Everything about Hell’s Gate National Park is different.

You can take a guided walking safari here. In fact, it’s encouraged.

And where else can you do a bicycle safari, riding past grazing zebra, giraffe, impala, buffalo and baboon.

The opportunities for climbing are plentiful, accessible and not too challenging on the park’s volcanic spires.

And the land here is striking as well, greeting visitors with dramatic gorges, great towers, looming cliffs and steaming columns of geothermal clouds escaping from the rocks. Hell’s Gate indeed!

But the park is actually quite tranquil and safe, very suitable for hiking, biking and family exploration.

Though there are populations of the larger hunters like lion, leopard and cheetah, their numbers are small and sightings rare, so you can walk or ride in peace, enjoying closeup views of eland, hartebeest, gazelle, antelope and over 130 species of birds.

The park is also a sanctuary for the rare bearded or lammergeyer vulture and Verreaux’s eagle. Plus, there are opportunities here to view these raptors up close.

Named for a great gash in its sheer red cliffs and its steamy geothermal billows, Hell’s Gate features three geothermal stations, the first in Africa. Lying beneath Hell’s Gate, the plants generate power from the constant energy flowing off the hot springs and geysers.

With its three campsites, camping is safe and encouraged as is bicycling and even motorcycling. There are also plenty of opportunities for climbers along the sandstone gorges and volcanic towers.

And being just a short drive from Nairobi, Hell’s Gate is an ideal day trip for hiking, game viewing, enjoying the hot springs and even visiting its health spa.

After a vigorous morning of hiking or biking you can take a lunch break here at a neighboring restaurant and enjoy the local Kenyan cuisine. And trips to nearby Crescent Island Preserve and Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru are easily arranged.