Lake Naivasha is best understood from the water. An hour on the lake brings you within safe viewing distance of resident hippo pods, past fish eagles working the shoreline, and through a birding environment that has recorded more than 400 species. And it is simple, once you’re on the boat. The friction is everything that comes before the jetty:
Organise all of that yourself at the water’s edge and you’ll be negotiating with touts. Hand it to us and it stays an hour on a beautiful lake.
Chariot Safaris coordinates complete Lake Naivasha boat packages from Nairobi. We handle the movement, the operator booking, and the timing, working only with licensed boat operators we have vetted personally. You pick your departure and your date. We take care of the rest.
The lake rewards company, so the more of you there are, the better the per-person rate. Transport and boat hire are shared across the group, which is why larger parties pay less per head.
| Group size | Price per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 guests | KES 11,000 | Private, personalised day out |
| 3–4 guests | KES 9,000 | Friends, couples, small families |
| 5–8 guests | KES 6,000 | Clubs, teams, small cohorts |
| 9–16 guests | KES 5,500 | Institutions, corporate team-building |
Prices cover return transport, a shared boat excursion, and coordination. Private boat hire, Crescent Island entry, and combined activities are quoted separately. For groups above 16, or for a school, corporate, or institutional booking, message us for a tailored quote.
However you cruise, the package covers the parts that turn a boat ride into a day out:
Add-ons available on request: private boat hire, Crescent Island Game Sanctuary walking excursion, Hell’s Gate combination day, and lakeside lunch arrangements.
To keep the pricing honest, here’s what sits outside the package unless you ask for it:
Boats depart from several jetties around the lake, and there’s more than one way to spend the hour. We run all of them — the right one depends on your group and what kind of day you’re after.
Shared boat, standard circuit — the classic
The most booked option. A one-hour circuit past the hippo pods and along the shoreline where the fish eagles hunt, with a good chance of the boatman calling one down for a strike. Reliable, affordable, and the natural choice for first-timers and mixed groups.
Private boat — the flexible one
Your group, your pace, your route. Worth it if you’re photographing, birding seriously, or travelling with anyone who’d rather not share a bench. Duration is yours to set, and the boatman works to your priorities rather than a fixed loop.
Crescent Island combination — the adventurous one
Boat across to the sanctuary and walk unfenced among zebras, giraffes and wildebeest — one of the very few places in Kenya where that’s permitted. It turns an hour on the water into a half-day. Best for groups with the time and reasonable mobility.
Sunset cruise
Any of the above, timed for the last light. The lake goes gold and the return leg is the photograph everyone keeps.
Not sure which fits? Tell us who’s coming and how long you have, and we’ll recommend the option that suits the group.
We handle transport, booking, and coordination — but a few things are yours to bring:
Life jackets are provided and must be worn throughout the excursion.
Start planning for your next tour safari by filling and submitting the form below with your tour preferences so that we can get everything ready for you in advance.
