Many Kenyan towns line the A104 highway between Nairobi and Malaba; one of these happens to be Naivasha. The town centre is not visible from this major road, and one might easily write Naivasha off as a sleepy town or worse still, a ghost town. But a left turn right before the Delamere Junction Roundabout puts you on the Moi South Lake Road and immediately, Naivasha begins to unfurl itself. Feeder roads lead to different parts of the town where businesses and social amenities stand. Hotels and lodges are plentiful in Naivasha, proof that the town often hosts visitors.
While driving on the Moi South Lake Road, you are bound to catch a glimpse of the freshwater lake that is the town’s pride and joy. Originally referred to as Nai’posha, a Maasai word which means ‘rough water’, Lake Naivasha glitters invitingly in the distance. For those who succumb to the lake’s charms, a right exit 9 kilometres down this road will lead you right to this stunning gem. Lake Naivasha is fringed with papyrus and populated with hippos, flamingos, pelicans, and an assortment of fish. On its banks, buffaloes roam freely and giraffes graze the fever acacia trees.
Aside from the lake, another site that keeps visitors coming back to Naivasha is Hell’s Gate National Park. Established in 1984, the park got its name from the narrow gorge within that dips between two cliffs and is said to resemble an entrance into the abyss. Unlike many other parks in the country, Hell’s Gate can be explored on foot owing to the absence of predators. Better yet, a bike ride through this park would be a great way to take in the dramatic landscape. Rock climbing is another activity that happens in the park. Fischer’s Tower is the park’s most popular climbing site, and a trip to Hell’s Gate is not complete without hearing the folklore about this tower. As the story goes, this 25 metre-tall rock formation is a Maasai girl who turned into stone on her wedding day. Apparently, the girl defied tradition and looked back to her village while on her way to her husband’s home.
If you are one who cannot walk past flowers without inhaling their fragrant scent, it is likely that you are admiring a product of Naivasha. The first flower farm, Oserian, was set up in the town in 1982. Today, the town has about 70 such farms which together employ approximately 50,000 workers. Naivasha’s floriculture business has made Kenya the largest exporter of fresh-cut flowers in Africa, and fourth largest worldwide.
With so much to see and do, we’ve hardly scratched the surface of what this lakeside town has to offer.
