Lake Naivasha - The Great Rift Valley, Kenya
The Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge is charmingly located. It stands in 120 acres of lakeside land, most of which is covered in green riparian meadows, which sweep down to the shores of the lake, one of the most beautiful in the Great Rift Valley. The grounds are dotted with tall acacia trees and feature numerous rock gardens, flowering shrubs and a grove of Candelabra Euphorbia. A jetty has been built out onto the lake, from where guests can watch the antics of the hippos in the lake and experience 360 degree views, which include Crescent Island, Mount Longonot, the Mau Escarpment and the misty outline of the Aberdares (boat trips are offered at additional cost). The grounds are alive with a colourful selection of birds, and the trees with monkeys.
Location
Lake Naivasha is a 1.5 hours drive from Nairobi (approximately 100 kms).
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.
The Background
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
There are 84 rooms accommodated in circular double-storey ‘rondavels' with conical roofs. Built in a gentle curve to the right of the main reception building, the rooms stand on lush green lawns shaded by fever trees. Each room has an entrance lobby, ensuite bathroom, bedroom area (with TV in most but not all) and sunken lounge area with double doors opening on to either a balcony or a terrace leading straight into the grounds. Top floor rooms have king-sized beds, lower rooms have two queen-sized beds. Each room has a telephone, tea and coffee making facilities and a mini bar.
Dining and bars
The large spacious central restaurant looks out over the grounds and opens on to an internal lounge with central fireplace. Meals are typically served buffet style.
There is also a poolside snack bar and drinks service. The main bar opens off the lounge and offers luxurious sofa seating and an open fireplace. The lodge also offers bush breakfasts (with champagne), lunches and dinners as well as ‘sundowners' in the grounds.
Weddings and honeymoons
The extensive grounds and lake views offer superb wedding photo backdrops while the central dining area offers the ideal setting for a wedding reception. Pre-wedding or après wedding events can also be staged around the pool.
Conference and event facilities
There is a dedicated conference centre which can accommodate 24-100 guests in a number of rooms, which can be adapted to suit the requirements of the organizer (including breakaway rooms and secretariat). Complete audiovisual, delegate support and team-building services are offered. The lodge offers a wide range of incentives to include: bush breakfasts, Maasai cultural productions, African and Swahili presentations, sundowners and corporate themed events.
Child-friendly
Children are welcome and the lodge offers: a children's swimming pool and baby-sitting on request.
Amenities
The lodge offers a small gymnasium, gift shop, foreign exchange service and a swimming pool.
What to see and do
Relax in the shaded poolside area.
Walks within the grounds and down to the lake shore.
Boat trips on the lake.
Visit to one of the huge flower farms that surround the lake and supply particularly roses to the florists of Europe.
Range of day trips - Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Bogoria.
A walk on Crater Island Private Game Sanctuary.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge - Rift Valley
Kenya Safari Lodges, Tented Camps, Hotels & Resorts