Hells Gate National Park — Attraction in Olkaria ward

I visited Hell's Gate National Park with my family and friends last weekend and I had a blast.

The park is a stunning natural attraction with scenic landscapes, wildlife, and volcanic features. It is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley.

It is located south of Lake Naivasha and approximately 90 kilometres from Nairobi.

We drove to the park and paid the entry fee, which was Ksh 250 for citizens, Ksh 350 for residents, and $26 for non-residents.

We also paid an extra fee for our car, which was Ksh 300 for citizens and residents, and $30 for non-residents³.

The park is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, so we had plenty of time to explore.

You can rent bicycles from the park gate and cycle around the park. It is a great way to see the wildlife and enjoy the fresh air.

We saw zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, baboons, and many birds. We also admired the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, and belching plumes of geothermal steam.

The park is powered by geothermal energy from the nearby Olkaria power plant, which makes it eco-friendly and sustainable⁴.

One of the highlights of the park is the Hell's Gate Gorge, which is lined with red cliffs and contains two volcanic plugs: Fischer's Tower and Central Tower.

Unfortunately, the gorge was closed for safety reasons when we visited, so we could not enter it.

We heard that there were hot springs and sulfuric water inside the gorge, which have therapeutic benefits for the skin, muscles, and joints. We hope to visit again when the gorge is open.

We had a wonderful time at Hell's Gate National Park.

It was a unique and refreshing experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for a getaway from the city. It is a place of adventure, beauty,...

Amazing nature with landscape that we have never seen before. The Gorge is definitely worth visiting, even though you have to get a guide for that: It can be dangerous, especially when it rains (it can be flooded very fast). If you want to do this, don't get a guide at the entrance but at Ranger's Point: They are the local people who can take you around and the money goes directly to them. We had a great time thanks to our lovely guide who gave us so much information about the park, animals, landscape and the way of living.

We saw Zebras, a Baby Zebra, Baboons, a lot of Antilopes - amazing to bike through the park.

The Hussle at the entrance: This is why the park doesn't get 5 Stars. We tried to set up ecitizen two days before but it didn't work because neither of us received a confirmation mail. So we had to buy the ticket "locally" from one of the official rangers at the entrance. BUT: We were charged some kind of unofficial fee, so we ended up paying 2500KES more than expected just for the entrance. Also they never stopped mentioning that we definitely need a guide (you only need one later if you want to go to the gorge) which was frustrating after we said we don't want any for about 10 times. The bikes were more expensive than it said on the internet and again we had to pay an "extra" fee directly to the ranger. We almost turned around because of the Hussle - we felt we were taken advantage of quite a bit which stuck to us for a while.

An improvement (in my oppinion) would be to set up a credit card reader at the beginning and to lay out a list of the prices so you know how much to pay and not having to negotiate prices. At a market, Bus or whereever - no problem with that, but at an official entry to an official national park:...

Here’s a review for Hell’s Gate National Park:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"My visit to Hell’s Gate National Park was nothing short of thrilling! Known for its dramatic landscapes and outdoor adventure opportunities, this park offers an experience unlike any other. The towering cliffs, deep gorges, and geothermal features create an atmosphere that’s both rugged and awe-inspiring. Whether you’re into hiking, cycling, or just soaking in the stunning views, there’s something here for everyone.

What really stood out was the ability to explore the park on foot or by bike. It’s rare to visit a park where you can get so close to wildlife without needing to be in a vehicle. We cycled through the park, passing herds of zebras, giraffes, and gazelles along the way. The freedom to roam at your own pace while being surrounded by such incredible scenery made it feel like a real adventure.

The highlight for me was exploring the Ol Njorowa Gorge, where we walked through narrow passages, clambered over rocks, and marveled at the fascinating rock formations shaped by years of erosion. Our guide was knowledgeable and shared interesting stories about the area, including how it inspired scenes from The Lion King.

For those who love outdoor activities, Hell’s Gate is perfect. It’s not just about the scenery – it’s about the experience of actively engaging with nature. The park is also very accessible from Nairobi, making it ideal for a day trip. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or family, Hell’s Gate offers a unique blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty that you won’t find elsewhere. I highly...