Lake Naivasha Boat Ride ReviewLake Naivasha Boat Ride Review – Is It Worth Going ?
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Lake Naivasha boat ride review to share my experience on this freshwater lake adventure in Kenya. If you’re wondering if Lake Naivasha is worth visiting, especially compared to other options like the Masai Mara or Amboseli, this blog post is exactly what you need.
I took the boat ride there as part of my 11-day safari trip, after visiting Lake Nukuru and on the way to Amboseli. Unlike the famous Masai Mara National Park, Lake Naivasha is famous for birds, hippos, and other herbivores (during the walking safari).
Yet, unlike Lake Nakuru, you wouldn’t find the famous flamingos there. However, due to its proximity to Nairobi, with a drive of only around 2 hours. The boat ride is usually an add-on activity for most of the safari tour options. For example, some operators would add that on day 3 during the 3-day 2-night Masai Mara safari.
In short, the Lake Naivasha boat ride is a good supplementary activity to the safari game drives in Kenya.
🐘🐃🦓🐆🦒🦏 Recommended African Safari Package
✅ 3 Days 2 Nights – Masai Mara Safari trip from Nairobi:
✅ 7 Days 6 Nights – Kenya Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi:
✅ 11 Days 10 Nights – Kenya & Tanzania Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi in Kenya; Serengeti & Ngorongoro in Tanzania with departure back to Nairobi:
✅ There are also other packages online (GetYourGuide / Viator) !
Lake Naivasha Standalone Tour
Lake Naivasha is only 2 hours drive from Nairobi. In that, there are multiple tours (usually in combinations with Lake Nakuru or Hell Gate National Park). The below is a one day standalone tour for boat ride at Lake Naivasha and walking safari on the Crescent Island.
Let’s Kick Off With The Beautiful Photos & Videos
There are over 80 species of birds, including African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and jacanas. In Lake Naivasha. I am not an expert on birds, but I would say they are very beautiful.
More Photos & Videos For The Walking Safari
During the walking safari, you will have close encounters with multiple herbivores, including zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, Thomson gazelles, and wildbeasts. Of course, you wouldn’t be feeding them or touching them. But the distance is a lot closer than what you have in other game drives.
Brief Introduction About Lake Naivasha & The Animals You Expect to See There
Lake Naivasha, nestled in Kenya’s Rift Valley, is a freshwater lake unlike the soda lakes nearby. It’s part of the Great Rift Valley system, as described by WWF.
On a typical visit, expect to see hippos—massive ones wallowing or yawning in pods, which can be thrilling, but keep your distance, as National Geographic warns they’re surprisingly aggressive. And yes, they tear multiple local fishermen there each year.
**However, none of the accidents is related to tourists so far. So make sure you DON’T JUMP into the lake.
Birdlife is the star here. During my boat ride, I spotted African fish eagles perched on acacia trees, great white pelicans gliding over the water, long-tailed cormorants diving for fish, pied kingfishers hovering mid-air, grey herons stalking the shores, little egrets wading, sacred ibises probing the mud, African spoonbills sweeping for food, and African jacanas walking on lily pads.
But again, there wouldn’t be any Big 5 there.
More About Lake Naivasha Boat Ride Review
The Lake Naivasha boat ride is a chill 2-3 hour experience on the lake, perfect for half a day. You start from spots like the Naivasha boat landing or private jetties near lodges.
The boat captain navigates a small motorboat seating 6-8 people. A highlight is the small feeding show: the captain tosses a fish into the water to lure African penguins, which swoop down dramatically with their big mouths.
After the boat portion (about 1-1.5 hours), you’re dropped off for a walking safari on either Crescent Island or a private sanctuary like Sanctuary Farm. I went to the farm for more variety.
The whole thing wraps up with a return boat trip. Lake Naivasha boat ride cost is around 40 USD per person, including the walking fee—cheaper (~ 25 USD) for doing the boat ride alone. Tips are optional, and I didn’t see anyone tipping in my last visit.
🐘🐃🦓🐆🦒🦏 Recommended African Safari Package
✅ 3 Days 2 Nights – Masai Mara Safari trip from Nairobi:
✅ 7 Days 6 Nights – Kenya Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi:
✅ 11 Days 10 Nights – Kenya & Tanzania Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi in Kenya; Serengeti & Ngorongoro in Tanzania with departure back to Nairobi:
✅ There are also other packages online (GetYourGuide / Viator) !
