Experience the one-of-a-kind African hospitality and discover the spirit of real adventure at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort! It’s a place where you’re greeted by wild zebras and giraffes, your room has this amazing view of one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa, and instead of city noise, you’ll wake up to birds singing as the sun comes up.
That’s how every new day in Kenya begins here! Start your morning with a cup of rich Kenyan coffee, just sitting in bed and watching the first warm rays chase away the mist over the lake while hippos slip back into the cool waters of Naivasha.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge is one of the best hotels in Naivasha, mixing African traditions with all the modern comforts you need. It’s a great place to spend the whole day just watching zebras lazily grazing around the lodge and giraffes munching on acacia leaves right outside your window. In the evening, as the sun sets, you’ll see sleepy hippos slowly making their way out of the lake for a little grass dinner.
If you’re looking for a comfy stop between safaris, Naivasha Sopa Lodge is perfect for that! Take a hot shower to wash off the dust from the African roads, have a candlelit dinner in the restaurant with live music playing in the background and finally spend a night under a warm blanket, hiding from the cool Kenyan night.
How to Book Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Kenya is a true paradise for anyone who loves wildlife-there are over 110 species of mammals and more than 1,100 types of birds here. And if you want to explore all this fantastic animal and bird life without giving up comfort, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge is a super cozy option. For an easy and convenient process, you can just use Booking.com-the search is quick and simple, and you’ll often find some nice discounts and bonuses there.
Read also: Explore Lake Mutanda
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The ULTIMATE Kenya Safari Tour - Exploring Lake Naivasha by Boat!
How to Visit Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Your Kenya trip will begin in the capital, where Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the main international airport, is located, approximately a 25-minute drive from downtown Nairobi. Getting from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha is pretty straightforward, and you have a few options: rent a car, grab a taxi, book a private transfer, or even try out Kenya’s public transport.
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By Car/Private Transfer/Taxi
If you’re thinking about taking a taxi, we strongly recommend using only well-established apps like Uber or Bolt. It’s a safe (but not the cheapest) way to get from Nairobi to Sopa Lodge on Lake Naivasha.
No matter which option you choose, the drive from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. Along the way, you can stop to admire the views of the Great Rift Valley, purchase some souvenirs at local shops, and watch whole families of baboons hanging out by the roadside.
Read also: Outdoor Adventures Await
By Bus/Train
If you don’t drive or you’re traveling on a budget, you can always take a local bus or train to Lake Naivasha. There’s also a train service between Nairobi and Naivasha, which is faster and more comfortable than a matatu. The only catch: the station is a bit far from the lake, so you’ll still need a taxi for the last stretch.
If you’re short on time and can’t spend the night at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, but you still want to learn more about Kenya’s nature and walk alongside zebras and giraffes, you can join an organized day tour from Nairobi to the lake and nearby areas.
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Lodges At Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
Let’s get a bit closer to the territory of Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge. The hotel is set on a huge, beautiful property with green lawns, cacti, acacias, and all sorts of local plants everywhere you look.
There are 82 rooms in total, all tucked into cute little cottages with windows facing the lawns and Lake Naivasha. There used to be a few more cottages, but here, nature is definitely in charge-the lake flooded some of the buildings, and you can still spot a few rooftops sticking out of the water.
Read also: The Story of Hamilton Point and Egypt Lake
Did you know? “Sopa” translates as “Hello” from the Maasai language.
Rooms - Overview
All the rooms are split between two floors, so you’ll either have a balcony or a terrace. Both are awesome! If you’re upstairs, you’ll have a great view of the lake and all the greenery from the balcony. And in the evenings, it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset and see the chunky hippos munching on grass and chatting away in their own funny language.
If you’re on the ground floor, you get a terrace-and that’s where the striped guests (yes, yes, zebras!) like to wander up. When the hippos come out at night, you can walk a bit closer to the fence and get a good look at these giants. But just a heads up: don’t plan to hang out with them like you would with the zebras. Hippos are super dangerous! After sunset, the part of Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge that is separated by the electric fence is closed off, so you can watch the hippos from a safe distance.
Little paths wind through the gardens, connecting the cottages and letting you check out all kinds of African plants along the way. You’ll definitely bump into some interesting neighbors on the way to your room! After lunch, zebras and antelopes come closer to the cottages, so the paths get a bit busier with traffic-but it’s never boring. In the evenings, giraffes sometimes wander right near the terraces, so don’t be surprised if you get a late-night visit from a tall, ginger guest.
Inside the rooms
Rooms at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge have everything you need for a comfy stay: single or king-size beds, a small sofa, outdoor furniture, TV, safe, and all the usual stuff. We’ve seen some reviews saying the room design is a bit old-fashioned, but we would call it original rather than outdated. And a big plus-every bed has a mosquito net, which you’ll definitely appreciate, because there are a lot of mosquitoes here!
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Facilities at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Naivasha Sopa Lodge is undoubtedly one of the best hotels on Lake Naivasha! The hotel premises are more than just those dreamy African-style cottages and walking paths filled with wild animals; there’s much more here. You’ll find a big outdoor pool, bars, a restaurant, terraces, viewing decks, a spa, conference rooms, and more. Everyone will find exactly what they want here, in one of the best hotels in Naivasha.
Pool & Spa
There’s a huge pool at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, with loungers, umbrellas, and a kids’ area-perfect for escaping the hot African sun. You can swim in the pool and, at the same time, watch how animals wander the green lawns, munching on grass right nearby.
In a bar by the pool you can order a cold drink straight to your lounger. And after a long day out on safari, you can book a relaxing massage or other spa treatments at the front desk.
