Overview

Hell’s Gate National Park is one of the protected areas in Kenya. It is a small park near the popular Lake Naivasha. Travelers enjoy mountain climbing, hiking, and rock climbing. Other common activities are wildlife viewing, watching birds, and camping. Here are five reasons you should visit Hell’s Gate National Park.

Geography

Compared to other parks in Africa, Hell’s Gate is quite small. It is about 68.25 square kilometers. It is 1,900 m above sea level. It is located in Nakuru County. This is about 90 kilometers from Nairobi.

The park is popular for its stunning scenery. It has two extinct volcanoes that can be seen. The volcanic landscape has volcanic plugs known as Central Tower and Fischer’s Tower. The park has hot springs with hot rocks that can cause burns. Inside the park is the Olkaria Geothermal Station. It generates power from the hot springs. There are several other geothermal stations in the park. This makes it a unique protected area in Kenya.

You can explore the park by hiking, cycling, and rock climbing. This is also one of the parks that allow camping.

Wildlife

Hell’s Gate National Park is not the best place to see wildlife. You may not spot most of the wild animals recorded in Kenya. Some of the animals you may see include buffaloes, leopards, elands, gazelles, zebras, and giraffes. Most tourists enjoy game drives in the park as well as bird watching. The park has recorded over 100 bird species. Swifts, cultures, and eagles are some of the common birds.

Climate

The park is usually warm and dry. During the dry season, temperatures can be about 30ºC. This is normally between June and October. During the wet season, temperatures can be as low as 20ºC. This is between November and May. But the park’s altitude is low making it cooler, especially at night.

Hell’s Gate Kenya entrance fee

For a budget safari, consider adding the park to your itinerary. The entrance fee is lower compared to other parks. Adults pay as low as USD 26 while kids pay USD 17.

Destinations near Hell’s Gate

The park is near other attractions. For instance, it is not far from Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. This means that you can visit this natural wonder and nearby attractions.

FAQs About Hell’s Gate National Park

• Where is Hell’s Gate National Park located?

It is located in Nakuru County, Kenya. It is about 100 km northwest of Nairobi. It is found between the Longonot volcanoes and Lake Naivasha. The park’s longitude is 36.31994° E. Its latitude is 0.88881° S. You can locate it with these coordinates.

• Why should I go to Hell’s Gate National Park?

The park allows guests to enjoy several activities. These include mountain climbing, hiking, and rock climbing. You can also enjoy wildlife viewing, watching birds, and camping.

• What is the best time to go to Hell’s Gate National Park?

You can visit the park across the year. But between March and April and November and December, safaris may be a challenge. Because of the rains, roads may be impassible. It may also be difficult to spot wildlife. But it is the best time to enjoy great flora. The dry season, that is, June to October may be the best time for most activities.

• What to take with you to Hell’s Gate National Park?

Carry sunglasses, sunscreen, a good camera, walking boots, and binoculars. Don’t forget to carry drinking water, and camping items if you plan to camp.

• How do I get to Hell’s Gate National Park?

The park is accessible via the Nairobi-Naivasha highway. So, you can get there by road. It is located about 14 kilometers from the highway. You can also choose air travel. There is an airstrip in Naivasha. Your tour operator will then pick you up with a safari vehicle for a memorable experience.