An elegant sufficiency of eland!
CatherineReichardt Says: One of our abiding memories of the Kenyan Rift Valley will be the abundance of eland - seen here in a group at Hell's Gate that probably numbered about 30 individuals.Eland are the largest antelope in Africa, and we are used to shy 'peek a boo' encounters in Southern African...
Visit the intriging obsidian caves
CatherineReichardt Says: One of the most intriguing attractions that Hell's Gate has to offer are its obsidian caves ... which, even if you're not a lapsed geologist such as myself, would surely pique your interest?So, what is obsidian? Well, in simple terms, it's a volcanic glass that is associated...
A very special outcrop of pumice ...
CatherineReichardt Says: OK, by now you probably know that I'm a lapsed geologist, but usually I try to keep my enthusiasm under control ... until I see outcrops like this!This is pumice ... yes, the stuff that you diligently buff away callouses and hard skin with. Pumice is probably best described...
What an unlikely place to find a vineyard!
CatherineReichardt Says: Of all the things that I expected to find in Kenya's Rift Valley, a vineyard was not one of them!Actually, to be strictly accurate, we didn't find a vineyard, but we did stumble across its produce ... at in a weaving workshop (Elementaita Weavers) of all places!We always try...
A national park that makes power for the nation!
CatherineReichardt Says: On first consideration, the prospect of having a power station within a national park would seem unlikely ... but then, as we discovered, Hell's Gate is a place with a talent for combining unexpected elements!The proliferation of hot springs along the Kenyan Rift Valley is...
Go rock climbing at Fischer's Tower!
CatherineReichardt Says: One of the attractions of Hell's Gate is that - unlike many of the other national parks, where game spotting is the main attraction - there are a whole range of outdoor pursuits that you can occupy yourself with ... including rock climbing.Fischer's Tower is located close to...
The looming presence of Central Tower
CatherineReichardt Says: Hell's Gate boasts two free standing pinnacles which are volcanic plugs - lava that solidified in the vent of an extinct volcano and which have withstood erosion better than the surrounding rock.Central Tower is the larger of the two plugs and dominates the skyline in the...
Admire Mount Logonot from a distance
CatherineReichardt Says: As you drop down into the Rift Valley from Nairobi, it's impossible to ignore Mount Logonot, probably the largest of the recent volcanic cones in the area. It is currently dormant, and its attractively symmetrical form is a useful point of reference on the landscape.It is...
The camp authorities arrange for viewing of the movie "Born Free" and also some other programmes about the camp and it founders , George and Joy Adamson.
A small inhouse Museum is also opened around or after dinner time for some late viewing by the guests. One has options to buy a few curious and handicrafts by the camp students and members.
Dinner is served at 7.30 pm and you would be escorted from one of the log houses where you have been put up, by one of the security guards. Similarly after dinner you wuld be escorted back.
The reason for such security is the presence of wild animals which includes Zebras, Hippos and sometimes Giraffes and Rhinos inside the camp.
But it feels wonderful to sit next to the lawn and view the open Lake while listen to sounds of the forest and its inhabitants which starts to grow on you. The ambience is more electrifying than a techno-pub.
At around 1.30 at night, i was able to see Zebras feeding on the grass and bushes inside the camp at a distance of about 6 feet from our door. It was a great experience.
Written Nov 21, 2011
The risk of flash floods in the gorge is very real
CatherineReichardt Says: (work in progress)A visit to the Ol-Njorowa gorge is a highlight of any visit to Hell's Gate National Park, but be aware that you need to exercise caution if and when you decide to hike there, particularly in the rainy season.Because it's such a confined space, the gorge is...
Give this Jerusalem a wide berth!
CatherineReichardt Says: Wherever you go in the southern Rift Valley - from livestock corrals in the middle of nowhere to large commercial farms - the chances are that you'll come across fences made of this intimidatingly spikey shrub, known locally as 'Jerusalem'.It is the ideal sustainable fencing...
Litter and inept tour guides at Ol-Njorowa Gorge
CatherineReichardt Says: It is not quite clear whether it is compulsory or not to take a guide if you intend to hike Ol-Njorowa Gorge - the signage is ambiguous, and there is certainly considerable pressure exerted by the park staff to do so. As the path is not always clear, I would veer on the side...
Make sure you wear sensible shoes!
CatherineReichardt Says: One of the highlights of Hell's Gate National Park is hiking through the Ol-Njorowa Gorge (see my travel tip above).There is no viewpoint out over the gorge, so the only way to appreciate its beauty is to hike down into it. It's not very deep (its walls are probably only 30m...
Alien invasive plants on Lake Naivasha
CatherineReichardt Says: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water fern (Salvinia molesta) are both species that were introduced to Africa as ornamental water plants - however, over the years, they have washed down into streams, rivers and lakes and have caused catastrophic damage where they...
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