Crescent Island Lake Naivasha Kenya

Crescent Island Game Sanctuary is one of Kenya’s most unique and magical wildlife experiences a private island sanctuary set in the heart of Lake Naivasha, approximately 80 km from Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley.

What makes Crescent Island truly extraordinary is that it has no predators, allowing visitors to walk freely and up close among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, waterbuck, and a wealth of other wildlife in a way that is possible almost nowhere else in Kenya.

The island is the protruding lip of an ancient submerged volcano, rising from the waters of Lake Naivasha alongside the adjacent Lotus Island, home to the Naivasha Yacht Club, in the shadow of Mount Longonot.

The terrain is flat and easy to walk on, with miles of trails offering unobstructed 360-degree panoramic views stretching from Mount Longonot and Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment, Eburu, and the Aberdares, particularly breathtaking during the golden hour before sunset.

Crescent Island rose to international fame when its distinctive natural beauty was featured in the 1985 film Out of Africa. Its rich history also includes serving as a landing point for four-engine Flying Boats during the early days of air travel between England and South Africa in the 1940s. The foundations of the original terminal and customs shed can still be seen on the island today. The island has also appeared on Kenyan postage stamps from 1949 to 1952.

Location & Accessibility

Crescent Island is located on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha, approximately 80 km from Nairobi along the Moi South Lake Road — just a two-hour drive from the capital.

By Road

✓ Road Access: Also accessible by road via the Horse Riding Complex on the lake shore
✓ Boat Transfer: A short boat ride from the mainland across Lake Naivasha provides direct access to the island sanctuary
✓ From Nairobi: Drive via the Nakuru Highway (A104) toward Naivasha, then take Moi South Lake Road approximately 80 km, taking around 2 hours

By Air

✓ Nearest Airstrip: Naivasha Airstrip is the closest air access point
✓ Ground Transfer: From the airstrip, arrange road and boat transfer to the island
✓ From Nairobi: Charter flights available from Wilson Airport to Naivasha Airstrip, approximately 20 to 30 minutes by air

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is Kenya’s only freshwater Rift Valley lake, unlike the neighbouring soda lakes of Elementaita, Nakuru, and Bogoria. Sitting at 6,200 ft (1,890 m) above sea level, just 40 km south of the Equator, the lake has a circumference of approximately 80 km and reaches its greatest depth of around 18 metres within the Crescent.

✓ Name Origin: Derived from the Maasai name Nai’posha, meaning ‘rough water.’
✓ Fish: Home to Black Bass (introduced 1929), Tilapia (introduced 1956), and Carp, now the predominant species
✓ History: The lake has dried out twice since 1898; it is fed by the Malewa River and has seen significant development since the 1980s due to its ideal horticultural climate
✓ Aviation History: In the 1940s, four-engine Flying Boats landed on the lake during early air travel between England and South Africa; terminal foundations are still visible on Crescent Island today

Wildlife

With no predators present on the island, wildlife on Crescent Island lives and moves with remarkable ease and confidence — allowing for extraordinarily close encounters that are the sanctuary’s defining feature.

Mammals

✓ Antelopes: Impala, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, kongoni (Coke’s hartebeest), dik-dik, and steenbok
✓ Other Mammals: Buffalo and various smaller mammals are present in the surrounding lake environment
✓ Large Mammals: Masai giraffe, common zebra, blue wildebeest, eland, and waterbuck are the most commonly encountered species and are seen in large concentrations across the island
✓ Hippos: Large pods of hippos live in the lake surrounding the island; easily spotted from the shore throughout the day; they leave the water each evening to feed on the banks and doze under acacia trees

Birdlife

Crescent Island and the surrounding Lake Naivasha ecosystem support over 200 recorded bird species, making it one of the richest birdwatching destinations in the Rift Valley.

✓ Best Viewing: Early morning and late afternoon along the lake shore and island walking trails
✓ Waterbirds: Egyptian goose, various duck species, cormorants, and pelicans on and around the lake
✓ Forest & Grassland Birds: A wide variety of weavers, sunbirds, and open-country species throughout the island’s vegetation
✓ Lake & Water Birds: African fish eagle, osprey, lily-trotter (African jacana), black crake, pied kingfisher, yellow-billed stork, and a variety of herons

