The 11 Best Crescent Island Walks

1.Crescent Island Game Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · 7 hours · from $70Our pick

Travel from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, pause at the Mahi Maiu escarpment, then take a 40-minute boat ride before walking among giraffes, zebras, gazelles, wildebeests, and warthogs on Crescent Island. An English-speaking guide leads the walk. Lunch is at your own expense, and some booking options charge boat and island entry fees separately.

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2.Day tour to Hells Gate, Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $160Top rated

Leave Nairobi at 7:00 am for Hell’s Gate, where you cycle among zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and antelopes with a local guide. After lunch, take a boat across Lake Naivasha to Crescent Island for a guided wildlife walk. Private transport, park fees, bicycles, guides, and boat costs are included.

“The driver Joash was amazing. He had a save driving style and a happy attitude which made the car rides very nice! All parts of the Tour were very interesting and the tourguides very good. I would especially recommended Crescent Island as we lernt alot there.”

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3.Day Tour to Crescent Island in Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $90

Travel by private vehicle from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, then explore Crescent Island Game Sanctuary on foot with a guide. You can expect giraffes, hippos, eagles, egrets, and ibises, plus wide views across the lake. Guides named Moses and Mwose have led recent departures. Allow 6 to 9 hours.

“It was an exceptional experience, from the boat tour to the marvellous walk through the park. Our guide was a really nice guide who told us so much about the park in a pleasant enjoyable and sometimes funny way 😊”

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4.Lake Naivasha day tour including the crescent island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $102

Leave Nairobi after breakfast for the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. You’ll stop at a scenic viewpoint, cross the lake by boat, and walk Crescent Island with a guide among giraffes, zebras, gazelles, birds, and nearby hippos. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and bottled water are included, but lunch, boat fees, and island admission cost extra.

“I had a great time on this day trip. Lake Naivasha is a very nice peaceful lake away from the city, and Crescent Island is FULL of beautiful wild animals that you can just walk right up to in some cases. I had a blast exploring the island all by mysRead more”

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5.2-Day Hell’s Gate, Crescent Island and Nakuru – Private Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $420

Set out from Nairobi in a private safari vehicle for Crescent Island, Hell’s Gate, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Nakuru. Walk near giraffes and zebras, cycle past wildlife, hike volcanic gorges, and search for rhinos, flamingos, hippos, and birds. Guides may include Joseph or Nathan, though assignments are not guaranteed.

“Our budget was not very high, so we choice this 2-day tour. But we were surprised by the service. The guide showed everything on time, and the hotel and food were also good. Hell's Gate and Crescent Island were very quiet and beautiful. Thanks to Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris.”

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6.Nairobi to Lake Naivasha Day Tour with Crescent Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 8 hours · from $180

Leave Nairobi at 7:00 AM for Lake Naivasha, where a one-hour boat ride leads to Crescent Island and its free-roaming zebras, giraffes, and impalas. After lunch at Elsamere, learn about Joy and George Adamson, watch a Born Free documentary, and visit the museum. English guiding, hotel pickup, and return transport are included.

“We had a wonderful day trip to lake naivasha with Edwin. We were able to get close to the animals to take photos and loved the boat ride! Would definitely recommend this as a day trip from Nairobi!”

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7.Crescent Island And Boat Ride Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4 reviews · 7 hours · from $150

Travel from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, cross by boat to Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, and walk near giraffes, zebras, impalas, gazelles, and waterbirds. Your English-speaking guide leads the wildlife walk and points out good photo spots. The private seven-hour trip includes transport, boat and island fees, bottled water, and hotel pickup, but not lunch.

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8.Hell’s Gate Bike Ride & Crescent Island Boat Ride Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $105

Ride a bicycle through Hell's Gate with guide Patrick, watching zebras, warthogs, impalas, and gazelles near Pride Rock and the volcanic gorges. Then cruise Lake Naivasha with boat captain Paul, look for fish eagles and pelicans, and walk Crescent Island. Hotel pickup, drop-off, water, Wi-Fi, and private touring are available.

“I'd happily recommend this tour to anyone interested in exploring Hell's Gate and Lake Naivasha. I had a private tour which meant we could be a lot more flexible than if it's in a big group. We were able to stop on Crescent Island and explore, too, which I highly recommend if you have the time. A private tour on your own means a lot of time chatting with your guide. Luckily Patrick is very easy to talk to. He's also very knowledgeable about the area and Kenya in general which made for great conversation throughout the day. He's also a very safe driver, and goes out of his way…”

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9.Crescent Island Day Tour From Nairobi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $190

Leave Nairobi early with a driver-guide such as Joseph or Julius, pause at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, then cross Lake Naivasha by speedboat to Crescent Island. Walk among giraffes, zebras, gazelles, buffalo, birds, and other wildlife with a local guide before returning to Nairobi the same day.

“Booked this tour as side activity (after big national parks) and was positively surprised. Island is very beautiful. You can see various mammals and birds from close distance, zebras and giraffes were the cutest. Whole scenery is very beautiful. Includes short boat ride as Read more”

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10.Day Trip To Crescent Island And Hells Gate National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $230

Start at 6 a.m. from Nairobi for a private, full-day outing to Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island, and Hell’s Gate National Park. You’ll walk near giraffes and gazelles, watch birds by the lake, and cycle past volcanic cliffs. Samuel and Zack are among the guides associated with this experience. Lunch and the Naivasha boat ride cost extra.

“The guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Highly recommend them! The tour itself was really amazing experience”

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11.Lake Naivasha & Crescent island day trip.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $165

Set out from Nairobi with Benson Kungu, also known as Ben, for a full day around Hell’s Gate, Lake Naivasha, and Crescent Island. You’ll see Mount Longonot and the Great Rift Valley, walk or cycle among herbivores, take a boat past hippos and birds, and finish with a guided island walk. Lunch, boat fees, bikes, and Crescent Island entry cost extra.

“What a wonderful trip! Benson was a great guide - polite, articulate and very knowledgeable. He was on time and well-prepared for our day-journey. I highly recommend him for your Lake Naivasha/Crescent Island safari. We saw some great birds!”

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