Lake Naivasha & Environs
Driving northwest from Nairobi through Limuru and then continuing down the escarpment and proceeding north across the floor of the Rift Valley one reaches the first of the Rift Lakes. Kenya's seven Rift Valley lakes run from north to south on the map. All are the setting for magnificent bird-life. They are a necklace of glittering jewels along the floor of Africa where water is precious and sight of it is always rejuvenating. Lakes Naivasha, Elementeita and Nakuru, whose incredibly blue waters reflect sun-drenched mountains, may be seen in a day excursion from Nairobi, although there is accommodation at Lake Naivasha and at Nakuru.
The swirling inland winds which send 'dust devils' cavorting wildly across the plains make for ideal sailing on papyrus-fringed fresh water Lake Naivasha which is set at the foot of Mount Longonot 2,776 meters (9,111 ft), on the north side. The fishing is good for black bass and tilapia. It was on Lake Naivasha that East Africa's first air-passengers used to land in the flying boats of Imperial Airways.
Behind the lake at "Hell's Gate Gorge" where bat-eared foxes roam a moonlike landscape, there are Hot Springs and geysers. The nearby cliffs are the home of the Lammergeyer and Verreaux's Eagle. Both Mount Longonot and Hell's Gate Gorge are National parks to preserve their unique attractions.
Smallest of Kenya's five alkaline lakes in the Rift, Lake Elementeita sometimes has breeding colonies of greater flamingo. Kariandusi Prehistoric Site between the lake and the main Nairobi/Nakuru Road is well worth a visit.