Zebra on one side, cliffs on the other and no engine noise. A practical guide to riding the valley floor.
Hell's Gate National Park sits above Naivasha, about two hours from Nairobi. It is the one national park in the country where you are allowed to cycle among the game, which makes it unlike anywhere else you can ride.
The ride itself
From Elsa Gate the track runs roughly 22km along the valley floor to the Ol Njorowa gorge. It is flat, it is dusty and it is genuinely easy riding. Zebra, warthog, buffalo and giraffe graze a short distance off the track and mostly ignore you.
Bikes
You can hire at the gate. The hire bikes are basic single-speeds that have done a lot of kilometres, so check the brakes before you pay. If you own a bike, bring it. We carry them on a rack.
The gorge
Leave the bikes at Central Tower and walk down. The gorge is narrow, hot and fed by springs. Take a guide from the gate for this section rather than wandering in alone. Flash flooding is a real risk in the rains.
Practical notes
Go early, the valley bakes by midday. Carry more water than you think. There is nothing to buy inside the park. Helmets are compulsory on our rides and should be compulsory on yours.
Want to walk it with us?
We run these routes most weekends. Pick a date and we will handle transport, entry fees and the guide.
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