Crescent Island Naivasha at a glance
Crescent Island Game Sanctuary lies on the east shore of Lake Naivasha. Depending on the water level, it is an island or a peninsula. At present you can only reach it by boat, and the sanctuary runs no boats itself. You pay the boat and the entry separately, and the entry is paid on the island.
The sanctuary is a place for a walking safari. You walk among giraffe, zebra and wildebeest, with the lake in view. Guides are available at no extra charge, subject to availability. This page gives the 2026 entry fees, the opening hours, the animals and the rules that matter, such as the 17:45 closing and the hippos.
Our picks: Crescent Island tours
The guided walk with the entry in the price is the simplest way to see the island, and the birdwatching day suits you if the birds matter most. The shorter trip from Nairobi needs the entry option for the boat and the island.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Birdwatching day: boat safari and Crescent Island
- Guided boat safari
- Crescent Island walk and entry
- Bird identification
Two hours on the lake and two on the island, built around spotting birds with a guide. The island entry is already in the price.
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Boat ride and guided walk on Crescent Island
- Boat fee included
- Crescent Island entry
- Guided island walk
About an hour on the water with time for hippos and birds, then two hours on foot on the island. Pickup from Nairobi costs extra.
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Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island from Nairobi
- Pickup and return
- Driver and guide
- Transport by van
A six-hour trip by van to the lake and the island. The boat and the Crescent Island entry are only in the price with the entry option, so check which option you book.
Check availability →Crescent Island tours and boat rides
Crescent Island walks combined with a boat ride or a day trip from Nairobi, with live prices and availability. Check whether the entry fee is included.
Crescent Island game sanctuary: entry fees 2026
Single entry, valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026. The sanctuary may change fees because of currency swings.
| Category | Adult | Student | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-residents | $33 | $22 | $16 |
| Kenya residents, with proof | KES 1,100 | – | KES 550 |
| Kenya citizens, with proof | KES 800 | – | KES 400 |
Children are charged from age 5 to 15. Pay on the island with cash in USD, KES or GBP, with M-Pesa or with a card other than American Express. Do not pay the sanctuary entry to your boatman, and ask for the sanctuary's official receipt.
Crescent Island entry fee: what the price does not include
The entry fee covers the sanctuary only. The boat is a separate cost, described on the boat ride page. A return boat trip to the island costs from KES 2,500 up to 10,000 per boat (as of 2026), for up to 7 people, depending on the departure point. Some operators charge per person instead: $40 for adults and $20 for children. For most visitors, the simplest plan is to confirm the boat price first and then pay the entry on arrival.
Walking safari on Crescent Island
Animals include Maasai giraffe, Burchell's zebra, wildebeest and Defassa waterbuck, with hippos along the shore. A species list is not a promise: you may not see every animal on the day. The island is also home to birds, with more than 135 species counted in January 2026.
Island guides cost nothing extra and depend on availability. Book ahead if you want a guaranteed guide. No general advance registration is needed for ordinary visitors, but school groups must book, and dogs are not allowed.
Predators and hippos
Do not assume the sanctuary is free of predators. Spotted hyena and jackal live on the island as well as buffalo and hippo. Walk with a guide, and keep to the plan the guide sets.
You must be back in the boat by 17:45, because hippos come ashore on the island. Do not read that time as a promise that everything is safe until then. More on the hippos page.
Opening hours and a day on the island
Check the times with your boat operator on the day.
08:30 Opening
The sanctuary opens at 08:30. Plan the crossing so you arrive after that.
16:30 Last entry
Nobody is admitted after 16:30. Allow for the crossing time of up to about 45 minutes each way from the more distant camp jetties.
17:45 Closing
Be back in the boat by 17:45. Hippos come ashore, and the sanctuary closes.
Island or peninsula: what the water level changes
The lake rose by around 7 m between 2010 and 2026, and its surface is about 40% larger. So the sanctuary sits at a changing edge. Whether it is an island or a peninsula depends on the level, and today boats are the way in. Ask your boat operator about the jetty in use and the landing point on the day you go.
School groups pay a separate rate and book by email: up to 45 children, Monday to Friday only. The rates are KES 250 for primary, KES 350 for secondary and KES 400 for university students, KES 450 per teacher and KES 500 per guide for each group. Do not apply those rates to ordinary visitors.
Looking for more to do near the island? See tours and day trips, birds and things to do.
Crescent Island: frequently asked questions
How much is the Crescent Island entry fee?
In 2026 it is $33 for adult non-residents, $22 for students and $16 for children. Kenya residents pay KES 1,100 for adults and KES 550 for children, and citizens KES 800 and KES 400, both with proof. The boat is extra.
Can I walk on Crescent Island without a guide?
Guides are free of extra charge, subject to availability, and booking ahead guarantees one. Because hyena and jackal live there, walking with a guide is the sensible choice.
Is Crescent Island free of predators?
No. Spotted hyena and jackal live there, and hippos come ashore. Treat the island as wild country.
How do I get to Crescent Island?
By boat only at present. The sanctuary has no boats, so you hire one separately. See the boat ride page for prices and safety.
When must I leave?
The last entry is 16:30 and the sanctuary closes at 17:45. You must be in the boat by then because of the hippos.
Is lake-naivasha.org the official site of Crescent Island?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to Crescent Island, any boat operator, the Kenya Wildlife Service or Nakuru County.