Lake Naivasha is a freshwater Lake in Kenya, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County which lies North West of Nairobi, It is also part of the Great Rift Valley. The name derives from the local People who are Masai they named Nai’posha, meaning “rough water” because of the sudden storms which can arise.

Lake Naivasha is at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift valley at 1,884 metres. the lake is fed by the perennial Malewa and Gilgil rivers. There is no visible outlet, but since the lake water is relatively fresh it is assumed to have an underground outflow.

The lake has a surface area of 139 kilometers and is surrounded by a swamp which covers an area of 64 square km, but this can vary largely depending on rainfall. It is situated at an altitude of 1,884 meters. The lake has an average depth of 6 meters with the deepest area being at Crescent Island, at a maximum depth of 30 meters.

The lake is home to a variety of types of wildlife including over 400 different species of bird and a sizeable population of hippos. The fish community in the lake has been highly variable over time, influenced by changes in climate, fishing effort and the introduction of invasive species.

There are two smaller lakes in the vicinity of Lake Naivasaha, Lake Oloiden and Lake Sonachi, the lake shore is known for its population of European immigrants and settlers.