A Good Combination For A Day
Lake Naivasha is not only close to Nairobi. It is also very close to Lake Nakuru National Park. So if you have an extra day in Nairobi, you could consider having a day tour for both in one go.
Let’s Kick Off With The Beautiful Photos & Videos
There are over 80 species of birds, including African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and jacanas. In Lake Naivasha. I am not an expert on birds, but I would say they are very beautiful.
The Walking Safari
The walking safari is usually held either on the Crescent Island or a private sanctuary farm. During my last visit, it was the private sanctuary farm which has a bit more herbivores.
The sanctuary is a usual spot for camping. It’s a 400-acre family-owned spot on the lake shore, no predators, so safe for foot safaris. Animals are all herbivores, including but not limited to Thomson’s gazelles, wildbeasts, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, and giraffes.
During the walking safari, you will be guided by a local expert on the ecosystem on the farm or island. The highlight of the safari compared to other game drives is, of course, that you can get close to the animals for a photo. The whole safari lasts for around an hour, and you will be taken back to the boat captain for the remaining journey.
What you will see on the sanctuary farm and Crescent Island is basically the same, except the animals at the farm are more concentrated. Even if you choose the farm, you can ask the boat captain to pass by Crescent Island en route—it’s a quick detour for photos.
Is It Worth going to Lake Naivasha on Stand standalone basis
No, probably not worth the time for a first-timer to Kenya. Yes, the boat ride was good, and so was the walking safari. However, it is less impressive than the great Masai Mara, or Amboseli (where you will see the backdrop of Kilimanjaro), or even the Giraffe Center in Nairobi (where you can actually feed the giraffes). The birds are beautiful, but you got most of them in Lake Nakuru.
I took the boat ride because it is part of the wider 11-day safari trip. And it makes sense to spend 3 – 4 hours there, as we will be passing that from Lake Nakuru to Amboseli anyway. So despite being a nice boat ride, I would rather spend more time in Nairobi, other attractions which are accessible via Uber.
Of course, if you are joining a longer safari trip like me, or you have extra time. I would say, why not?
Things I Didn’t Know Before The Lake Naivasha Journey
- Boats have no shade—bring hats/sunscreen
- Sanctuary Farm has more animal variety than Crescent
- Hippos are dangerous and can kill, so don’t put your hand under water
- Birds are everywhere, but hard to capture with a professional camera due to the phone’s speed
- Tipping is optional, 5-10 USD is okay, but no one tipped in my last visit
A Good Passing By Point / Add-On Attractions
In short, the beauties of the Lake Naivasha boat ride are its proximity to Nairobi and being affordable (~40 USD per person as compared to over 100 USD entrance fee for other parks), with a decent experience.
If it is part of a wider safari tour, I would say, why not take it? If going alone on a standalone basis, I would rather explore a bit more for Nairobi City Center. So, unless you have loads of extra time, or else going there on a standalone basis is not recommended.
🐘🐃🦓🐆🦒🦏 Recommended African Safari Package
✅ 3 Days 2 Nights – Masai Mara Safari trip from Nairobi:
✅ 7 Days 6 Nights – Kenya Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi:
✅ 11 Days 10 Nights – Kenya & Tanzania Safari trip including Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli from Nairobi in Kenya; Serengeti & Ngorongoro in Tanzania with departure back to Nairobi:
✅ There are also other packages online (GetYourGuide / Viator) !
Lake Naivasha fits most of the safari itineraries
While Lake Naivasha boat ride may not be a good standalone attraction, it is a good supplementary items for most of the safari package from 3 days to over 10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Naivasha Boat Ride
What is the Lake Naivasha boat ride?
Around 25-40 USD per person for 1-2 hours, including a walking safari.
How far is the distance from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha?
About 90 km, 1.5-2 hours drive
Is Lake Naivasha worth visiting?
Nope, on a standalone basis. Yes for as an add-on for a wider trip.
What are the Lake Naivasha birds?
African fish eagles, pelicans, kingfishers, herons, etc.
Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru?
Naivasha’s cheaper, bird-focused; Nakuru has flamingos/rhinos.
