or 55 miles northwest from the capital of Nairobi and just south of Lake Naivasha. It’s an easy day trip from Nairobi and close to several other national parks such as Naivasha and Lake Nakuru.