Camping sites in Naivasha: facilities, fees and what to confirm
Compare camping sites in Naivasha, check Hell’s Gate camping and entry fees and know what to ask before booking a lakeside stay.
Camping sites in Naivasha include lakeside pitches at private camps and public sites inside Hell’s Gate National Park. Pick your setup first. Do you want to pitch your own tent, sleep in a furnished safari tent or take a room? That decision sets the questions to ask before you book.
Camping sites in Naivasha: choose your setup
Three Naivasha campsites at a glance
What each camp is set up for, drawn from the guide below. Confirm every detail with the camp or KWS before you pay.
| Camp Carnelley’s | Sanctuary Farm | Hell’s Gate campsites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Groups that mix tents with real beds, since dorms, single, double and twin rooms and bandas sit beside the campground. | Family camping with structure: lakeside pitches, a covered kitchen and furnished safari tents under one management. | Sleeping inside Hell’s Gate National Park at the public sites, Naiburta and Oldubai, rather than on the lake shore. |
| Lake access | Lakeside campground on the shore of Lake Naivasha. | Lakeside pitches along the shore. | Inside the park, not on the lake shore. |
| Facilities | Shared hot showers and toilets, plus rooms, dorms and bandas if someone in the group skips the tent. | Hot showers, flush toilets, fire bowls, BBQs and a shared covered kitchen with a dishwashing sink. Safari tents come with beds and bedding. | Public campsites run by KWS. Confirm current site facilities with KWS when you book. |
| Road access | Roads around the lake vary after rain. Ask the camp which access road suits your vehicle. | Confirm access details with the farm when you enquire. | Confirm gate access with KWS before you commit. |
Public camping inside Hell’s Gate is charged per person per night and park entry is separate. Private lakeshore camps quote their own prices, so get the total in writing.
Camp Carnelley’s
Carnelley’s runs a lakeside campground with shared hot showers and toilets. If someone in your group would rather not sleep in a tent, it also has dorm rooms, single, double and twin rooms plus bandas. Fill in the booking form to request a quotation. Submitting it does not confirm your stay.
Sanctuary Farm
Sanctuary Farm offers lakeside camping with hot showers, flush toilets, fire bowls and BBQs. A shared covered kitchen has a dishwashing sink. For a furnished setup, it advertises safari tents with beds and bedding already provided.
Do not assume the safari-tent price covers camping admission or that kitchen equipment is supplied. Confirm both with the farm when you enquire.
Hell’s Gate campsites
If you want to sleep inside the park, Naiburta and Oldubai are the public campsites. Endachata is a special campsite, so the public-camping fees below do not apply to it. Confirm availability with KWS and ask for a separate quote if you want Endachata.
Which Naivasha campsite fits your trip
Each camp answers a different need. Match your group to a setup, then verify the details with the camp before you pay.
- Choose Camp Carnelley’s if your group mixes tents and real beds. The campground sits on the lakeshore with rooms, dorms and bandas beside it. Ask the camp which access road suits your vehicle, because roads around the lake vary after rain.
- Choose Sanctuary Farm for family camping with structure. You get lakeside pitches, a covered kitchen and furnished safari tents under one management, with an electric fence between the camp and the hippos. Confirm what the safari-tent price covers before you book.
- Choose Hell’s Gate public campsites if you want to sleep inside the park rather than on the lake shore. You pay KWS camping and entry fees per person. Confirm availability, gate access and site facilities with KWS before you commit.
Whichever you pick, run the booking checklist below and get the total in writing.
Hell’s Gate camping and entry fees
These adult public-camping charges are per person per night. Park entry is separate, charged per person per day and valid for a single access of up to 24 hours.
- Citizen/EAC: KES 200 for public camping, KES 500 for park entry.
- Kenya resident: KES 300 for public camping, KES 675 for park entry.
- Non-resident: USD 20 for public camping, USD 50 for park entry.
- African citizen: USD 10 for public camping, USD 20 for park entry.
These are the published rates effective from October 2025, checked in October 2026. Reconfirm with KWS before you travel. They are not a full trip price and not a tariff for private lakeshore camps.
The park suits cycling, hiking and rock climbing. Plan that visit separately from your campsite booking with our Hell’s Gate planning guide. If you would rather not manage the gate logistics yourself, our guided Hell’s Gate day trip from Nairobi pairs the park with a Crescent Island walking safari.
What to confirm before booking
Send the camp your dates, group size and children’s ages. Ask for a written total that answers these questions:
- Is the quote for a pitch, a hired tent or furnished accommodation? Is it per person or per unit and for what period?
- Are mattresses and bedding supplied? What cooking equipment is available and are meals included?
- Does the total cover taxes, site fees and any park entry?
- Which transport and activities have you agreed to and which still need a separate booking or payment?
Pack a torch or headlamp. If you are bringing your own tent, check the tent, sleeping mat and bedding before you leave. Sort your food and drinking water before you arrive.
Wildlife around camp
Hippos leave the water to graze at night. Ask staff where to pitch and follow their instructions about moving around after dark. Keep away from the shoreline at night. Sanctuary Farm advertises an electric fence separating its campsite from hippos. Confirm current arrangements with staff rather than treating a fence as a guarantee of safety.
Wildlife can react dangerously when startled. Give animals space, keep to designated routes and do not feed them. Never leave a campfire unattended.
Plan the days around your camp
Use our Naivasha guide for broader area planning. Camping does not have to be a solo project either. Our guided 4-day Lake Naivasha camping adventure is a planned camping trip: camping, Hell’s Gate, Crescent Island, Mount Longonot and kayaking are booked into one itinerary. If the sanctuary itself is your main reason for coming, our Crescent Island 2-day adventure builds the trip around walking with wildlife, with horseback riding on Mount Longonot and biking in Hell’s Gate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to camp in Naivasha?
Public camping inside Hell’s Gate National Park costs KES 200 per citizen adult per night, with park entry charged separately. Private lakeshore camps set their own prices, so ask each camp for a written total.
Can you camp inside Hell’s Gate National Park?
Yes. Naiburta and Oldubai are the public campsites. Endachata is a special campsite with a separate quote from KWS.
Is park entry included in the camping fee?
No. Park entry is charged per person per day and camping is charged per person per night.
Do Naivasha campsites charge per person or per tent?
It varies by camp. Ask for the pricing basis and the period it covers when you request a quote.
Is it safe to camp beside Lake Naivasha?
Hippos graze on land at night. Pitch where staff direct you and follow their rules for moving around after dark.
Not sure which setup suits your group? Get in touch with your dates and what you need from camp. We will help you choose a plan that fits.
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