Hell’s Gate National Park

National Park · Kenya

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Photo © Ninara from Helsinki, Finland

Photo © Ninara from Helsinki, Finland — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Volcanic scarps and geothermal vents dominate the floor of Hell's Gate, where the East African Rift has carved a dramatic gorge through crystalline rock formations. The park's temperate highland climate—with no pronounced dry season and year-round moisture from persistent cloud cover—sustains perennial grasslands and scattered woodland patches that clothe the valley slopes. Springs feed small streams that flow year-round through the landscape, creating pockets of riparian vegetation where water-dependent fauna converge. Birds of prey command the thermals above the cliffs, hunting across open grassland and rocky outcrops, while smaller raptors quarter the lower vegetation. Mammals ranging from large grazing herds to nocturnal carnivores and smaller ground-dwelling species exploit the diverse microhabitats, from short grass plains to thornbush thickets and the shadier margins where woodland meets open ground. Buffaloes, antelopes, and other ungulates move across the grasslands following seasonal resource shifts, while insectivorous and seed-eating birds work the shrubland and grass edges where insects and fallen seeds concentrate.

For wildlife watchers and photographers, Hell's Gate's narrow gorge and accessible terrain create unparalleled opportunities to observe predators and prey at close range, with birds of prey offering particularly reliable sightings against dramatic backdrops of rock and thermal steam. The temperate climate means consistent cloud and soft light conditions that suit both photography and wildlife activity throughout the year, avoiding the harsh midday glare of lower-altitude African reserves. The park's topography—walkable in places, rideable by vehicle in others—allows visitors to explore multiple habitat types in a single visit, increasing the chances of encountering the full spectrum of woodland songbirds, grassland specialists, and cliff-nesting raptors that make this reserve ecologically distinct. Geothermal features add a geological dimension rarely combined with wildlife viewing in East Africa, making Hell's Gate a compact but remarkably biodiverse destination.

Website kws.go.ke/content/hells-gate-national-park

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Struthio camelus

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Chrysococcyx klaas

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Falco biarmicus

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Red-throated Tit

Melaniparus fringillinus

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

African Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis melanocrissus

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Black-lored Babbler

Turdoides sharpei

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Abyssinian Wheatear

Oenanthe lugubris

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Nectarinia kilimensis

Golden-winged Sunbird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Passer rufocinctus

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Euplectes capensis

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Anthus cinnamomeus

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Pycnonotus barbatus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Yellow-billed Duck

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Pternistis squamatus

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Speckled Pigeon

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

Scissor-tailed Kite

Chelictinia riocourii

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

White-backed Vulture

Terathopius ecaudatus

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Greater Spotted Eagle

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Apaloderma narina

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Brown-backed Woodpecker

Dendropicos obsoletus

Falco tinnunculus

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco ardosiaceus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Grey-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops poliolophus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucopareia

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Hirundo angolensis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler

Bradypterus cinnamomeus

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Hunter's Cisticola

Cisticola hunteri

Lynes's Cisticola

Cisticola distinctus

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

Cisticola brunnescens

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Grey-capped Warbler

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Banded Parisoma

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Zosterops flavilateralis

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Hildebrandt's Starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Slender-billed Starling

Onychognathus tenuirostris

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Oenanthe pleschanka

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Gorgeous Sunbird

Cinnyris melanogastrus

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Swahili Sparrow

Passer suahelicus

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Speckle-fronted Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-billed Quelea

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Jackson's Widowbird

Euplectes jacksoni

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Black-faced Waxbill

Brunhilda erythronotos

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Ortygospiza atricollis

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Motacilla capensis

Motacilla cinerea

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Long-billed Pipit

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Anthus trivialis

Crithagra citrinelloides

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Southern Grosbeak-Canary

Crithagra buchanani

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Gallinula chloropus

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Actophilornis africanus

Black-tailed Godwit

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Butorides striata

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Melierax canorus

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Fischer's Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Lesser Grey Shrike

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Upcher's Warbler

Hippolais languida

Wailing Cisticola

Rufous-winged Cisticola

Cisticola galactotes

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Abyssinian White-eye

Zosterops abyssinicus

Ethiopian White-eye

Zosterops poliogastrus

Turdus olivaceus

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Mourning Wheatear

Oenanthe lugens

Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Ploceus capensis

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Giraffa tippelskirchi

Crocuta crocuta

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Procavia capensis

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Aepyceros melampus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

Grant's Gazelle

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Redunca redunca

Phacochoerus africanus

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Tragelaphus oryx

Syncerus caffer

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