LAIDBACK LAKESIDE LIVING

RUSTIC ROOMS | LAZYBONES RESTAURANT | NESTED IN NATURE

KARIBU NAIVASHA!

A hidden gem full of character and charm

Camp Carnelley's is a beautiful family-run camp located on the shores of Lake Naivasha. The camp is set amidst lush greenery and has a signature rustic charm. The natural surroundings are breathtaking, and the view of the lake is a sight to behold. If you're looking for a place to connect with nature, relax, and indulge in great food, this is the perfect getaway.

Stay with us today

Explore NAIVASHA

Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in Nakuru County, Kenya, is a true gem located only 100 km away from Nairobi. It is part of the Great Rift Valley and owes its name to the Maasai word "naiposha," meaning "rough water," due to the sudden storms that can arise here. The lake is surrounded by acacia woodlands, swamps fringed by papyrus, forests, and spectacular geological features, making it a haven for nature lovers.

Lake Naivasha is also included in the "List of Wetlands of International Importance" (Ramsar sites) and boasts over 400 species of birds, including Fish Eagles, Ospreys, Lily-Trotters, Black Crakes, and Herons. The lake is a bird watcher's paradise and attracts bird enthusiasts from all over the world.

Boating is provided from Camp Carnelley’s so clients can enjoy what the Lake has to offer.

NEVER A DULL DAY…

At Camp Carnelley's, there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy. Adventure seekers can go boating on the lake or on cycling tours in Hells Gate National Park, which offers stunning views and exciting trails. Meanwhile, those seeking a more relaxed pace can take a boat cruise to Crescent Island or visit the Naivasha Raptor Centre to get up close with fascinating birds of prey. For those who love a good hike, there are exhilarating hiking trips up Mt. Longonot, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. And of course, no visit to Camp Carnelley's is complete without a game drive at Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, where you can witness an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. Whatever your preferences, Camp Carnelley's has something to offer for everyone!

  • Named for the intense geothermal activity within its boundaries, the Hell's Gate National Park is a remarkable quarter of the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric Parks in Africa. Hell’s Gate is an ideal venue for a day trip from Nairobi where, in addition to the bio-diversity that includes raptors, visitors can enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing and a natural spa.

    Wildlife:

    African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, and baboons are common. The park is also home to klipspringer, antelope and Chandler’s Mountain reedbuck.

    Prolific birdlife – there are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, augur buzzard and swifts.

    Camp Carnelleys is located approximately 2 kilometers from the entrance at Elsa gate to Hell’s Gates National Park. Most people rent bicycles at the top entrance office at Camp Carnelleys and cycle directly to the park. Bicycles can also be rented at the park entrance.

  • This private island sanctuary can be reached by boat, or by driving across the narrow, swampy causeway from Sanctuary Farm. It's one of the few places in the Rift Valley where you can walk among giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, impalas and countless bird species. Lucky visitors might even spot a leopard, but don't count on it. Island walks, led by a guide, last between 90 minutes and three hours. It's also a good spot for a picnic lunch.

  • Rising from the floor of the Great Rift Valley like a monolith is the extinct volcano of Mount Longonot. A unique feature is the thick forest that lies within the crater of the mountain. The crater rim also provides great scenic views across the beautiful Rift Valley all the way to Lake Naivasha.

  • Crater Lake game sanctuary is a small private sanctuary centered around a volcanic crater lake with spectacular green water. The Crater Lake game sanctuary attracts more flamingos because of the spectacular green water, and there is presence of the various game which are inhabited by the various forests and plains that are surrounded by the Crater Lake. The sanctuary is a tourism safari for every tourist and it is suitable to be explored on the foot as to come closer to every game present in the sanctuary.

    Crater Lake game sanctuary is a Kenya birding safari destination with over 170 bird species including the Greater and Lesser flamingos, little grebes, cape teal and ruff’s, Great white pelican, whiskered tern, Maribou, Grey and black headed heron, African fish eagle, yellow-billed storks, pied avocets, Egyptian geese and among others in the sanctuary these can be viewed by the bird watchers on their safari to the crater lake game sanctuary in Lake Naivasha, the bird lovers can enjoy these various colorful and beautiful bird species in the sanctuary. Crater Lake game sanctuary has a variety of the mammal species in the sanctuary like the giraffes, zebras and many other plains wildlife.

    Crater Lake is accessible by road or boat from Camp Carnelleys .

  • The trust is made up of a team of people who are committed to raptor conservation and long-term welfare of raptors in an increasingly challenging environment. They work closely with Kenya wild-life service, the National museums of Kenya and many partners to secure viability of raptor populations in the wild in Kenya, and when requested, else-where in the world. Their raptor work in Kenya began from first receiving injured raptors in the 1960’s, as it was not possible to return some to the wild the collection grew and some bred. Those that were unable to return to the wild due to various injuries served an important and crucial role in bringing the public face to face with falcons, hawks, eagles and owls as can be seen here at the bird sanctuary.

    This is located approximately 10 minutes driving distance from Camp Carnelleys

Get a real Taste

  • Fantastic Food

    Take a look at our menus, loaded with culinary delights from around the world—we serve up European, Asian, American and African cuisine all at Lazybones, our camp restaurant.

  • Refreshing Drinks

    Fresh juices, cocktails, ice-cold beers—refreshment comes in plenty at Camp Carnelleys. Try out our signature cocktails, smoothies and mesmerising milkshakes. There is something for everyone.

GUEST REVIEWS

  • We have stayed there many times but not for 8 years. Everything is still great, The Crescent Island trip was great and the food was insanely good. Huge portions and great tasting, and thats by UK standards not Kenya standards. Bandas are great, birdwatching still good, and a brilliant place to stay (still).

    Paul B
    Tripadvisor Review

  • Best value for money. The food is amazing, the staff are great, the setting is gorgeous and it feels like home away from home. Comfy and cosy; what more do you want! I love this place and if you come to Naivasha you should definitely take the time to visit Carnelleys.

    Akira G
    Tripadvisor Review

  • Excellent camp site with wonderful surroundings, a good room with a view of the lake and its wildlife. Friendly and helpful staff, good food and facilities, a 40 minute boat ride takes you to Cresent Island and a knowledgeable boat driver is a great help.

    Pete S
    Tripadvisor Review

Sustainable in nature

All the buildings and infrastructure follow an eco-friendly approach. The majority of building materials were sourced on-site like wood from dead trees or fallen branches and sand from the seasonal gully that floods in the rains. Our boilers and pizza oven are all fired with sustainable wood from the property and the outside walls are painted with natural red mud from the Rift Valley escarpment. We have been voted runners-up continuously for the Lake Naivasha environmental award for our sustainability and approach to conserving Naivasha’s precious Natural resources—which means we will always try harder.

COME FIND US!

Camp Carnelley’s is 2 hours by road from Nairobi. Follow the directions via Google Maps by clicking the button below, or for the 4x4 professionals, type in
-0.8272965621591335, 36.33765777668753
on your GPS.