Hell's Gate

Hell's Gate National Park -- Kenya

Inside the spectacular Hell's Gate gorge!

Wes and Erica ready to set out at the trail head

with two very happy little passengers

We wanted to share with you an amazing adventure we had on our day off this past week when we joined some friends for a day hike in Hell's Gate.

About an hour and a half outside of Nairobi in the centre of the great rift valley, lies Hell's Gate National Park. The park is named after the unusual geothermal activity that creates hot springs and steam vents throughout the steep-cliffed canyons and gorges carved throughout this portion of the great valley. We went to the park for the first time with our friends, the Enns family. Arriving around mid morning, we first hiked together through a breathtaking gorge.

Coming out of the gorge, we hiked down through a narrow fissure to the riverbed below. Along the way we met steaming waterfalls created by hot springs. At several points along the way, the four adults needed to pass the children down through the steep crack. At one point, we needed to stand in stream of hot water falling from above us, in order to get the kids safely down. Needless to say, we were drenched... but it was a ball!

Once in the riverbed at the bottom of the canyon, we hiked for over an hour mesmerized by the incredible rock formations. Our friends knew there was an easier way out of the canyon than going back through the fissure, so we continued to push onwards in search of the trail. After a while, we were getting frustrated and desperate knowing that our cars were getting further and further behind us. Wes and I continued to scout ahead for a trail up the cliff face, but to no avail.

But the Lord provided us with an angel: after fruitlessly scanning the shore line for a trail to take us up and out of the canyon, a little Kenyan boy appeared out of nowhere walked bare foot down the river. He only spoke Kiswahili, but with our two days worth of Swahili training under our belt from last summer, we learned that his name was Joseph and that he could lead us to a Ranger. With his help we found some of Hell's Gate's incredible natural steam vents, and a goat trail out of the valley.

Following the goats out of the canyon, Joseph led us to a local Masai village where a Masai woman brought us out to the park picnic area and car park. It was an unforgettable day and one of the best family adventures we have ever had!!

Erica and Ava approaching a Masai village

The Dad's were all wet after passing the children down
through the "steamy" water fall.


Mommy and Ava in Hell's Gate Gorge