What is Crescent Island

Crescent Island is a private wildlife sanctuary on a flooded volcanic crater rim in Lake Naivasha. Because there are no predators on the island, visitors can walk freely among giraffes, zebras, waterbuck, wildebeest, and hippos in a uniquely intimate experience.

How long is the drive from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is approximately 90 kilometres from central Nairobi, about 1.5 hours by road via the Naivasha highway. The scenic drive descends through the Rift Valley escarpment with spectacular views.

Is Lake Naivasha safe for wildlife activities

Yes, Lake Naivasha and its surrounding parks are well-managed and safe. All boat rides and island walks are led by experienced guides, and activities are conducted safely with full attention to wildlife behavior.

When does the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage open

The orphanage is open to the public daily from 11am to noon for the baby elephant feeding and interaction hour. It is located within Nairobi National Park and is one of the most moving wildlife experiences in Kenya.

Can I add a Nairobi National Park game drive to this trip

Yes, a morning game drive in Nairobi National Park can be added as an optional extra. The park is just 7 kilometres from the city centre and is home to lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and giraffe against the dramatic Nairobi skyline backdrop.

2 Day Naivasha Quick Escape Hippos and Crater Hike

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

A Nairobi and Lake Naivasha quick escape is the perfect wildlife-packed short break for travellers passing through Kenya’s capital or based in Nairobi who want to experience the country’s extraordinary natural heritage without committing to a week-long safari. Just 90 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, Lake Naivasha sits at 1,890 metres elevation in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, its freshwater shores fringed with yellow fever trees and papyrus beds alive with hippos, African fish eagles, and over 100 recorded bird species. This two-day escape combines Nairobi’s most celebrated urban wildlife experiences, including a visit to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, with a guided boat ride on the lake, a walking safari on Crescent Island where you explore a flooded volcanic crater rim in the company of giraffes, zebras, and waterbuck roaming freely around you, and an optional cycling adventure in Hell’s Gate National Park’s dramatic gorge. This short escape is ideal for business travellers with a free day, transit passengers with a 24-hour Nairobi stopover, families seeking an accessible introduction to Kenyan wildlife, and couples looking for a romantic lakeside overnight away from the city. The combination of Nairobi’s intimate animal encounters, Lake Naivasha’s hippos and birdlife, and the extraordinary walking experience among free-roaming wildlife on Crescent Island delivers an authentic and memorable Kenya wildlife experience that punches far above its two-day duration.

Trip Highlights

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage baby elephant interactions in Nairobi
Nairobi Giraffe Centre hand-feeding of endangered Rothschild giraffes
Guided boat ride on Lake Naivasha among hippo pods and abundant birdlife
Walking safari on Crescent Island with free-roaming giraffes and zebras
Spectacular Rift Valley views on the drive between Nairobi and Naivasha
Optional cycling adventure in Hell's Gate National Park gorge
Peaceful lakeside overnight at a Naivasha lodge with hippos on the lawn
Over 100 bird species in a single day at Lake Naivasha

Day 01 :

Nairobi Wildlife Experiences & Drive to Lake Naivasha

Your quick escape begins in Nairobi with a morning visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, where the daily 11am feed draws a captivating cast of baby elephants ranging from tiny weeks-old arrivals to confident yearlings. The keepers share each animal's rescue story while the elephants charge through mud pools, steal each other's milk bottles, and seek comfort from their human carers in scenes of extraordinary tenderness. From the orphanage, your guide drives to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre where you ascend the circular raised platform to feed pellets from your palm to Rothschild giraffes at eye level, one of the world's most unusual and delightful wildlife encounters. After a midday lunch, you depart Nairobi northwest on the Naivasha highway, descending spectacularly into the Great Rift Valley before Lake Naivasha shimmers into view below the escarpment. Arriving at your lakeside lodge, you check in for a warm welcome before a late afternoon guided boat ride on the lake among hippo pods, cormorant colonies, and the papyrus beds where African fish eagles call from their waterside thrones. The evening is spent watching hippos graze on the lodge lawns as dinner is served on the open terrace above the water.

Day 02 :

Lake Naivasha Activities & Return to Nairobi

Your final morning at Lake Naivasha begins with a guided walking safari to Crescent Island, a wildlife sanctuary on a flooded volcanic crater in the lake reached by a short boat transfer. On Crescent Island you explore the crater rim on foot in the company of a guide and with no predators present, walking freely among herds of Maasai giraffe, Grant's zebra, waterbuck, impala, wildebeest, and the occasional hippo emerging from the lake margin. The walking safari experience delivers a perspective on African wildlife that vehicle-based game drives cannot replicate: the ground-level scale of a giraffe, the sound of zebra hooves on dry grass, and the ability to move at your own pace through the landscape creates an intimate connection with the animals rarely felt from inside a vehicle. After the walking safari and breakfast at the lodge, your guide drives you back to Nairobi via Hell's Gate National Park for an optional hour of cycling through the dramatic red gorge before completing the return to the city by early afternoon.