Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary - Lake Naivasha, Great Rift Valley
Located on the privately owned Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary, Chui Lodge is an exclusive retreat, epitomizing the meaning of the word ‘Oserian', which in Maa, the language of the local Maasai, means ‘the place of peace'. Standing on the floor of the great rift valley, the lodge is built from local stone and acacia, Leleshwa and olive woods. The internal décor makes use of locally crafted batiks and bark cloth. A dedicated wilderness area, the sanctuary offers white rhino, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, elands, giraffes, topis, Grevy's zebras, hartebeest, Beisa Oryx and greater kudu. Also on the sanctuary is Kiangazi House, a private retreat offering five double bedrooms.
Kenya hotels and accommodation Amongst the wide range of Kenya hotels, some make the ideal Kenya safari destination. Choose a safari lodge, safari hotel, bush camp, luxury lodge, safari camp, tented camp or bush lodge. National park accommodation usually takes the form of a traditional safari lodge or tented camp, but numerous other options exist on the park boundaries. Luxury lodges and luxury camp options are also offered in the private wildlife conservancies.
Location Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, 80 kms from Nairobi. The drive from Nairobi takes 1-2 hours depending on road conditions and the Sanctuary has its own airstrip - flights from Nairobi take around 20 minutes.
The Background Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the shores of Lake Oloidien (meaning "salty water" in Maasai); a Crater Lake that was once part of the expansive Lake Naivasha, bordered by the Rift's Mau Escarpment and Hells Gate National Park. Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary is 1 ½ hours driving distance from Nairobi and 20 minutes by plane.
All profits generated by tourism are dedicated to the conservation of this area, the wildlife it supports and the sustainability of surrounding folk. The Sanctuary has, for example, utilised these profits to reintroduce several endangered &/or un-indigenous species, such as White Rhino, Grevy Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Greater Kudu (all trans-located from Northern Kenya). Wildebeest & Topi were also brought from the Maasai Mara; the effect a unique combination seen nowhere else in Kenya. Predatory cats are prolific with frequent sightings of Leopard, Cheetah, Serval & Caracal. Our greatest success story however, is that of the 6 White rhino introduced in 1996, all have now bred successfully, one has calved twice & Ol-Suswa (the first calf born in the sanctuary) has now had her own calf. With 3 births in 2007 alone, the total is now up to 13.
Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary is visited by 300 identified bird species (including the largest population of the endangered "Grey Crested Helmet Shrikes" in the world) and is home to 45 different mammals. Leopard & Aardvark are a regular sighting and Buffalo, Topi, Hippopotamus, Dik-Dik, Spotted Hyena all co-exist with many other fascinating creatures that can be viewed exclusively, free from any other vehicles or safari buses.
Lake Naivasha A freshwater lake, the highest of the string of lakes that glitter down the vast trench of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha is infamous for its rapidly shifting moods. One minute serene and calm, the next it will be whipped by swirling winds, waves and shadowed by storm clouds - hence its name, which means ‘the place of rough water'.
Enigmatic, and dotted with floating islands of Nile cabbage (water hyacinth) and papyrus, Lake Naivasha has no known outlet, and legends abound regarding the vast tunnels that supposedly run beneath its surface. Towered over by the brooding bulk of Mount Longonot (2,776 m), and featuring a submerged volcanic crater known as Crescent Island, this beautiful lake is best known for its high numbers of water birds. Also for the haunting cry of the fish eagles, which feed on the black bass and tilapia of its waters.
Accommodation The lodge offers just five individual and well-spaced cottages, each of which offers a spacious bedroom, ensuite bathroom and broad verandah. The rooms feature king-sized four-poster beds, log fires and marble finished bathrooms. The lodge also offers a heated swimming pool and waterhole, overlooked by the towering ramparts of the Mau Escarpment. Room rates include meals, picnic lunches, sodas, beers, house wine and laundry. Game drives within the conservancy, in the nearby Hell's Gate National Park and Nakuru National Park are also available as are sundowners and bush breakfasts.
Dining and bars Outstanding professionally trained chefs deliver an exquisite array of cuisine to suit all tastes; the emphasis is on diverse multi-culture cuisine, which is made possible with an extensive kitchen and a Tapinyaki hot-plate.
Child-friendly Children are welcome.
Activities Guests at Chui Lodge experience their own private and exclusive game drives and walks with our experienced guides through the plethora of wildlife that live within the security of the 20,000 acres of the Sanctuary surroundings and along miles of unspoilt lake front. This too, is teeming with game and is an Ornithologist's delight, with the numerous species of birds that inhabit the Sanctuary. Activities include; sundowners, champagne bush breakfasts, lakeside lunches, bush picnics, boat trips on Lake Naivasha, climing, swimming, bird watching and trips to Hells Gate National Park.
Horticultural visits can also be made to the famous neighboring Oserian Farm, the largest flower firm in the world, which exports a wide selection of local flowers, such as Roses and Lisianthus to international flower markets.
Kiangazi House Set in tropical gardens, Kiangazi House is a typical colonial mansion, overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Naivasha and surrounded by the 20,000 acre Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary. A dedicated wilderness area, the sanctuary offers white rhino, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, elands, giraffes, topis, Grevy's zebras, hartebeest, Beisa Oryx and greater kudu. Built in the old traditional style of local stone and timber, Kiangazi House has three double ensuite bedrooms within the main house and two further double ensuite bedrooms just beyond the swimming pool. Homestead amenities including a sitting room, dining room, bar and library. The house also offers its own tennis courts.
Below the house are extensive grounds showcasing a wide diversity of water birds, particularly pelicans and flamingoes. In the acacia forests, leopards can sometimes be seen while a series of water holes act as a draw to a wide variety of game.
Dining and Bars Trained chefs prepare international cuisine & appetizing breakfasts & lunches are often taken outside in the lush gardens or on the expansive verandah.
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