After spending the first two weeks of April nursing a flu and on antibiotics, it was time to finally go outside. Mona Trails had a hiking trip to Naivasha and I took it. I couldn’t resist the chance to breathe, hike, see the lake, and if lucky, spot giraffes, zebras, and hippos from afar.
We left Nairobi at 6:30am and arrived at Crater Lake just after 9:30am. The drive was serene, with a stop at Rift Valley Viewpoint and scenic stretches past Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloiden. We didn’t pause at Naivasha on the way in, though it was tempting.
First Impressions of Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
Upon entry we were greeted by impalas and warthogs and it was here I realised just how different an impala looks from a gazelle. A short climb from the starting point opened up views of Crater Lake, Crater Lodge, Lake Oloiden, and Lake Naivasha all at once, plus a giraffe grazing on the hillside below.
Our hike ran from Crater Lodge down to the banks of Lake Naivasha, though the full circumference of Crater Lake is worth doing if you have the time.
What Makes Hiking Crater Lake a “Walking Safari”?
What made this a walking safari was the absence of a vehicle between us and the wildlife. We were on foot, moving at the pace of the landscape, watching herds of gazelles, impalas, zebras, and warthogs go about their day. Colobus monkeys appeared in the trees, and the banks of Lake Naivasha brought the birds out.
A guide is assigned at the start, so walking among the animals is safe — worth knowing upfront, because the proximity is closer than you’d expect.
The hike itself was accessible; the greenery provided good shade and the terrain wasn’t punishing. Pack 2L of water, snacks, sunscreen, a raincoat, and a change of clothes. We got rained on near the end, which felt like a relief after a hot day rather than a setback.
After two weeks indoors, two hours in that air was enough.
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