📍 Location: Kongoni area, 38 km from Naivasha town, off Moi South Lake Road
⏱️ Ideal Duration: 2–3 hours (half-day or as add-on to Hell’s Gate 1-day tour)
🏞️ Best For: Walking safaris, birdwatching, nature photography, and scenic tranquility
🌍 Overview
Crater Lake Game Sanctuary — also known as the Crater Lake Tented Camp & Game Sanctuary — is one of Naivasha’s most beautiful and peaceful natural reserves. It sits within a collapsed volcanic crater, forming a small but vividly green alkaline lake surrounded by lush acacia forest, steep cliffs, and abundant wildlife.
Unlike the more open plains of Hell’s Gate National Park, Crater Lake offers an intimate, quiet walking safari experience, perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and birdwatchers looking to slow down after a morning of cycling and adventure.
The sanctuary is privately managed, well maintained, and famous for its stunning emerald-colored lake — created by high concentrations of algae and minerals that give the water its glowing hue.
🚗 Getting There
- Distance from Hell’s Gate: ~25 km (approx. 35–40 minutes by road)
- Distance from Naivasha town: ~38 km
- Route: Via Moi South Lake Road, past Oserian and Kongoni, following signs to Crater Lake Tented Camp.
- Access: The road is murram (gravel) but accessible by car or safari minivan in all seasons.
Visitors typically visit Hell’s Gate in the morning and proceed to Crater Lake in the afternoon before returning to Nairobi or staying overnight in Naivasha.
💰 Entry Fees (2025 Reference)
| Category | Adult | Child | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Resident | $25 | $15 | USD |
| Kenya Resident | 1,000 | 500 | KES |
| Kenya Citizen | 800 | 400 | KES |
- Payable in cash, card, or MPesa at the gate (Crater Lake Sanctuary is privately managed, not on eCitizen).
- Entry includes permission for a guided walk around the lake and game sanctuary.
🦓 Wildlife & Nature
Despite its small size (~10 sq. km), Crater Lake Sanctuary boasts an impressive diversity of wildlife and is fenced but open to free-ranging animals from the surrounding conservancies.
Common Sightings:
- Giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, and gazelles grazing along the crater rim.
- Buffaloes, warthogs, and waterbucks in the lower woodland.
- Over 150 bird species, including flamingos, kingfishers, pelicans, and African fish eagles.
Highlights:
- The lake often hosts flocks of flamingos, attracted by its high alkalinity.
- Night stays occasionally offer views of leopards and hyenas at the forest edge.
- The crater rim viewpoint provides spectacular panoramas over Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot, and the Rift Valley escarpment.
🥾 Activities at Crater Lake
🔸 1. Guided Walking Safari
- The main attraction — you can walk freely among wildlife in the sanctuary, accompanied by a trained guide.
- Trails loop around the crater rim and down to the lake shore.
- Duration: 1–2 hours at a relaxed pace.
- Ideal for birdwatching and close-up photography.
🔸 2. Birdwatching
- One of Naivasha’s best birding spots, home to more species per acre than almost anywhere in Kenya.
- Common species: Fish eagles, hoopoes, kingfishers, weavers, sunbirds, and flamingos.
- Early morning or late afternoon are best times.
🔸 3. Crater Rim Hike
- A short hike up the outer rim (15–20 minutes) offers stunning panoramic views of both Crater Lake and Lake Naivasha.
- Perfect photo opportunity, especially at sunset.
🔸 4. Sundowner & Picnic Spots
- Designated picnic sites with shaded viewpoints and benches.
- The Crater Lake Tented Camp Restaurant serves drinks, coffee, and meals overlooking the lake.
🔸 5. Boat Trip (Seasonal)
- Small guided boat rides are occasionally available when the lake level is high enough (ask at reception).
- Ideal for birdwatching and short nature photography excursions.
🏕️ Accommodation
The sanctuary is home to Crater Lake Tented Camp, one of Naivasha’s most atmospheric eco-lodges.
Accommodation Types:
- Luxury tents with private verandas overlooking the forest or lake.
- Budget cottages and family rooms available.
Facilities:
- Restaurant, bar, campfire area, walking trails, and guided night walks (on request).
- Electricity and Wi-Fi available at the lodge.
📸 Photography Highlights
Crater Lake is exceptionally photogenic due to its contrast of green water, black cliffs, and blue sky.
Best photo locations:
- The eastern crater rim for panoramic shots.
- The viewpoint above the camp for sunsets.
- The birdwatching deck by the restaurant.
⏰ Suggested Itinerary (Combined with Hell’s Gate)
6:00 AM: Depart Nairobi
8:30 AM: Arrive Hell’s Gate NP – begin biking safari
10:30 AM: Stop at Fischer’s Tower, continue to Gorge
11:00 AM: Optional 1-hour guided hike
12:30 PM: Exit park, lunch at Carnelley’s or Fisherman’s Camp
2:00 PM: Drive to Crater Lake Sanctuary (≈35 minutes)
2:45–4:30 PM: Guided walking safari and rim viewpoint visit
4:45 PM: Depart for Nairobi (arrive ~7:00 PM)
🧭 Practical Tips
- Wear comfortable walking shoes – some trails are steep and rocky.
- Bring binoculars and a camera for wildlife and landscape views.
- Carry water and a hat; the crater can get warm by midday.
- Avoid visiting late in the evening — the sanctuary closes by 6:00 PM.
- Entry is managed by Crater Lake Tented Camp, so you’ll check in at the camp reception.
🌋 Geology & History
Crater Lake lies within the Kongoni volcanic complex, formed by ancient eruptions linked to Mount Longonot’s activity.
Its emerald-green hue comes from high mineral and algal content — similar to Lake Nakuru but on a smaller scale.
Archaeological finds in nearby hills have revealed evidence of prehistoric human settlement, while the region has long been part of Maasai grazing lands.
🌱 Conservation & Sustainability
- Managed as a private conservancy, Crater Lake prioritizes low-impact tourism and reforestation.
- The sanctuary provides habitat corridors for wildlife moving between Hell’s Gate, Oserian, and Lake Naivasha.
- Guides and staff are from the local Kongoni community, ensuring economic benefit and cultural preservation.
Visitors directly support conservation through entry fees that fund anti-poaching patrols and community outreach.
📞 Contact & Visitor Info
| Entity | Contact Info |
|---|---|
| Crater Lake Game Sanctuary / Tented Camp | +254722203804 |
| info@craterlake.co.ke | |
| Website | https://www.craterlake.co.ke/ |
| Location | Kongoni area, Naivasha (GPS: 0.8776°S, 36.2567°E) |
| Tour Packages | bookings@hellsgatepark.org |
🌟 Why Include Crater Lake in Your 1-Day Naivasha Safari
- Offers a peaceful walking safari experience after the adrenaline of biking Hell’s Gate.
- Ideal add-on for birdwatchers and photographers.
- Provides an authentic eco-tourism setting and direct support to local conservation.
- A shorter, more private alternative to larger reserves — without the crowds.
- Complements the day’s scenic flow: Cycling (Hell’s Gate) → Boating (Naivasha) → Walking (Crater Lake).
✅ In Summary
Crater Lake Game Sanctuary is Naivasha’s best-kept secret — a tranquil volcanic paradise that offers a perfect contrast to Hell’s Gate’s rugged cliffs and Naivasha’s open waters.
With its emerald crater lake, free-roaming wildlife, and sweeping views over the Great Rift Valley, it’s the ultimate final stop on a 1-day Hell’s Gate + Naivasha safari, providing a serene finish to a day of adventure and natural beauty.