Restaurant & Bars
There’s also a large restaurant at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, offering buffet-style meals and tables available for both couples and big groups. The design is really nice and elegant-huge windows, high ceilings, African touches, fresh flowers, and candles at lunch and dinner.
In the morning, the entire place smells like fresh coffee grown in Kenya, and in the evening, a cozy, smoky scent fills the air as the staff lights the fireplaces when the cool African night rolls in.
There are several bars at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge-one by the pool and another in the main lounge. You can get both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The vibe in the main lounge is especially magical in the evening, when the fire crackles in fireplaces and tired travelers in safari hats and khaki outfits swap stories over a glass of wine about the animals they were lucky to spot that day.
In such moments, it feels like you’ve stepped into an old-school adventure movie about Africa and brave explorers, who were out walking with lions in the savanna or searching for treasures in the jungle during the day, and then gathered for small talks and frivolous laughs by the fire at night.
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Gym & Tennis Court
If you’re into sports or simply like to stay active, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge has a gym and a tennis court. We’ll be honest-we never made it to the gym, as we were way too enchanted by the hotel premises and hotel design, so we simply wanted to spend as much time as possible watching the animals. But if you have more willpower than we do, you’ll find everything you need for a workout at Naivasha Sopa Lodge.
Dining Experience at Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Sopa Resort is definitely one of the best places to stay in Naivasha, and a significant reason, in addition to the comfy rooms, is the excellent food at the hotel restaurant. It’s super convenient, because as a tourist, you’ll barely find a place in Naivasha town where you can grab lunch or dinner.
At Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, the main restaurant runs a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-all included in your room rate if you book through Booking.com. Drinks are ordered separately from the staff, who are always really friendly and helpful.
If you want to make things extra special, you can pre-book a romantic dinner right by the lake, or even have breakfast served on your terrace or balcony. The restaurant offers both international and Kenyan dishes. The selection of food isn’t huge, but you’ll always find something tasty. Sometimes they do themed nights with barbecue and local food, which is always cool.
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Entertainment and activities at Naivasha Sopa Lodge
If you’re planning to spend a few days at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, you definitely have to check out some of the best tours and spots around the lake, and the hotel staff can help you organize everything. So, what can you do at Lake Naivasha?
Lake Naivasha boat tour
Lake Naivasha is unique in itself, as it sits at 1,884 meters (6,181 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest freshwater lakes in Africa. Its name comes from the Maasai language and means “rough waters,” thanks to the winds that often stir up the lake. In recent years, Naivasha Lake has expanded a lot and even flooded some buildings along the shore.
Lake Naivasha is super popular with travelers, mostly because you can spot over 400 bird species here, such as pelicans, flamingos, eagles, and many others. But most of the travelers search for the hippos-the real stars here, who usually hang out in big family groups along the banks. On a boat safari, you’ll see these sleepy giants cooling off in the water, while their babies climb onto their parents’ backs to warm up in the sun.
Looking for tips on how to organize your own lake tour?
The boat tours leave right from the hotel docks or public piers, and you can book a private trip or join a group. Tours typically include one or two hours of the lake ride and one or two hours of visiting Crescent Island. The price depends on how long you want to spend on the lake and which tour you pick, so expect to pay about $40-$80 per boat (for up to 7 people). Exploring the wild side of Lake Naivasha is a truly unforgettable experience that will reveal more interesting facts about Kenya’s flora and fauna.
Crescent Island Sanctuary
Don’t miss the chance to walk right among wild zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, impalas, ostriches, and so many other animals! Visit Crescent Island, a tiny spot on Lake Naivasha, which you can actually walk all the way around in only an hour and a half. Even though it’s small, there are a crazy number of animals living here! There are no predators on the island, so it’s completely safe for tourists to explore on foot.
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You can only access Crescent Island by boat, so it’s easy to combine a Lake Naivasha tour with a visit to the island, which is typically included in the price of the boat trip. The park entrance fee is $33 per person, on top of the boat ride. You can wander around on your own or join a guide, who’ll share lots of cool facts about the island and its animals. Guides are free, but if you enjoy the walk, it’s nice to leave a tip. Just a heads up: there aren’t many guides, and it is on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, so you might end up exploring alone. We did Crescent Island on our own and truly enjoyed our walk.
Hell’s Gate National Park
If you loved the walking safari on Crescent Island, you should definitely check out Hell’s Gate National Park, just a 20-30 minute drive from Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge. That’s the only national park in Kenya where you can actually walk or ride a bicycle through the park, since there are no predators at all.
Instead, you’ll spot zebras, giraffes, baboons, antelopes, and plenty of other animals. These exact landscapes here inspired the creators of the legendary cartoon movie “The Lion King”!
If you don’t have time to stay a few nights in Naivasha, you can always do a day trip from Nairobi to Hell’s Gate.
Visit Hell’s Gate NP with a tour:
Day Hike to Mount Longonot
The Rift Valley, where Lake Naivasha sits, is famous for its stunning landscapes-steep cliffs, lava tunnels, fields, gorges, craters, and more. There are numerous extinct volcanoes here, and a few that are still active. Most are “sleeping” now, with their craters covered in green, but you can still see signs of volcanic activity all around.
There are hot springs, geysers, and even steam shooting out of cracks in the ground. But the real showstopper is Mount Longonot’s crater, where you can not only hike up to the top, but also walk the trail around the rim. If you’re short on time, a day trip from Nairobi is a great way to see the scale of this amazing crater up close!
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Birdwatching
The grounds at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge are perfect for birdwatching-there are over 400 species at the lake! The real symbol of the lake is the...
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