Lake Naivasha – The perfect weekend getaway from Nairobi

Peaceful, tranquil and calm are three words you would never associate with Nairobi.

Known for being Kenya’s pulsating heart, the capital city is cosmopolitan, energetic and thriving. But it is also frequently gridlocked, noisy, humid and a bit dodgy in places, well actually a lot dodgy in places; I suppose it doesn’t get its nickname of Nairobbery for nothing.

If you find yourself in Nairobi for longer than a night and for whatever reason you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, then Lake Naivasha is the perfect getaway.

Located to the north-west of Nairobi, Lake Naivasha is only 90 kilometres away. But saying that, anyone who has experienced the traffic-clogged capital will know that you never measure journeys in distance, but in time that it takes to get from A to B. The journey between Nairobi and Naivasha can take anytime between 90 minutes to 3 or even 4 hours.

Whether the drive is a long or a short one, it is most definitely a scenic one, as there are spectacular views across the Great Rift Valley. Although be warned if you are the driver, make sure your eyes are firmly on the road, as driving in rural Kenya can be just as much of a white knuckle ride as driving in Nairobi.

View of the Great Rift Valley from the B3 between Nairobi and Naivasha

The word Naivasha name comes from the Masai word Nai’posha, which means rough water, as sometimes there are sudden storms here. But on our weekend getaway, we were very lucky with weather, traffic and pretty much everything.

We’ve been living in Nairobi for about six months now, so a break at this serene location was much needed. We stayed at Fisherman’s Camp, which is situated on the south side of Lake Naivasha, and we camped right next to the shore.

In addition to camping we all did something that we love; Lottie and Leon hired bikes (Frida was on another school trip), I watched an amazing sunrise and my husband built a campfire.

After spending some time in Nairobi, Lake Naivasha is like a breath of fresh air. It is an oasis of peacefulness, tranquillity and calmness.

Sunrise at Lake Naivasha

Building a campfire

Some of the flora and fauna at Fisherman’s Camp

Hiring bikes, jumping off logs and Hanging out at the campsite