Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island: A Family Adventure on Foot and Water
- Amy
- Sep 26
- 10 min read
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We didn’t really know what was in store when we set out for Lake Naivasha. I had heard about the hippos, the birdlife, and the boat rides, but nothing quite prepared me for the experience of being out on the water, surrounded by the sounds of the wild, and later walking among giraffes and zebras on Crescent Island.
Table of Contents: Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island: A Family Adventure on Foot and Water Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island |
Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island
Lake Naivasha lies in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, about 90 km (2–3 hours) northwest of Nairobi. It’s the highest of the Rift Valley lakes, sitting at over 1,800 meters above sea level, and is famous for its rich birdlife, large hippo population, and peaceful boat rides that let you get close to nature. Right next to it is Crescent Island, a privately owned sanctuary where you can walk safely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and antelopes, no predators here, just open savannah and wildlife all around you.
It’s one of those places you have to include in your Kenya itinerary, whether you’re heading to Nakuru or the Maasai Mara, because it gives you something very different: the calm of a lake safari mixed with the thrill of walking alongside wild animals.
Boat Tour of Lake Naivasha
Our journey began with a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, where hippos bobbed lazily in the water and fish eagles swooped down for their catch. We first parked our jeep, and that’s where we met Moses, our new guide for Naivasha. A warm and friendly man, he explained what to do and what not to do, then handed out life vests in the right sizes for all of us. Once ready, we stepped into the boat anchored in the shallow part of the lake. The scene around us was breathtaking. The lake itself is vast, dotted with half-submerged acacia (yellow fever) trees that were drowned when the water levels rose.
Moses, was fantastic, he seemed to know every bird in the area by heart. He explained things in such a simple way, and it was clear he knew every bird around the lake. At each stop, he pointed out a new species and shared something interesting about it. We saw Sacred Ibis with their long curved bills searching in the shallows, Pied Wagtails constantly flicking their tails, Jacanas walking lightly on lily pads, Marabou Storks (part of Africa’s “Ugly Five”), Cattle Egrets following livestock, and Pink-Backed Pelicans with beaks so huge you wonder how they carry them.
💡 Did you know?The Hamerkop is the real nest-builder. This medium-sized brown waterbird constructs massive dome-shaped nests, over 1.5 meters wide and strong enough to support the weight of a grown human! |
We spotted a Kingfisher zipping over the water looking for fish, and Starlings shining in the sun with their blue-green feathers. By the shore, a Hamerkop stood near its giant nest, and a pair of Egyptian geese waddled along the grass with their little ones close behind.
The highlight came when Moses demonstrated how the African fish eagle hunts. With a fish placed near our boat, we watched in awe as the eagle soared toward us, swooping low before snatching its prize in one swift motion.
💡 Did you know?The African Fish Eagle has eyesight about six times sharper than humans and talons that grip ten times stronger. No wonder its hunting dives are so precise and dramatic to watch. 🦅 |
Cormorants standing on branches with its wings wide open were a very common sight, yet so majestic. One had just come out of the water after fishing and was letting the sun dry its feathers. It looked so calm, almost like it was enjoying the quiet morning by the lake as much as we were.
Lake Naivasha, covering about 139 sq. km and reaching depths of 30 meters, is immense. There are about 1,000 to 1,500 hippos in Lake Naivasha, usually seen in groups of 10 to 30. We observed that they stay in the water completely submerged just keeping only their heads above the water. They come out at night to graze. Moses skillfully balanced the thrill of taking us close enough to observe these lazy yet mightily aggressive animals, while keeping a safe distance.
In just an hour on the lake we saw all this wildlife, and also a few surprising sights, like Fisherman’s Camp and parts of Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp, now shut down or partly underwater because of the rising lake levels. Just behind were some lodges that still host tourists despite the flooding. Hippos roam freely here, but luckily, rhinos don’t get this far.
The best way to experience Lake Naivasha is on a boat, gliding past hippos, fish eagles, and a dazzling variety of birdlife. If you ask for Lake Naivasha on your safari, the boat tour is usually included in the package cost. If not, you can easily arrange one on the spot. Just be sure to agree on the price in advance, which is usually around USD 25–40 per boat (shared). |
Timings: Open daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
✨ If you want to pack both wildlife and a serene boat ride into one day, check out this Lake Nakuru & Naivasha full-day tour. It’s a great combo of flamingos, rhinos, and hippos, topped off with a gently gliding boat ride. You can book it via my link here
Walking Tour of Crescent Island
After an unforgettable hour spotting birds, hippos, and soaking up all this fascinating knowledge, we drifted toward the shore where several guides awaited. That’s when Susan, a warm and friendly guide, led us on a walk across Crescent Island. It’s a serene sanctuary where giraffes, zebras, and antelopes roam freely across the open plains. These animals were originally brought here in 1989 during the filming of Out of Africa, and they’ve called the island home ever since.
I really didn’t know what was in store next, but I felt already like this was the best moment of my trip. Walking with animals like the waterbucks, zebras, gnu, giraffes, impalas this close and also seeing a group of Cape buffalos a distance away, gave me goosebumps. I mean who walks this close to wildlife! In that one hour Susan helped us understand the differences in types of giraffe, the ones that are ruminants and non ruminants, sizes, shapes, characteristics, oh what a great experience!! We walked up close to a zebra, Arya getting a great shot up close with the striped beauty. A wildebeest stay put alone in a space which is so unlike the characteristic of gnus who always stay in a confusion of wildebeests.
💡 Did you know?On Crescent Island, wildebeests are usually seen in herds called a “confusion” of wildebeests. But if a male loses a fight, he may be driven out and forced to live alone until he regains strength or challenges again. |
We got a photograph up close, but not too close too and then proceeded to meet our tall friends, the Rothschild giraffes. On route we passed a few waterbucks, which are large antelopes with shaggy coats and a distinctive white ring around their rump. The crescent island is dotted with yellow acacia trees which is a great resting spot for waterbucks.
