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Lake
Naivasha National Park
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See also;
Other Kenya National Parks |
Lake Naivasha is freshwater lake,
fringed by thick papyrus. The lake
is almost 13kms across, with an
average depth of five metres. Lake
area varies greatly according to
rainfall, with an average range
between 114 and 991 sq kms. At the
beginning of the 20th Century,
Naivasha completely dried up and
effectively disappeared. The
resulting open land was farmed,
until heavy rains a few years later
caused the lake to return to
existence, swallowing up the newly
established estates.
Afternoon wind and storms can cause
the Lake to become suddenly rough
and produce high waves. For this
reason, the local Maasai christened
the lake Nai’posha meaning ''rough
water'', which was later mis-spelt
by the British as Naivasha..
Much of the lake is surrounded by
forests of the yellow barked Acacia
Xanthophlea - the yellow fever tree.
These forests abound with bird life,
and Naivasha is known as a world
class birding destination.
Giraffes wander among the acacia,
Buffalo wallow in the swamps and
Colobus monkeys call from the
treetops while the Lakes large hippo
population sleep the day out in the
shallows.
The region surrounding the Lake is
well worth exploring. There are two
more smaller lakes nearby, Oloidien,
and Sonachi, a bright green crater
lake.
Hell’s Gate National Park lies
beside the lake. This Park was named
for its pair of massive red tinged
cliffs framing a geothermically
active interior of steam vents and
bubbling springs. The park is home
to a profusion of plains game and
birdlife. Walking is permitted,
making it ideal for hiking, biking,
and rock climbing.
Sunsets are come with the haunting
call of a Fish Eagle high over the
Lake bringing the day to a perfect
end....
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