Lake Naivasha - The Great Rift Valley, Kenya
Nestling under acacia and wild fig trees on the green western shores of Lake Naivasha, Loldia House is an old farmhouse on a ranch, built around a courtyard while its main archway frames a stunning view of dormant volcano Mount Longonot. The lawns that surround the house are grazed at night by hippos from the lake.
As well as offering unrivalled tranquility, personal service, home-cooking and magnificent views, Loldia also offers the chance of walking the farm, horse-riding through the cattle and ostrich or taking the house's boat onto the lake - either to fish, bird-watch or hippo-spot. The house is also immediately adjacent to Hells Gate National Park and just a short drive from Lake Nakuru National Park.
Loldia is a house in the old colonial style, magnificently situated on the shores of one of Kenya's most beautiful lakes, Lake Naivasha. Built by Italian prisoners of war from local volcanic stone, it stands on a 6,500 acre farm that was originally established by one of the first pioneers, a Boer ‘trekker', who arrived from South Africa with his ox cart after the Boer War. His descendants own the farm today - which features both cattle ranching and the commercial ostrich farming.
Location
Lake Naivasha is a 2 hour drive from Nairobi (approx 100 kms). The house has its own private airstrip.
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
Lake Naivasha, The Place of Rough Water
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
Accommodation at Loldia is in four comfortable double rooms with en suite bathrooms. The newer Loldia cottage, with its panoramic views, has three double bedrooms each with private bathroom. The house manager, Peter Njoroge, was recently described in Country Life magazine as "probably the world's best butler".
Dining and bars
The dining room at Loldia House is presented in traditional colonial English style while the cuisine reflects the best of local produce and traditional home-cooked dining. Breakfast and lunch are served under the branches of enormous fig tree in the garden. The drawing room remains unchanged since colonial times and features a magnificent stone fireplace. Bar service is available in the house and on the terrace.
Conference and event facilities
The house makes the ideal wedding setting and would also accommodate a small business meeting.
Child-friendly
Children of all ages are welcome at Loldia.
What to see and do
Loldia offers a wide range of activities, as outlined below:
Horse riding on the ranch.
Guided nature walks on the property to see plains game, other fauna and flora. Climb Mount Longonot.
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.
Boat available for fishing and bird-watching on Lake Naivasha.
A walk on Crater Island Private Game Sanctuary.
Loldia House - Lake Naivasha • Rift Valley Farm-House • Kenya Hotels, Safari Lodges & Tented Camps
Place your Kenya Safari Hotel Booking Here!