Activities

✓ Horseback Riding: Guided horse rides on and around the island
✓ Black Bass Fishing: Fishing on Lake Naivasha for the introduced Black Bass species
✓ Picnicking: Peaceful picnic spots on the island surrounded by freely roaming wildlife
✓ Bird Watching: Over 200 species on and around the island; guided bird walks available
✓ Biking: Cycling trails across the island’s flat terrain are easy and enjoyable for all fitness levels
✓ Sailing & Boating: Dinghy sailing on Lake Naivasha is available via the private boating club on the eastern end of the island
✓ Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha: Weave between pods of hippos on a boat ride across Lake Naivasha to reach the island; a memorable experience in itself
✓ Game Viewing: Strategic viewpoints around the island offer excellent close-range views of hippos wallowing in the lake and plains game grazing the island’s grasslands
✓ Guided Nature Walks: The sanctuary’s signature experience, walk freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and waterbuck with no predator risk; guided or self-paced at your own leisure
✓ Summit Walk: Hike to the island’s hilltop summit for panoramic 360-degree views of Mount Longonot, Hell’s Gate, the Mau Escarpment, Eburu, and the Aberdares, particularly spectacular at golden hour

Nearby Attractions

✓ Mount Longonot National Park: Hike the dramatic crater rim of the Rift Valley’s most striking volcano, clearly visible from the island
✓ Lake Nakuru National Park: Famous for its flamingo-fringed soda lake, one of Africa’s greatest bird spectacles, within easy driving distance
✓ Crater Lake Game Sanctuary: A small private sanctuary centred around a colour-shifting volcanic crater lake, another gem of the Naivasha region
✓ Hell’s Gate National Park: Walk or mountain bike alongside buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and eland in Kenya’s most uniquely accessible national park, directly in the Naivasha area
✓ Elsamere Conservation Centre: The former home of Joy Adamson of Born Free fame on the shores of Lake Naivasha; 200 bird species on the grounds; hippos graze the lawns at night

Climate & Best Time to Visit

✓ Hippo Activity: Hippos are visible in the lake throughout the day; they emerge onto the banks in the evening to feed
✓ Dry Seasons: January to February and June to September offer the most comfortable walking conditions and clearest views from the summit
✓ Golden Hour: Late afternoon — the best time to walk to the island summit for panoramic views as animals graze against the shimmering lake in the setting sun
✓ Rainy Seasons: March to May (long rains) and October to November (short rains) — the island remains lush and green; birdlife is particularly rich during the wet season
✓ Year-Round Destination: Crescent Island can be visited at any time of year. Its flat terrain, no-predator environment, and lake setting make it accessible and enjoyable in all seasons

* Bushbuck
* Spring Hare
* Wildebeest
* Cape Buffalo
* Masai Giraffe
* Kirks Dik Dik
* Hippopotamus
* Grants Gazelle
* Burchells Zebra
* Bat-Eared Foxes
* Vervet Monkeys
* Impala Antelopes
* Thompson Gazelle
* Defassa Waterbuck
* African Rock Python
* Silver Backed Jackal
* Bushbuck Antelopes
* White-tailed Mongoose

There is also a resident python called Priscilla (occasionally seen when sunbathing) and of course hundreds of Pelicans, Fish Eagles, and all the other birds. That’s over 1000 head of game on 400 acres – Crescent Island Game Sanctuary is so small and is also surrounded by water – it is a paradise with no effort! Animals cannot wander on and off to the mainland since the park is in the middle of the lake.

Crescent Island Game Sanctuary is safe because they protect the shores and if you decide to pay them a visit they gladly provide guides free of charge to show Guests around giving them information about the Island and the animals.

Crescent Island Sanctuary is located on Lake Naivasha in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley and is simply one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya, often called Naivasha’s best-kept secret. It is private, secure, and patrolled by Guides who can accompany anyone who wishes for a guided walk.

Surrounded by water, it is actually peninsular and accessible by boat from the East or West, as well as by road, taking under two hours on tarmac from Nairobi.

The shores of Crescent Island Game Sanctuary host abundant birdlife, especially large numbers of pelicans, cormorants, and fish eagles, with their haunting cries. There are more animals per acre than in any other Kenyan Park; hence, many film companies have come to the Island to film the herds of Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Zebra, and Gazelle.

We are not fenced to allow the wildlife on the mainland to come in, as they lose their habitat to development and the ever-increasing population. Hippos graze all over us at night, then sleep under the acacia or rest in the water by day. The giraffe that was born on the Island returns to give birth; sometimes you see three generations at a time.

Hyenas come to hunt at night but are not residents of the island; the many pythons that do live here can occasionally be seen with a kill. Groups of Buffalo come and go, but they are always monitored.

From the top of the hill, there is a 360-degree view across the Lake from Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and onto the Aberdares. Walking along the ridge in the golden hour before sunset whilst watching the animals grazing with the water shimmering beyond, is what Africa is all about…

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake, unlike Lakes Elementaita, Nakuru, and Bogoria, which are soda lakes. It lies at 6,200 feet above sea level, about 95 km north of Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley. Crescent Island and the adjacent Lotus Island, home of a Yacht Club, form the rim of an extinct volcano protruding out of this Lake in the shadow of Mount Longonot, also an extinct volcano, close to Hell’s Gate National Park.

