Great Rift Valley Lakes Hotels & Resorts

There’s plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to try near Lake Naivasha, from climbing volcanoes to cycling through geothermal landscapes. If you like to hike, then climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley is a must.

You’ll leave Loldia House at about 7am with a guide for the two-hour climb, which is slightly shorter on the way down. While it isn’t a difficult trek, you need to be aware of the altitude, which reaches 2,776 metres at the peak, and go slowly. At the summit of Mount Longonot, you can see right into the huge crater rim, which is filled with thick forest. 

Then, sit back with a picnic and take in views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, which is home to herds of buffalo and game, predators and lakes known for their huge flocks of flamingos. It’s a beautiful view and when guests return, they’re always excited to tell me about it. Loldia House also offers a popular day trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which is special for its geothermal activity, including geysers and bubbling sulphur pools formed by volcanic activity. You’ll get the chance to cycle through this unusual landscape with a naturalist guide, who’ll teach you about the geological features, including the obsidian caves which were formed when molten lava and water collided. Along the way, you’ll spot wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and sometimes even rare colobus monkeys.