Why Hells Gate National Park Provides A Totally Unique Safari

I loved Hells Gate National Park in Kenya for the simple reason that it provided me with a very different sort of safari experience.

And it can for you too!

Yes if like me, you want to get a bit closer to the amazing African wildlife than the opportunity sitting in a 4wd often provides and you want to the chance to stretch your legs a bit and feel the wind in your hair while listening to Elton John’s amazing Circle of Life soundtrack… this is the place to do it!

Yes what makes Hells Gate National Park in Kenya such a unique experience is the fact you can enjoy a walking and a cycling safari here, getting up close and personal with the animals and breathing in all that amazing scenery.

Here’s how…

---

Related Posts

• Your Unforgettable Africa Travel Itinerary
• The Best Camera for Your Safari
• Kenya Safari Holidays : How to Plan Your Trip

---

This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.

---

What Makes Hells Gate National Park Special?

The opportunity to watch African wildlife just metres away from you without the barrier of a vehicle or a pane of glass is exactly what make Hells Gate National Park so incredibly special.

If you want to hear the zebras munching or admire the graceful walk of giraffes completely immersed in the elements of nature, then this is the place!

But don’t worry, you won’t get eaten!

Due to the lack of major predators here such as lions and leopards, Hells Gate is safe for you to access without a vehicle and this makes it very unique indeed.

To be away from any motorised noise and pollution and to totally gain a sense of freedom in the breathtaking Kenyan landscape, is a rare experience and the primary reason why Hells Gate is so special.

 

 

Geothermal Landscape

So if it isn’t already clear, the sense of closeness you get to the animals in Hells Gate National Park is definitely one reason why you should visit this park.

Another is the spectacular landscape it provides.

A geothermal hotspot, filled with volcanic activity, the scenery here is breathtaking and quite unlike anything else I’ve seen in Africa.

In fact, it far more closely resembles 2 places I’ve visited in Australia – namely Karijini National Park and Windjana National Park – both situated in Western Australia and renowned for their incredible rock formations and gorges also created by tectonic activity.

The cliffs and gorges of Hells Gate are just as spectacular as these 2 Australian greats and here in Kenya, like Australia, you also have the opportunity to hike in them.

This means you can see the boiling hot spring water still being pumped naturally out of the ground here and to marvel at the greatness of the previous lava flows that shaped this dramatic park.

 

 

Why Hells Gate Ranks as One of My Top Safari Experiences

With the ability to get this close to some of Africa’s most amazing wildlife and the scenery on offer, it’s no surprise Hells Gate ranks as one of my top safari experiences in Africa.

It was actually beaten to first place however by another of Kenya’s amazing national parks. Find out which one here.

I also really loved the chance the Hells Gate gave me to clamber out of a 4wd in Africa and to get some exercise in!

All that driving on hot bumpy roads can take its toll and to be able to enjoy a day of cycling and hiking (aka a bit of physical exertion) felt really good after almost 2 months in an overland truck!

This park was also fantastically peaceful and the savannah grass looked stunning in the early morning light.

READ MORE: 14 Best Things to Do in Kenya

 

 

Cycling in Hells Gate

The cycling trip to Hells Gate is normally a half day affair.

I highly recommend starting early in the morning so that you miss the main heat of the day, which is key given the lack of shade you’ll encounter!

The bikes are mountain bikes, but not in the best shape … of course!

That said, they are generally good enough to get what you need out of them.

You can hire bikes easily at the main entrance to the park – Elsa’s Gate – and from there enjoy the 8.5km cycle downhill to the gorge via a couple of nice lookouts.

On the way, you also have every chance of spotting groups of zebra, giraffe, antelope and warthogs, among other creatures – another reason to go early in the morning as the wildlife is more active when it’s cooler.

We set off around 7am and were delighted to find the park to ourselves and no one else here yet – I guess the early bird does catch the worm!

Once at the gorge, you can then hike down into, along and back up this geothermal creation.

The climbing is mild, but fantastic and I really enjoyed it.

That said, there are some scrambles and rope climbs in parts, so it’s a good idea to bring a backpack containing your snacks and sunscreen to Hells Gate National Park as this will enable the use of your hands to climb.

After about a 1.5hr long walk through the gorge, via the natural hot springs, you climb back up the other side to pick up your bikes and cycle the 8.5km uphill to the park entrance.

All in all, it’s about a 5-hour round trip.

You have to take a guide of course and pay a national park entrance fee, so I think the trip amounted to around $50 USD.

I was initially sceptical about spending this much on a half day excursion, but looking back now, I’m so glad I did, as it provided a safari experience like no other.