The name Naivasha derives from the local Masai name Nai’posha, meaning “rough water”. The circumference of the Lake is about 80 km, and the deepest part is within the Crescent at roughly 18 meters.

It has dried out twice since 1898 and is fed by the Malewa River. It had one indigenous fish until 1929 when the Black Bass were introduced, followed by Tilapia in 1956, but Carp is now predominant.

In the 1940s, when air travel first came to Kenya en route from England to South Africa, the four-engine Flying-Boats landed on Lake Naivasha, and the foundations of the Terminal and Customs shed can still be seen today on Crescent Island.

It was also pictured on Kenyan postage stamps from 1949 to 1952. Naivasha has seen huge development since the 1980s, and the climate is ideal for horticulture.

Just forty km south of the Equator with a nearly all-year-round even temperature, the combination of dry heat during the day, the cool evenings of high altitude, plus close proximity to Nairobi on good roads and easy access to wildlife has made it a hugely attractive place to live, and many hotels have been built around the Lake.

The island accommodation includes Crescent Island Fish Eagle Cottage, Crescent Island Giraffe House, Owls Nest & Bee Hut, and Crescent Island Hippo House. In addition; accommodation is also available around Lake Naivasha. The sanctuary opens at 0900 hours and is usually closed at 1700 hours.

Guests are advised to be out of the park by 1730 hours as the encounter with hippos is not fun while on foot!

Other hotels in Naivasha include:

Luxury Hotels
* Chui Lodge
* Olerai House
* Kiangazi House

Lake Naivasha Mid-Range Hotels

* Malu
* Loldia
* La Belle Inn
* Lake Naivasha Resort
* Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
* Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
* Lake Naivasha Country Club
* Lake Naivasha Great Rift Valley Lodge
* Elsamere Lodge and Conservation Centre Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha Camps/Campsite & Bandas

* Crayfish Camp Naivasha
* Camp Carnelleys Naivasha
* Fishermans Camp Naivasha
* Lake Naivasha Sanctuary Farm

Notes:

* School Groups are allowed from Monday to Friday only

Guests to Crescent Island enjoy several activities that are both refreshing and relaxing; these activities include:-

* Bird watching
* Horseback riding
* Biking on the Island
* Guided Nature Walks
* Picnicking on the Island
* Game viewing: the Island has very strategic spots for viewing water animals like the Hippos in Lake Naivasha
* Walking among wild animals and enjoying them up close. This is because this island doesn’t have any predators that can attack either the animals or the humans, so walking on the Island very close to the animals is very common

Crescent Island Game Conservancy is a game-rich peninsula on Lake Naivasha in Kenya’s Rift Valley. It is a park where you walk with the animals. Crescent Island sanctuary is located in Lake Naivasha, about 80 km (50 miles) from Nairobi along the Moi South Lake Road.

It is located in the middle of the lake, with miles of walking trails and abundant wildlife, providing a 360-degree view from Mt. Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and onto the Aberdares. The view simply blows your mind away.

The Island is an animal and bird sanctuary on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha that is also home to Masai giraffe, zebra, dik diks, steenbok, impala, and gazelles.

Crescent Island was created in 1988 when the Lake Naivasha level dropped sufficiently to allow Crescent Island to become part of the mainland. On the eastern end of the island, sailing is possible at a private boating club. The terrain is flat, making it easy for walkers of all abilities to enjoy themselves.

There is a lot of easy-to-see game, e.g., giraffes, waterbucks, elands, wildebeests, zebras, and impalas. It is also a haven for birds, with over 200 species recorded. The lake has a lot of hippos, which you can easily spot from the island.

Among the residents are fish eagles, ospreys, lily-trotters, black crakes, and a variety of herons. Hippos also live in the lake. A number of mammals can be seen grazing in the surrounding lake environs, such as zebras, impalas, buffalo, giraffes, Kongonis, and, at night, hippos.

A short boat trip from the mainland out into Lake Naivasha gives you access to the unique Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also possible to access it by road via the “Horse Riding Complex”. A wide variety of wildlife, birdlife, and flora live quite freely out there, and as there are no predators to be found, quite happily as well.

Spend some time wandering around at your own pace and enjoy the peace and quiet broken only by the sounds of the Island’s wild inhabitants.

Only a two-hour drive from Nairobi, Lake Naivasha Crescent Island is a great place to escape Nairobi’s urban life and enjoy sports activities such as hiking, walking, biking, and/or game viewing, and is a popular weekend retreat for local communities.

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com