Crater Lake Game Sanctuary: Hiking, Monkeys, and a Volcanic Green Lake

The Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, often simply called Crater Lake, is a private wildlife sanctuary established around a vivid green volcanic lake in the hills west of Lake Naivasha. It is the formal protected area surrounding the lake described in our Crater Lake article, and its management as a sanctuary rather than a national park gives it certain characteristics that make it distinct from KWS-managed parks.

The sanctuary encompasses the extinct volcanic crater, the indigenous forest on its inner walls, and the surrounding highland landscape. Unlike national parks, the sanctuary is privately managed, which allows for a more flexible and intimate visitor experience — guided hikes on trails that take you directly to the crater rim, direct contact with Maasai community guides, and the ability to explore at your own pace within the guided framework.

Sanctuary Wildlife

The Crater Lake Game Sanctuary is best known for its black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza), one of the most visually striking primates in Africa. The colobus live in the indigenous forest on the crater walls and the surrounding woodland, and they are reliably encountered on the main hiking trails. Their dramatic black-and-white colouring, their habit of leaping between trees with their long white mantles streaming behind them, and their haunting croaking call make them one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in the Naivasha area.

African buffaloes are present in the sanctuary and should be treated with respect. The trail system takes visitors away from high-density buffalo areas where possible, but encounters can occur. Other mammals include baboons, various mongoose species, and common zebra on the open grassland edges of the sanctuary. Over 160 bird species have been recorded, including forest specialists rarely seen at lower altitudes.

The Crater Lake: Geology and Colour

The lake’s vivid green colour results from its alkaline chemistry and the specific combination of minerals dissolved in it. The colour shifts from jade to turquoise to deep emerald depending on the time of day, the season, and the cloud cover. The crater walls surrounding the lake are steep and heavily forested, creating a natural amphitheatre that amplifies the sounds of birds and monkeys. Standing on the crater rim and looking down at the green water far below, with Lake Naivasha visible in the far distance through a gap in the hills, is one of the most beautiful views in the Rift Valley region.