Excellent outdoor activities around Lake Naivasha

Our first destination in Kenya was Lake Naivasha, around where we spent two days with variable outdoor activities at exceptional surroundings. Just staying in a banda right by the lake was an experience. One evening we were ordered to leave the deck (pic1) because a hippo was getting alarmingly close and the following night monkeys were dancing on our thin roof.

On the first day we hiked around the crater rim of volcanic Mount Longonot, which had last time erupted in the 1860s. Views over the rift valley made it worth climbing up to the highest point of 2776m (pic2). To get added exercise after the pleasant 4-hour hike we ran down the mountain hill.

The next day we rented bikes from our campsite and cycled to Hell's Gate National Park. Unlike most other national parks hosting big animals, where only driving is permitted, this one encourages visitors to walk and cycle through it. Sure watching animals from a car is cool, but I much prefer really being among them (as long as they are not dangerous or too close). For instance, in order to get better photos of zebras (pic3) and giraffes we left our bikes to the side of the road and quietly walked on the savannah to expose to them.

However, the day's highlight was climbing to Fischer's Tower, a 25m high pilar rock (pic4). Local climbers provided us with ropes and quick-draws, and despite their squickiness we had to trust them. It was amazing to sit on top of the rock all on my own, belaying and enjoying the 360-view over the park.

We also did a guided hike through a canyon-like sandstone ravine with springs hot enough to boil eggs (pic5). Nearby locals actually use the hot springs for bathing, laundry and little cooking. Our guide taught us some basic Swahili words, which have since proven very useful, as Kenyans get delighted when you greet and thank them in their language. By the way, Ugandans are very friendly, but so are Kenyans, too!

From Naivasha we took a matatu to Nairobi. There we ate local Kenyan food, which has more variety and spices than Ugandan food, walked around the city centre (pic6), visited the national museum and a big shopping mall, and spent one evening climbing at a brand new indoor gym. To me Nairobi seems just like a big city with more modern buildings, western-style dressed people and shopping alternatives than Kampala. However, for living I prefer the more characteristic and lively Kampala, where I look forward to returning after our trip.