The park lies south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, North West of Nairobi. Hell’s gate national park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the rift valley. It was established in 1984 and is known for its wide variety of wildlife and for its scenery. This also includes the Fischer’s tower and central Tower colums and Hell’s gate Gorge. The park is also home to three geothermal power stations at Olkaria. The park is equipped with three basic campsites and includes a Masai cultural centre, providing education about the Masai tribe’s culture and traditions.

The park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, and was once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that feds early humans in the rift valley. It received the name Hell’s gate by explorer’s fisher and Thomson in 1883. In the early 1900s, Mount Longonot erupted and ash can still be felt around Hell’s Gate. The complete Olkaria Geothermal Station, the first of its kind in Africa, was established in 1981 and generates geothermal power underneath Hell’s gate from the area’s hot springs and geysers. The park was established in 1984.

The Fischer’s Tower

The Hell’s gate National Park covers an area of 68.25 square kilometres, relatively small by African standards. The park is at 1,900m above sea level. It’s within Nakuru country, near Lake Naivasha and 90km from Nairobi. The park is located 14km after the turn off from the old Nairobi Naivasha highway, and has a warm and dry climate. Olkaria and Hobley’s two extinct volcanoes located in the park can be seen as well as the obsidian forms from the cool molten lava. In the Hell’s gate Gorge, lined with red cliffs that contain two volcanic plugs; Fischer’s Tower and the central tower. Off of the central tower is a smaller gorge that extends to the south, with a path that goes into the hot springs that have rocks hot enough to cause burns and the sulphuric water.

Wildlife species

There is a wide of wildlife in the park and some of these include; lions, leopards, and the cheetahs. The park is also home to lammergeryer vultures. There are over 103 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s eagles, augur buzzard, and swifts. There are also the Hyraxes, Buffalos, zebras, elands, gazelles, hyenas, and many more.

How to access the park

By road; the park is accessible via tarmac road from Nairobi via Naivasha town on the lake Road south at a junction 5km south of Naivasha.

By Air; you can use Naivasha air strip.