Fresh-water Lake Naivasha, only 80km (50 miles) from Nairobi, is a bird-watcher’s paradise. It is also the most beautiful of Kenya’s Rift valley lakes with its fringing banks of feathery-headed papyrus, secluded lagoons and channels, blue water-lilies and the crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Water birds exist in great variety and abundance.

Fish Eagles and Ospreys are resident, herons and egrets are well represented, Lily-trotters, Purple Gallinules, Red-knobbed coots and black crakes are common. African Marsh Harriers and the three migrant harriers are often seen sailing just above the reed beds, hunting the little Hyperolius tree-frogs which form the bulk of their diet.

Some 13km (8 miles) south-east of lake Naivasha are the towering cliffs of the Hell’s Gate gorge, with their resident pair of lammergeyers, several Verreaux’s Eagles, colonies of Ruppell’s Vultures and other notable birds.

In addition to its birds the following mammals are also found at Naivasha and Hell’s Gate: