Lake Naivasha

Camp Carnelley's

Q: How much does it cost to stay at Camp Carnelley's?

Stays at Camp Carnelley's start from around US$10 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

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Camp Carnelley's

About Camp Carnelley's

A superb camping spot on the banks of fun-filled Lake Naivasha

This lakeside camp has been quietly perfecting the art of laid-back hospitality for years, tucked away on the shores of Kenya's freshwater gem. Run by the Carnelley family with the sort of warmth that makes you forget you're technically a paying guest, it's evolved from simple camping grounds into something rather special whilst keeping its feet firmly planted in the affordable bracket. The setting is properly gorgeous – fever trees dotting the grounds, colobus monkeys causing havoc at the feeding station, and that glorious expanse of water stretching out before you. It's the kind of place where corporate teams discover that trust exercises pale in comparison to cycling through Hell's Gate together, and where families return year after year knowing exactly what they're in for: honest comfort without the fuss.

Lake Naivasha , Kenya

From $10 per person/per night

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Property details

The property

Lazybones Bar and Restaurant, colourfully decorated with puffy cushions and swaying hammocks, is the hub of camp. It's informal and relaxed, and you'll be serenaded by the birds from the adjacent feeding station (the black and white colobus monkeys make regular appearances too!). At night, there's a convivial atmosphere around the campfire; by day, the same area serves as a scenic lunch spot with plenty of picnic tables. The entire grounds are dotted with magnificent fever trees, and there are several shady spots from which to soak up the views of the lake. A games room with pool table and darts provides rainy day entertainment, though with Lake Naivasha lapping at your doorstep, indoor activities feel rather beside the point.

The rooms

Accommodation runs the full spectrum, which is rather the point. Bring your own tent and claim a lakeside pitch with pre-marked fire pit and nearby ablutions, or upgrade to the bandas – either standard affairs sleeping two or larger versions with multiple bedrooms and en-suites. The cottages offer couples proper comfort without breaking the bank, whilst dormitories sleep eight and work brilliantly for groups on a shoestring. For those wanting more independence, Bush Baby House is a self-catering gem sleeping ten with its own enormous veranda and all the mod cons (when the Wi-Fi behaves). Nothing here will win design awards – think practical furniture, mosquito nets, and the odd splash of local textile – but everything's clean, comfortable, and comes with that most precious of commodities: lake views and the sound of hippos grunting through the night.

Activities

There's no shortage of activities to keep you busy. Fishing and boating on Lake Naivasha are a good choice, and birdwatching is likely to yield many fish eagles and pelicans, along with an abundance of other water fowl. The adventurous might even try wake boarding or water skiing! Don't miss Hell's Gate National Park where you can hike, mountain bike or game drive among antelope, giraffe, baboons and even leopard and cheetah. Carnelley's is also well situated for a visit to the Green Crater Lake Reserve, or a trip to climb the impressive 3000m volcanic Mount Longonot.

Why we love it

This beautiful lakeside camp offers picturesque campsites and several other basic accommodation options. Come for the delicious food, the fever trees and the iconic Hell's Gate park nearby.

Insiders Tip

Rent bikes directly from the camp and pedal straight to Hell's Gate – it's only 2km to Elsa Gate. The camp's boatmen know every hippo pod and fish eagle nest on the lake, so pick their brains over a cold one at the bar.

Something to think about

This is emphatically not party central – the 10pm quiet rule is gospel here. The camp's eco-credentials are impressive (they've been environmental award runners-up for years running), but Wi-Fi can be temperamental.

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How to book Camp Carnelley's

How do I book Camp Carnelley's?

Camp Carnelley's can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Kenya trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Kenya trips featuring Camp Carnelley's or get advice and suggestions from one of our Kenya specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Camp Carnelley's?

Stays at Camp Carnelley's start from around $10 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Kenya

Lake Naivasha

A vast, sunlit lake where easy-going days are spent boating, driving and walking.