The hype
Guests love the location and the thrill of the hippos, but consistently complain about tired bathrooms and average food.
Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp
$140-220/ noapte
Rezervă dacă You want the thrill of sleeping under canvas with hippos grazing outside your door, but don't want to pay Masai Mara prices.
De ce o iubesc oamenii
- Hippos literally graze on the lawn at night (electric fence protects you)
- Spacious 'luxury' tents with wooden floors and balconies
- Prime location for boat rides to Crescent Island
Privire rapidă: It's 'adventure lite'—the canvas walls let in the magic of the wild, but also the noise of the neighboring public beach and the chill of the night.
Evaluat de @VeronikaVolchok6785021: I honestly couldn't believe my eyes when I walked out onto the terrace. Seeing giraffes and zebras grazing just a few feet away while the sun came up was the most magical way to start the day. It felt like living in a movie.
Oaspeții care au stat aici au spus
Reality check
The 'luxury' tag is a stretch—think of it as comfortable glamping with worn-around-the-edges amenities.
- You are a family wanting a safe 'safari' experience
- You plan to spend most of your day exploring Hell's Gate or Crescent Island
- You enjoy the sound of nature (and hippos) at night
Curățenie și Întreținere
6.5
- Housekeeping: Hit or miss. Daily service is provided, but attention to detail (dust in corners, cobwebs) is often lacking.
- Bathroom hygiene: The weakest link. Complaints of 'ice room' temperatures, low water pressure, and tired grout/fixtures.
- Maintenance: Showing its age. Zippers on tents can be sticky, and wood floors are worn.
- Linens & towels: Adequate but not luxurious. Towels can be a bit scratchy and graying.
- Odors & scents: Generally fresh air, but occasional whiff of lake swampiness or mustiness in older tents.
Sleepability™
5.5MODERAT
0-4ZGOMOTOS
4-7.5MODERAT
7.5-10LINIȘTIT
- Hippos grazing/fighting at night
- Loud music from neighboring Karagita Public Beach (weekends)
- Thin canvas walls offer zero sound insulation
Înainte să rezervi
Bine de știut
- The pool is unheated and often freezing—refreshing in Jan/Feb, brutal in July.
- Boat rides are charged PER BOAT (approx $20-$50), not per person—don't let 'guides' tell you otherwise.
- WiFi is spotty in tents; expect to go to the lounge/bar for a stable signal.
Ce să împachezi
- High-quality earplugs (essential for weekends)
- Warm fleece/jacket (Naivasha nights get surprisingly cold)
- Mosquito repellent (you are on a lake, after all)
- Flashlight/Headlamp (paths are dimly lit)
Geniu pentru Cameră
Selecții de top
- Lake View Tents (higher numbers generally quieter)
- Tents furthest from the reception/public beach side for less noise
Camere de evitat
- Tents 2, 3, and 4 (closest to the noisy public beach/fence)
- Tents near the generator or kitchen path
Geniu pentru Cereri de Cameră – copiază și lipește
“I am a light sleeper and requesting a tent as far as possible from the Karagita Public Beach side (avoiding tents 2-4). A direct Lake View is preferred.”
Întrebări frecvente și sfaturi ascunse
Tot ceea ce vrei de fapt să știi înainte de a rezerva.
Is it safe with the hippos?
Yes, there is an electric fence separating the tents from the main hippo grazing area, but they come very close. Guards patrol at night to escort you.
Is the food good?
It's a standard buffet. Breakfast is decent (omelette station), but lunch/dinner get mixed reviews. Recent hygiene complaints suggest eating with caution.
Is there AC or heating in the tents?
No AC (not needed). No central heating, but staff place hot water bottles in your bed during turndown service.
Can I swim in the lake?
Absolutely not. The lake is full of hippos and has bilharzia risk. Use the pool.
How far is it from Hell's Gate?
Very close—about a 15-20 minute drive to the Elsa Gate entrance.
Do the tents have power outlets?
Yes, there are charging points, but power can fluctuate. Bring a surge protector if you have sensitive gear.
Sfaturi de Insider
- ✨
Walk to the jetty at sunrise for the best birdwatching and hippo sightings without the boat fee.
- ✨
Skip the hotel lunch and go to Ranch House Bistro nearby for better food and views.
- ✨
Ask for extra blankets immediately upon check-in; they run out on cold nights.
5 lucruri pe care trebuie să le știi înainte să pleci
💡The 'hot' water is often just 'tepid' due to solar heating struggles.
💡The canvas walls mean you hear your neighbors' conversations clearly.
💡Monkeys can and will enter your tent if you leave the zipper unlatched.
💡The floorboards in some tents are creaky enough to wake you up.
💡Rising lake levels have flooded some old pathways, changing the layout slightly.
Ghidul Local
Hartă
Vezi unde se află Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp și ce se găsește în apropiere.