The famous gate to 'hell'

Among the animals abundant in the park are giraffes, elands, hartebeest, buffaloes and other small gazelles and antelopes which are common on the grassy plains. There are also small troops of klipspringer and rock hyrax, both living in rocky areas. The rare Chanler's mountain reedbuck is also present here. According to Nkaiseri, the park counts 103 species of birds and the volcanic cliffs are home and nesting places for birds, which are abundant at Lake Naivasha.

"The large white droppings on the rocks indicate nests of vultures and eagles and augur buzzard. Rare species like the hooded vultures have also been recorded," Nkaiseri said.

According to the latest tourism performance report released by the Kenya Tourism Board last year, Hell's Gate National Park was the fifth most popular park in the country in 2022 after receiving more than 150,000 annual visitors.

Before embarking on the journey to Hell's Gate National Park, it is important to note that the park can be reached by road from Nairobi or through a short flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Naivasha Airport where guests can then be transferred by road to the park.

The accommodation in Hell's Gate National Park is quite basic, with local tented options that may not suit all visitors. However, there are many wonderful lodges and hotels to fit any international traveler's budget located at the nearby Lake Naivasha.

Game drives in vehicles can be arranged and conducted in the park. However, with few predators in the park, visitors can access bicycles at the park's entrance which can be rented for about $5 per person, a fantastic way to explore the park.

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