They kept their distance but never ran off, which meant we could watch them in their own calm rhythm. For a while, we even walked almost side by side with a small group, and it felt like we were quietly welcomed into their world, just for a moment.
💡 Did you know?The distinctive white ring on the rump of a Waterbuck looks like a target, which is why some guides jokingly call them 'toilet-seat antelopes'! |
After learning a great deal about waterbucks, we walked towards our friend. It was tall and mesmerizing but it was busy, it had its mouth full of leaves from the acacia trees. These were the Maasai giraffes, that roam freely in places like Crescent Island, while what we saw in the Giraffe Center in Nairobi are the Rothschild’s Giraffe, which are protected at the Giraffe Centre and are spotted in parks like Lake Nakuru. Arya and I walked behind two of them, while they just walked away from us. What an unrealistically remarkable experience walking alongside the wild in its best free form.
💡 Did you know?The Maasai giraffe has uneven, leaf-shaped spots and is the tallest type in Kenya. The Rothschild’s giraffe is rarer, with lighter patches, white legs that look like stockings, and extra little horns on its head. |
Susan reminded us of our time to head back and we said a silent goodbye to our beloved friends and walked back to the boat where Moses waited patiently. On our way back, we came across a cactus full of purplish-pink fruits. Their bright color stood out against the green around us. Our guide showed us these fruits are actually edible. She picked one carefully, broke it open with her palm (not easy with the tough skin and spines), and inside was a bright red pulp. The taste was sweet with a little tang, almost like a mix of watermelon and dragon fruit. It was such a simple but special moment, tasting cactus fruit right there in the wild.
💡 Did you know?This cactus is known as the prickly pear. Its fruit is enjoyed not only in Kenya but also in many parts of the world. People use it to make juice, jams, and even natural food colorings because of its deep red pulp. |
We inquired about toilets and Susan took us to the toilets in the camping ground close by. When we checked why she didn’t take us to the guide toilets, she said they were submerged because of flooding river water. Curiosity rose on the ownership of this place and where the proceeds went.
Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha has a bittersweet history. It was first taken over by a British settler in the early 1900s and later turned into a private wildlife sanctuary. Animals were even brought there for films like Out of Africa, but when lake levels rose, they became trapped on the island. To this day, Crescent Island is still privately owned, and the money from visitors goes to its owners rather than to Kenya’s public parks. It’s a beautiful place to walk among giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks, but its story is tied to colonial ownership and the uneasy reality of wildlife living on land that locals cannot truly call their own.
Opening times: Opens at 8:30 AM; last entry at 4:30 PM; sanctuary closes by 5:45 PM.
Cost (entry fees for day visitors): Adult: ~ USD 33 ; Child: ~ USD 16
Crescent Island is one of the few places in Kenya where you can walk freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and antelopes without the worry of predators. With a local guide, the walk becomes even more engaging as they point out animal behavior and birdlife along the way. The circuit is about 3–4 km and usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace, with plenty of stops to watch the wildlife. Flat and open, it’s an easy walk suitable for most visitors, and many combine it with a Lake Naivasha boat ride for the perfect half-day adventure. |
✨ If you’re planning your Kenya trip, don’t miss Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island — the perfect mix of a peaceful boat ride and walking safari among giraffes and zebras. You can book the tour easily through my GetYourGuide link here
Best Time to Visit
We visited in mid-August and the weather was just perfect. Clear skies, a crisp 15–18 degrees, and no rain to worry about. August falls in the dry season, which is the best time for a Lake Naivasha boat ride and a Crescent Island walk. The dry months (June to October, and again January to February) make the experience more enjoyable since the trails are firm and animals are easier to spot around the lake. The wet months (March to May and November) can also be beautiful, with lush greenery and dramatic skies, but expect muddier paths and a bit more effort while walking.
How to Get There
Lake Naivasha is about 2–3 hours by road from Nairobi, depending on traffic when leaving the city. For us, it was a convenient stopover on the way to Lake Nakuru National Park. Morning Star Safaris, the company we had booked our Kenya trip with, arranged this Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island tour, which made it completely hassle-free. You can also self-drive if you’re comfortable, but in that case you’ll need to handle payments and bookings directly at the lake and island. Having a safari company organize it for you just makes the whole process smoother and stress-free.
Practical Tips
Safety first: Life jackets were given to both adults and kids before we got on the boat. We always kept a safe distance from the hippos. They may look lazy, but they’re some of the most dangerous animals in Africa, territorial, fast, and aggressive if disturbed.
💡 Fun fact: Hippos don’t actually swim. They walk or push off the bottom in water that’s shallow enough for them, surfacing every few minutes to breathe. |
For the Crescent Island walk, you don’t need any special gear. It’s an easy, flat walk across open plains dotted with acacia trees, so just wear comfortable walking shoes. Sun protection like a hat or sunscreen isn’t really necessary in cooler months like August, but if you’re visiting in the hotter season, it’s good to carry them. Kenya really is blessed with beautiful weather most of the year.
Costs Together
A Lake Naivasha boat ride usually costs around USD 25–40 per boat (shared). Crescent Island entry is about USD 33 per adult and USD 16 per child. So, for a family or small group, you’re looking at roughly USD 50–70 per person for the combined experience. Some safari companies include these costs in their package, but if you’re arranging it on your own, make sure to clarify prices in advance to avoid surprises.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island turned out to be one of the most unexpected highlights of our Kenya trip. f you have the time, make space in your itinerary for Naivasha. Adventure, peace, and connection with nature - you got it all!
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