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User Reviews of Hell’s Gate National Park (99 Reviews)

Hell’s Gate Safaris Kenya
Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-20 of 99 Reviews

Average User Rating

4.1616 / 5 4.2 /5
3.5319 / 5 4.6042 / 5 3.9070 / 5 3.3621 / 5

Rating Breakdown

5 star 41 / 10 41
4 star 37 / 10 37
3 star 18 / 10 18
2 star 2 / 10 2
1 star 1 / 10 1
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Male avatar icon Ray Philippines flag PH       Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Dec 31, 2018

Email Ray  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Ray and not that of SafariBookings.
1 / 5 1 /5
2 / 5 2 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

Unless you are into rock climbing, just something to see, no need to spend too long.

Female avatar icon Ffyonna Scott United Kingdom flag GB       Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Dec 2, 2018

Email Ffyonna Scott  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

5 / 5 5 /5
3 / 5 / 5 5 / 5 / 5

Not quite as exciting for Wildlife as other parks.

Female avatar icon Sharon Australia flag AU       Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Nov 27, 2018

Email Sharon  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 / 5

It met every expectation.

Female avatar icon Dalia Miklaseviciute Lithuania flag LT       Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Nov 21, 2018

Email Dalia Miklaseviciute  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 2 / 5

the only place where you can get out of the car while doing safari

Female avatar icon Luanne United States flag US       Visited: August 2018 Reviewed: Nov 1, 2018

Email Luanne  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Luanne and not that of SafariBookings.
3 / 5 3 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 3 / 5

We rented bikes to ride in, entrance fees for non-Kenyans are way too high! Bikes were not safe, however, sand on the road and no tread on the tires of the bikes. Hike in to the Devil's Bedroom was more than I was ready for, but beautiful once we got there.

Avatar icon Naomi Visited: May 2014 Reviewed: Apr 23, 2015

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

The best was the hike through the gouge - loved every minute of it and the guide a beautiful person who explained everything through the gouge and put up with all our joke, laughter and good time we had at this special place.

Male avatar icon Christopher Haslett Canada flag CA       Visited: November 2011 Reviewed: May 13, 2012

Email Christopher Haslett  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

5 / 5 5 /5
3 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 / 5
Hell's Gate is a small but stunningly beautiful property whose main attraction is the ability to walk or cycle in! The animals are limited to the hoofed species: gazelles, antelopes, zebras and a few scattered buffalo and giraffes. But the experience of tracking them on foot makes this park well worth a day visit. And it doesn't get any cheaper: you pay just US$25 for a 24-hour entry, and with no vehicle to rent, your only other expense is your food and drinks.

I spent another $15 for a camping permit, and enjoyed lovely views of the cliff-lined pastures as the sun set. You are supposed to carry in your own wood or charcoal, but I found a generous pile of dead wood that the park rangers had left behind for campfires. I was told a leopard sometimes relaxes on the rocky ledge above the campsite when the sun comes up; I woke up early to try and spot it but had no luck.

The narrow, winding gorge makes a good walk, though on weekends it will be crowded with
Read more Kenyans. It is dry most of the time, but floods dangerously when it rains. Tragically, seven people drowned in a flash flood there in April 2012. New warning measures are expected to be put in place to prevent such incidents in the future.

A bike rental for the day should cost 500 shillings, and you can rent one at the turnoff for Elsa Gate (the first park gate as you travel along South Lake Road). Pedestrians can get off the "matatu" public bus here and just walk in. The gate is supposed to be 2 km in from the road, but it is really only 1 km.
Avatar icon Stuart Visited: December 2004 Reviewed: Apr 30, 2012

Great place for walking or cycling safari

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

Hell's gate has good access, very close to Naivasha. I have cycled through the park and walked and camped there on several trips. The campsite is well situated overlooking the main (upper) gorge and is an easy walk from the gate. The lower gorge is also easily accessible on foot. On the walk and around the campsite you are likely to see zebra, giraffes, warthog, and perhaps buffalo. Because of the latter you should make sure you have plenty of time to get to the campsite before dark.

The best thing about Hell's Gate is the freedom is gives you - you can walk, drive or cycle, and although there are wild animals around, you do not need a guide. The scenery is spectacular and the lower gorge unmissable.

It is also possible to follow the park road around to the far (West) sector of the park, where the geothermal power stations are, and exit further up the Naivasha ring road. However, this part of the park is not as interesting as the main part and is quite developed with the works and the related buildings.

Male avatar icon Kinyanjui Hager Germany flag DE       Visited: January 2012 Reviewed: Apr 23, 2012

Email Kinyanjui Hager  |  35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5

Not a big park, but you can get close to the animals and you can walk free around. A walk to the gorge and to the hot springs should not be missed.

Male avatar icon michi_z Germany flag DE       Visited: November 2009 Reviewed: Apr 15, 2012

Email michi_z  |  35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
3 / 5 2 / 5 5 / 5 1 / 5

Hells Gate is a nice, small and very different National Park close to Lake Naivasha. The main attraction is, suprisingly, not the wildlife but the gorge. The landscape has been formed by giantic ancient streams of lava. A walk (climbing with a guide) though is an exciting advanture. It is the only Park in Kenya you can explore on a bicycle cause of the absence of large predetors (so they say).