Mt Longonot & Hell's Gate Overnight: Hike the Crater, Bike the Rift, Boat Lake Naivasha

Naivasha•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

2 days

Fitness Level

Suitable for travelers with moderate fitness: comfortable with steady uphill hiking and 2-hour cycling on mixed surfaces.

Overview

A two-day loop from Nairobi that pairs a strenuous hike up Mount Longonot with a bike tour through Hell’s Gate and a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. Expect crater rims, hippo-sketched shorelines, and gravel tracks through basalt gorges.

Mt Longonot & Hell's Gate Overnight: Hike the Crater, Bike the Rift, Boat Lake Naivasha

Bus Tour

Sightseeing Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

On the morning the minivan leaves Nairobi the city peels away and the Rift Valley unfurls like a raw-edged map. By mid-morning you’re parked at a viewpoint where the escarpment drops away and the valley floor looks mischievously close — the kind of view that dares you to come down and explore.

Adventure Photos

Mt Longonot & Hell's Gate Overnight: Hike the Crater, Bike the Rift, Boat Lake Naivasha photo 1

Adventure Tips

Start before heat builds

Begin the Longonot ascent early (pre-9am) to avoid midday sun and stronger winds on the rim.

Hydrate for the climb

Carry 2–3 liters of water and electrolyte snacks — water sources on the trail are unreliable.

Footwear matters

Wear ankle-supporting hiking boots for rocky gullies and good traction on loose scree.

Give wildlife space

On the lake and in Hell’s Gate keep distance from hippos and grazing animals; they move unpredictably.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Hippo
Giraffe

History

The Rift Valley is a young geological trench formed by tectonic movement; the slopes around Longonot have been traversed for generations by local Kikuyu and Maasai communities.

Conservation

Park fees support habitat protection and guide programs; stick to marked tracks and avoid feeding wildlife — lake levels and hippo populations are sensitive to disturbance.