On top of the world at Green Crater Lake

Green Crater Lake, Kenya

If you want to enjoy some of the best views that Kenya has to offer, you must pay a visit to the Green Crater Lake near Naivasha. This awesome lake on the bottom of an old volcanic crater makes the perfect day trip from the hotels and camps on the shores of Lake Naivasha, but you can also stay at the cheap camp with expensive restaurant built right next to the crater lake. If you are an animal lover, such as me, then you’ve found your paradise! The lake is surrounded by a game sanctuary where you can see all sorts of wildlife, including colorful birds, monkeys, zebras, giraffes and even buffaloes! If you’re into hiking, you have arrived at the right place as well. The edge of the crater is suitable for a 2-hour hike with several incredible viewpoints that will make you feel like you’re standing on top of the world. The staff at the front desk us with a detailed map of the area, including the paths around the game sanctuary and the crater lake.

Green Crater Lake has a camp and floating restaurant

Getting there

It might be easier to reach the Green Crater Lake with your own car, but it certainly isn’t impossible for those that aren’t lucky enough to have their own wheels. To get there by yourself, you must first take a matatu to Oserian (we paid 50 shillings from Camp Carnelley’s). After reaching Oserian, negotiate with a piki piki driver the price for a round trip to the Green Crater Lake. We paid our driver 800 shillings for the round trip and waiting time. The lake and its camp are about 12 kilometers from Oserian.

Panoramic view from the top of the crater; the rain is coming!

If you don’t feel like paying 800 shillings for a piki piki, you can also walk from the town of Kongoni. To get to Kongoni you first have to go to Oserian (see above). Then ask one of the piki piki drivers to take you to Kongoni; this shouldn’t cost you more than 200 shillings. Once in Kongoni, follow the main road for about 4-5 kilometers (a 1 hour walk) until you reach the entrance of the Green Crater Lake camp. From the entrance you still need to walk 1 more kilometer until you reach the front desk and the paths leading straight to the crater rim. Take into account that when you’re finish hiking around the crater, you will still need to walk back to Kongoni and take a piki piki from there to Oserian and beyond.

Resting while hiking around the crater

Tips

* Crater Lake charges a fee of 25 USD per person. Honestly, it is a tad bit expensive but you can get your money’s worth by planning on staying the whole day there. Bring your own food for a picnic (the camp has an expensive “floating” restaurant on the lake), a large bottle of water, go on the 2-hour hike on the path around the crater rim, and walk by yourself on the paths that cover the game sanctuary.

* Remember to take a raincoat as the weather can easily change. When we were hiking around the crater rim, we saw that huge clouds were forming at the distance and soon enough it started raining!

* Watch out for the buffaloes! They can be very dangerous when they feel threatened. You won’t find them on the path that circles the crater lake, but you can stumble across one when walking within the game sanctuary.

* If you need a reliable piki piki driver to take you to the Green Crater Lake, we suggest you contact Kamao (mobile: 0707035449). He is very responsible and charges a reasonable price. He normally hangs out around Oserian and Kongoni.

Enjoying the views of Green Crater Lake

Written by Daniel