Crescent Island, in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, is one of the country’s best-kept secrets and offers an unparalleled safari experience. It is surrounded by the serene waters of Lake Naivasha, making this privately owned sanctuary well known for its tranquillity, scenic beauty, and for allowing visitors to see wildlife up close on foot.
The difference between Crescent Island and other national parks is that you can mingle with animals while visiting because it is a safe place. The open savannah with acacia trees provides an amazing place where animals like giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and wildebeest can coexist without any danger from predators.
The island also resembles a crescent because of the gradual rise in water level over many years. The wide-open look of the island gives visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Naivasha, the volcanic hills that surround it in the distance and the dramatic Rift Valley escarpments in the background. Visitors will have no problem finding spots for photography, nature walks, and relaxing while exploring on their own.
Birds are in abundance; there are many types of fish-eating eagles, herons, pelicans and other species around the lakeside. The gentle sounds of the water and the birds make every visit very immersive and restorative.
In a rare safari, you can experience and explore the natural beauty of Africa up close and on foot.
A haven for animals that roam about without being prey to predators.
Engage in the activities that connect you to nature and help you get closer to nature.
The Dry Seasons (June – October & January – February): The dryness of the landscape during the dry season provides clear walking paths and great visibility; as well, wildlife tends to congregate in open plains, making it easier to find Giraffes, zebras, and antelopes in their natural habitats, as well as providing great weather for taking photographs or exploring outdoors.
During the wet seasons (March – May & November – December), Crescent Island transforms into a vibrant green paradise with incredibly colourful landscapes. There is great scenic beauty for walking and other outdoor activities. During this time period, many migratory birds will be present along the shores of Lake Naivasha, as the island will be quieter & more serene!
It is known for its vast grassy plains. Crescent Island has a very tranquil ecosystem. It is an ideal place to walk, as there are no predators, so visitors can enjoy a safe, relaxing visit while experiencing a diverse and rich variety of wildlife and birdlife.
You will see animals such as horses, zebras, regular cows (also called cattle), wildebeest (also called blue wildebeest), and other hoofed mammals, such as gazelles and antelopes. You will also have the opportunity to observe a variety of large bird species (such as fish eagles, pelicans and herons), along with other smaller mammals such as rabbits, squirrels and foxes that have found a thriving home there under their natural environment, without the threat of being eaten. The stunning views of Lake Naivasha, the tranquillity, and the intimate proximity to wildlife make Crescent Island a good alternative to traditional safari locations.
Location Kenya
Crescent Island lies within Lake Naivasha in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Nairobi is roughly 2 hours away by road to the northwest.
The average temperature throughout Crescent Island each year is usually fairly mild and comfortable. Days will typically be warm with the breezes blowing off the water, offering a comfortable environment for any outdoor activities you choose to undertake.
While relatively small, Crescent Island offers a wealth of picturesque scenery. Crescent Island's small size makes it ideal for walking safaris and for exploring at a leisurely pace.
Walking safaris amongst the free-roaming animals that call Crescent Island home is one of the best attractions you will enjoy when visiting Crescent Island. Walking safaris represent an extremely unique, intimate way to see wildlife up close.
Yes, the best way to explore Crescent Island is through guided walking tours. Guided walking tours of Crescent Island are very safe and offer a unique opportunity to interact closely with nature and wildlife.
An awesome safari tour with La Pisada ! - With many choices of Kenyan safari tour companies, it can be difficult to choose one. La Pisada was the best decision I made!! Communication is key for me and... read more La Pisada did not disappoint. All of my inquiries were met with a prompt response & an itinerary was set which met our needs. Our experienced tour guide was prompt, professional, enthusiastic and quite informative (we had many questions about wildlife). The open roof-top vehicle was clean, comfortable & even had a charging port !! We saw rhinos and were so lucky to see lions twice during our safari. Our guide made sure we had the best views & stopped in order for us to capture the perfect photo. I will be certain to use La Pisada again !
Thank you La Pisada - Our La Pisada driver showed up at our apt on time. He offered to drive us to get coffee, offerred us the use if his personal phone charger, and... read more gave us alot of personal attention and care. He explained alot about the different type of animals that we saw at Nairobi Game Park. You can tell that conservation of wildlife was a passion for our driver and we reallly connected and had a great time. Overall a great service by La Pisada.
Top quality Safari planner and an AMAZING trip! - Fred from La Pisada Africa Safaris planned two safaris for us in 2023: 3-days to Masai Mara, and 3-day in Amboseli. Those 6 days were amazing and every detail was... read more planned perfectly. Fred made the logistics smooth and simple so we could focus on just enjoying the safari. The driver guides were very knowledgeable and personable.
We were so impressed with how Fred arranged our trip that when we had the opportunity to visit Kenya a second time, we booked two more safaris through Fred. This trip had a small snag that was totally OUTSIDE of Fred’s control and NOT the fault of La Pisada Africa Safaris. As a true professional with years of experience, Fred jumped in to help solve the issue, even though neither he nor his company caused it! THAT is the quality customer service that Fred provides!
I highly recommend La Pisada Africa Safaris for anyone looking to have an awesome safari in East Africa.
Greatest experience in Kenya with Fred team - We spent 12 stunning days in Kenya. We are 2 families with kids 10-12 yo.
First if all, Fred designed for us the custom-made plan of the trip.... read more We added to the classical safari experience different activities - rafting, hiking, biking and even the horseriding and night safari! And All these providers were of very good quality.
Then Fred thought out the logistics to include all these activities in safari plan. We were in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Aberdare, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha.
The choice of lodges was fabulous. We discovered so many beautiful lodges - tented camps, rooms, with views on nature, with animals, with observation points on animals, nature luxury lodges with no fences - sooo different impressions from our hotels. Wow!! And the lodges are very important in your experience, since you spend a lot if time there. All was great!
The guides Farah and Julias were so nice and friendly people and experienced professionals. They took care of us for our comfort and safety, and did extra effort for us to see animals. Kids were fans of Farah!
The safari in Kenya is just a MAGIC! 🪄 you need to come to experience it)))
Maruska_77
Wonderful holiday - Fred arranged a fly-in Masai Mara safari for us, followed by five days on the beach at Diani. All of the arrangements, flights and transfers went smoothly with no problems,... read more and it was a pleasure to meet Fred in person at the end of our trip.
We stayed at the Royal Mara in the Mara North conservancy which was superb, and Sands at Nomad in Diani, which has a great restaurant on the beach and wonderful service. We will definitely use La Pisada again for future bookings.
Nairobi National Park Tour - Each time I visit Kenya, myself and family always make a point to enjoy a Safari tour. Of my many tours, this recent tour with La Pisada is without a... read more doubt the best! Our tour guide was passionate and a wealth of knowledge of Kenyan wildlife; they were on time and professional. I plan to return to Kenya in the near future and will be using La Pisada to book our next tour.














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