HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK, Hell’s Gate National Park is not as scary as its name suggests. It is a quiet reserve where you can drive, walk, or even ride a bike past antelope, buffalo, giraffes, and gazelles that are grazing. Hell’s Gate is the place to go to see wildlife and explore. It got its name from the big crack in the dramatic red cliffs, as well as its busy geothermal activity (steamy vents, geysers, and mineral springs).A guided walking tour takes you along the park’s cliffs, gorges, and rocky towers. You can safely walk by the eland, hartebeest, and antelope, and look up for vultures, eagles, and buzzards. Lions and leopards don’t live here very often.

On your trip, keep an eye out for ostriches, zebras, baboons, and gazelles. Want something even more exciting? At its three spots, the park lets people ride motorcycles and camp.

Get to work!

Riding a bike through the park might be the most fun way to see it. You can take a bike and ride it on the flat ground. Walk the “Buffalo Circuit” to get close to the giraffes and see the nearby Longonot volcano in all its majesty.

A popular thing to do in parks is climbing. You can do a lot of different things along the rough rock walls. If you want to climb a volcano or two, try Fisher’s or Central Tower. You’ll need a guide for these easy climbs.

Spas and springs

Both above and below ground, this park is a busy place. The park’s hot springs and geysers power these three underground geothermal power plants. They are the first of their kind in Africa.

Get some rest in the biggest natural spa on the continent while the weather is so hot. It’s nice to cool off in this warm spring water after a day of hiking, biking, or climbing.

Don’t Forget…

Nature walks are a great way to get close to animals that are grazing. Be careful of the hot afternoon sun. You can pay a guide to take you deeper into the gorges and other interesting natural features.

Visit Hell’s Gate Gorge. Disney got the idea for Pride Rock from this strange rock creation. You can see it in the movie “The Lion King.”

Biking—Either riding a bike or a motorcycle, biking is a great thing about the park. As you go farther, you’ll see more wildlife and landscapes.

At Ol Karia Spa, all that hot volcanic activity isn’t just for looks. Take a sip of that champagne by yourself. In the middle of the park’s steamy “hell,” this big natural spa is a bit of heaven.

Like its name suggests, a hide is a place that is out of sight where you can get a good look at animals. You’ll be close to eagles and other birds of prey in this case.