Lake Naivasha

• Area - 139 km²
• Altitude - 1,800m

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley dominated by the harsh volcanic crater of Mt Longonot to the east and the Eburu Hills to the west. The lake is located at a surprisingly high elevation of 6,000 feet, higher than Nairobi, which is strange given the tremendous drop you must navigate to get down on the Rift's side.

The 'Happy Valley set,' which today sweepingly embraces any white British person with a little bit of money who claimed their place in the sun, was popular in this part of the Rift in the first half of the twentieth century. In fairness, the antics of the few tainted the many. While there is many a juicy scandal, there were plenty of hard-working pioneers who laid the framework for the development of colonial East Africa.

Naivasha was home to an assortment of folk, some of whom have left impressive legacies through Elizabethan manors, sprawling ranch houses and beautiful areas of acacia woodland bordering the lake. Unfortunately, flower farms and vegetable farms have become the most visible characteristic of the area, if not the national economy; however, there are still some lovely ranches and lodges with a lot of character that offer warm hospitality and freedom to explore.

There's also Hell's Gate National Park, where the game isn't as abundant but walking is allowed, making for a pleasant diversion. It is slightly difficult to know where to place Naivasha from a visitor's point of view as it won't be for everyone, but there are certainly some highlights to be noted.