When thinking about going camping I’m sure the first thing that comes to a lot of our minds is the lovely stretch along Lake Naivasha which includes several campsites such as Fishermans, Cray Fish and Camp Carnelley’s. All great places but sometimes you just want to get off the beaten track without having to venture too much further. Lake Oloiden is where it’s at.
Lake Oloiden is a volcanic crater lake a few kilometres away from Lake Naivasha. To get to the Lake Oloiden Campsite all you need to is continue down Moi South Lake road past Camp Carnelleys (read our past article at Camp Carnelleys by clicking on the link) until you reach the end of the tarmac road. It is really easy to get to. Plus if you are heading over from Nairobi, you get to the pass the beautiful escarpment along the way. So make a stop, pop open a Tusker and take in the sights of our great Rift Valley.
If you are a seasoned camper and have your own tents, take them with you and they will give you mattresses for a little fee. If you don’t, they provide tents. I loved the orange 3 man quad tent because it has this net door/ window which meant we could leave the rest of the tent open, have this view constantly whilst getting some of that fresh lake breeze. Take your own cushions and duvet and call it glamping 😉
Be sure to pitch your tent right by the lake and if it’s not too busy, on the far-right side of the camp so you can get away from the crowds and have your own space. Fear not, even if you are close to the lake, they have an electric fence in between so that there’s a barrier between you and those noisy hippos, but it’s subtle so it doesn’t spoil your stunning view.
The campsite has all the basic facilities that are kept in good condition. The bathrooms are cleaned regularly and if you don’t mind a little bug or two, you will be fine! There’s constant hot water at the flip of a switch so you don’t need to worry about getting a little dirty when camping. When it comes to food I would suggest bringing your own grill and ingredients, come fully prepared. They do have grills for hire but it’s always easier with your own. We tried a pizza at the restaurant but it wasn’t the best. Although, they have a fully stocked bar which definitely came in handy! If you get peckish, there are some lovely little places you can check out that are not too far out… Try the serene Ranch House Bistro or funky Camp Carnelleys nearby.
Some of our best experiences when camping include sitting by the bonfire with friends (The stories that come out!) They light bonfires all around the camp for you so that’s one less thing to worry out, the easiest camping experience you will probably ever have. Oh and make sure you wake up early and appreciate the sunrise over the lake. Paired with the gorgeous view it’s some serious sunset/ sunrise porn right there!
Whether simply stopping over before heading out to another destination like Hells Gate to go explore the gorge/ take a dip in the geothermal pool or just to take a quick trip away from the big city, lake Oloiden should be the first on your list especially if you are a first-time camper!
Pricing is as follows:
- Quad tent @ 4,500ksh, 4 pax sharing 2 double mattresses
- Kizingo tent @ 6,000ksh for 6 paz sharing 3 double mattresses
- Jumbo tent @7,000ksh for 8 pax sharing 4 double mattresses
- Double tent @ 3,500ksh for 2 pax sharing 1 double mattress
Want to to take your own tent? Bedding is at 1,000ksh (Mattress, sheet and bedding.)
Female adventurists curing our wanderlust one trip at a time 