Hell's Gate bike tour and Lake Naivasha boat ride from Nairobi

The only East African park where you ride a bike among wildlife instead of staying in a vehicle.

A day tour from Nairobi combining a bicycle ride through Hell's Gate National Park with a motorboat crossing of Lake Naivasha. You cycle past giraffes, zebras, antelopes and gazelles in their natural habitat, walk the gorge, then spot hippos and bird species from the water. The tour includes hotel pickup at 7am, a professional guide in English, Spanish or French, and bicycle rental. The boat ride and park entry are optional add-ons you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hell's Gate National Park3h
2. Lake Naivasha2h

Hell's Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha

• Pick up from hotel at 7am
• Tour briefing and start journey
• Stop at viewpoint to see Rift Valley
• Drive to Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate
• Bike ride in Hell's Gate National Park
• Boat ride on Lake Naivasha

The experience

Your guide picks you up at 7am and drives through the Kikuyu highlands toward the Great Rift Valley. After an hour you stop for thirty minutes at a viewpoint to photograph the valley and Mount Longonot, a volcano with a crater visible from above. Then the drive descends into the rift for another hour, passing greenhouses of rose flowers before reaching Hell's Gate's entrance. This is where you leave the vehicle and get on a bike.

Cycling through the park, you ride past giraffes, zebras, antelopes and gazelles grazing on both sides of the road as you head toward the gorge. The park covers roughly 26 square miles and is the only one in East Africa where you can leave your safari vehicle and move freely on foot or by bike. The gorge itself is named for a gap in red-tinged cliffs carved by a prehistoric lake's flowing water. You walk along it before returning to the bike for the ride out.

The boat ride on Lake Naivasha is optional and happens after the cycling portion. A motorboat takes you across the freshwater lake where you see thousands of hippos and different bird species, including fish eagles. Lake Naivasha sits in the Great Rift Valley northwest of Nairobi and the boat ride gives you a different angle on the landscape you've already traveled through by road and bike.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 7am.
• professional guide fluent in English, Spanish or French.
• bicycle rental for the park ride.
• transportation throughout the day in a private vehicle.

Options for this experience

2 options

Transportation only.Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Transport only: entry fees are not covered. Lasts 10 hours, from pickup to drop-off. Naivasha: a visit to Hell's Gate and Lake Naivasha. Vehicle is a car or van, chosen according to group size. Includes pickup.

Full-day trip to Hell's Gate National Park, with an optional boat excursion on Lake Naivasha.Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (17 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CARALUXE TOURS AND SAFARIS LTD

Is this one for you?The early 7am start and the bike ride itself (cycling through wildlife habitat instead of watching from a vehicle) suit travelers who want to move through the landscape and don't mind an active morning. The optional boat ride means you can add Lake Naivasha or skip it depending on your energy and time.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I see while biking through Hell's Gate?

Giraffes, zebras, antelopes and gazelles graze on both sides of the road as you ride down toward the gorge area of the park.

Is the bike ride difficult or steep?

The terrain includes a descent into the rift valley and a ride to the gorge, but the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Electric bikes are available for an additional cost if you prefer.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup, transportation, a professional guide and bicycle rental are included. The motorboat ride on Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate park entry are optional and added at checkout.

How early does the day start?

Your guide picks you up from your hotel at 7am to begin the drive through the highlands toward the park.

What birds might I see on Lake Naivasha?

The lake is home to thousands of bird species, including fish eagles, which you can spot from the motorboat.

How long is the whole tour?

The day runs eight to ten hours from pickup to return, covering the drive, the bike ride through Hell's Gate and the optional boat ride on the lake.