Hell’s Gate National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Hell’s Gate National Park is not known as a wildlife-watching destination. Aside from buffalo there are no dangerous animals, which makes walking and cycling excellent activities. Plains zebra, Coke's hartebeest, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, and impala are the main grazers. Watch also for giraffe and defassa waterbuck. Olive baboons are all over the cliffs.

ElephantNone

GiraffeCommon

HippoNone

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

LeopardVery Rare

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaVery Rare

Wild DogNone

Wildlife Highlights

The plain-looking Chanler's mountain reedbuck is one of the more unusual antelope species that can be seen in the park. The park is also good for some of the small antelope, such as Kirk's dik-dik and steenbok. Predators aren’t easy to find, but spotted hyena and black-backed jackal can occasionally be seen at dusk. Lucky visitors might also come across the elegant serval in the tall grasses.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Hell’s Gate can be visited for hiking, climbing and cycling throughout the year, but wildlife viewing is best in the dry months from June to October when the grass is short. The scenery, however, is at its most spectacular during the Wet season from November to May, when the entire landscape turns lovely and green.