The bizarre appearance of the rock formations in this area, along with the red color of the clay rich soil, inspired the name of this park.

Hells Gate

Hell's Gate National Park is located 90 km from Nairobi, and covers an area of about 68 square kilometers. Opened in 1984, the park is suitable for a day trip from Nairobi, or as a stopover en route to the Masai Mara Reserve. The park is located at an altitude of about 5,000-7,000 ft above sea level. Visitors to this park are offered a wide range of activities, ranging from driving, walking, camping, rock climbing and even horseback safaris. There are three camping sites. Hell's Gate is well known for its hot geysers. Popular tourist spots within the park include Fisher's Tower, Central Tower and Njorowa Gorges. There are extinct volcanoes such as Olkaria and Hobley's. Moreover, a black glassy rock called Obsidian forms from the cool molten lava. Visitors can observe animals like the buffalo, Masai giraffe, eland, Coke's hartebeest, lion, leopard, and cheetah. Moreover, there are over 103 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux's Eagles, augur buzzard and swifts. Finally, there is also a Masai Cultural Center for educating visitors about the culture and traditions of the Masai tribe.