Lake Naivasha, Kenya - our tips for a weekend on a budget

Cover Image for Lake Naivasha, Kenya - our tips for a weekend on a budget
Lisa & Pol
by Lisa & Pol
This post is linked to the following videoย :
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The coolest things to do in Nairobi + Lake Naivasha on a budget | Kenya vlog [2024]

Filmed on : november 2023

Filmed in : Nairobi, Kenya

NairobiThe Giraffe CentrePallet CafeKarura ForestKitengela Hot Glass StudioTraventure CafeLake NaivashaMount LongonotFisherman's Camp

Lake Naivasha weekend getaway, but make it budget friendly!

Lake Naivasha - some ideas on a budget
Lake Naivasha - some ideas on a budget

Say no more, we got you ๐Ÿ˜‰ Lake Naivasha is a perfect place to spend some time in nature, and it's just 2 hours away from Nairobi! We opted for matatu - local minibus - that costs 300ksh per person (Nairobi-Naivasha town) and another 100ksh for transportation to our accommodation on the Lake.

Make sure to take the Matatu on Accra Road in Nairobi, and pay 300 per person. It should drop you directly at the bus station of Naivasha. Other drivers might try to convince you that you can take theirs, but you might overpay and be left on the edge of the town (it happened to us ๐Ÿ˜” ).

Around the intersection of Accra road and River road, should be direct to Naivasha (-1.282501, 36.827329)

1. Fisherman's camp is a perfect budget friendly option! We stayed in their private Banda for 4000ksh per night, but they also offer camping for much cheaper.

2. Staying at Fisherman's will give you an opportunity to spot wild hippos feeding on the grass during your dinner, which was for us an unforgettable experience!

Dining with a view : hippos just outside the camp, Lake Naivasha
Dining with a view : hippos just outside the camp, Lake Naivasha

3. Except hippos, you can also count on being surrounded by many beautiful birds ๐Ÿฆ and monkeys ๐Ÿ’

Beautiful birds (and wildlife in general) at Lake Naivasha
Beautiful birds (and wildlife in general) at Lake Naivasha

4. We didn't regret renting a bike ( only 300ksh per hour or 800ksh per day) since after approximately 30 minutes of biking, we have spotted a whole family of giraffes ๐Ÿฆ’ just on the side of the road !

Pol on his bike, spotting a giraffe, in Lake Naivasha, Kenya
Pol on his bike, spotting a giraffe, in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

This is the exact location where we spotted them ! (-0.826494, 36.267808)

5. Hiking the dormant volcano - Mt. Longonot - rewarded us with beautiful views! ( the entrance to the park for non residents was 25โ‚ฌ, and took 5h in total)

6. On the last day, we rented kayaks at our camp for 500ksh and spent some time on the lake, safely avoiding the hippos ๐Ÿคญ

Lisa kayaking on Lake Naivasha
Lisa kayaking on Lake Naivasha

Lisa & Pol
Lisa & Pol
We're a Slovak-French couple in our twenties who just finished backpacking Africa from Cairo to Cape Town in 300 days. One of our goals is to inspire travellers to go explore this often forgotten continent. On this blog we're focusing on providing up to date info about prices and itineraries, especially geared towards backpackers on a budget. We also create content on Youtube and Insta if you prefer a more visual approach ๐Ÿ˜‰
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