Loldia House

OVERVIEW:

Located on the north-western shores of Lake Naivasha, Loldia House is a 6,500-acre farm with a beautiful lakefront position, pretty gardens, and homely accommodation. With its extensive grounds and convenient location close to Lake Nakuru National Park and some of Kenya’s wildlife-rich Great Rift Valley lakes, there are endless opportunities to explore this part of the country both on land and by boat. Part of the Governors’ Camp Collection, a name synonymous with high-quality safaris and excellent value for money, Loldia House is one of the best places to stay on Lake Naivasha. Rates are full board and include accommodation, all soft drinks, beers, house wines, and ‘non-premium’ spirits, local airstrip transfers, laundry, and game vehicle transfers to the available activities on Loldia Ranch.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Loldia House is located on a 6,500-acre family farm on the north-west shores of Lake Naivasha. The property is a 2-hour drive from Nairobi, and charter flights to Loldia Airstrip, a 15-minute drive from the house, are also available.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT LOLDIA HOUSE:

There’s a total of nine guest accommodations at Loldia House. The original main house has one double occupancy suite, and there are three separate guest cottages in the gardens, each with two en-suite bedrooms and a shared veranda. Additionally, two luxury suites, each with a private plunge pool, are located closer to the waterfront, shaded by ancient fig trees with stunning views over Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot. Loldia’s country house style is classic and homely, featuring four-poster beds draped with mosquito nets, antique furniture, cushioned armchairs, large sisal rugs over hardwood floors, and fireplaces in some of the rooms. En-suite facilities comprise a flush toilet, a washbasin, an indoor shower, and a bathtub. Just below the lodge’s infinity pool, two newer luxury suites boast high ceilings, natural stone floors, a cosy double-sided log-burning stove apiece, and living areas with floor-to-ceiling windows. Ideal for honeymoon guests, these suites offer an extra degree of privacy with their own entrance, veranda, and plunge pool overlooking Lake Naivasha.

The communal areas at Loldia House occupy the main house, a grand building with dark brick walls and a partly gabled roof. The lounge has an English country manor feel, with its plump sofas and armchairs around a glass-topped coffee table, rustic-look open fireplace, displays of candles and vintage-style lamps, arrangements of fresh flowers, and a bookcase with a selection of hardback books. The restaurant is equally elegant with its long dining table. Further dining space is afforded by the house’s delightful deck, with lovely views across the flower-filled gardens and down to the lake, while breakfast and lunch are often served in the shade of a magnificent fig tree. There’s an infinity pool on a rocky outcrop and a small adjacent spa, which offers a range of massages using 100 per cent natural products by The Wild Herb Company. Finally, guests can also indulge in a spot of souvenir shopping at the lodge curio shop.

ACTIVITIES AT LOLDIA HOUSE:

Loldia offers some exciting activities! Please note, any involving an extra cost has the following after our description: (£+)

• Game drives and guided walks

  – Game drives within the 6,500-acre ranch take place day and night, offering excellent opportunities to observe the local wildlife. Guided walks around Crater Lake in the Great Rift Valley are also possible, to check out the resident troop of colobus monkeys. You might see bat-eared fox, aardvark, leopard, long-tailed mongoose, spring hare, and hippo leaving the lake to graze.

• Lake Nakuru National Park

  – Depart from Loldia House after an early breakfast and enjoy a 2-hour drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru. One of Kenya’s smaller national parks, Lake Nakuru is a beautiful wild space with abundant wildlife, including large numbers of rhino and millions of greater and lesser flamingo that flock to the lake for its algae (please ask the YZ team for details on the best months to see large flamingo populations). Accompanied by an expert guide, explore the park in a 4×4 Land Rover safari vehicle before sitting down to a picnic lunch in a shady, scenic spot. (£+)

• Boat trip on Lake Naivasha

  – Lake Naivasha is the highest lake in the Rift Valley and offers an extremely beautiful, peaceful setting framed by Mount Longonot in the distance. Embark on a boat trip to explore the lake and its wonderful birdlife, including African fish eagle, yellow-billed stork, cormorant, and waterfowl. It’s common to see giraffe, zebra, various antelope species, and pods of grunting hippo bathing in the water.

• Nature walk

  – Led by a naturalist guide and another member of the Loldia team, a Loldia Ranch nature walk offers guests an introduction to the resident wildlife and some of the ranch’s flora and fauna.

• Guided walk and picnic on Crescent Island

  – Board Loldia’s boat for a scenic ride across to Crescent Island. Your guide will highlight noteworthy wildlife, including wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra, and gazelle. There’s also plenty of birdlife, with pelicans, cormorants, and fish-eagles amongst the most common species. From the top of the hill, stunning views encompass Lake Naivasha from Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and on to the Aberdares. (£+)

• Kenya Bird of Prey Trust

  – The ideal excursion for ornithologists, take a journey to the Eburru Forest for a bird-focused bush walk. Some of the species you might encounter include golden-winged and Tacazze sunbirds, Doherty’s bush-shrike, and white-headed wood-hoopoes. You’ll continue to Soysambu Conservancy, which has 450 recorded bird species and is home to Lake Elmenteita, one of the Rift’s soda lakes, which attracts seasonal populations of greater and lesser flamingos, great white and pink-backed pelicans, avocet, sandpiper, snipe, and spoonbill. You’ll also be able to visit the Raptor Rehabilitation Centre, run by the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust. (£+)

• Eburu Forest

  – Within the folds of a geologically active volcanic mountain, Eburu Forest is an incredible biodiversity area, complete with steep hills, deep valleys, and rolling foothills. Along with stunning birdlife and a beautiful floral ecosystem, a forest walk offers guests an insight into the Ogiek community – some of Africa’s last remaining forest dwellers and traditional honey gatherers. (£+)

• Community Tourism

  – Visit Loldia Primary School, and learn about the rebuild initiated by the Loldia School Fund and how it serves the wider community. Please be aware that this visit is by scheduled appointment only, and though entirely at your discretion, a monetary donation would usually be expected. If this interests you, please contact the YZ team for information on the school’s most important needs at your time of visiting. (£+)

• Lake Elementeita

  – Led by a naturalist guide and another member of the Loldia team, a Loldia Ranch nature walk offers guests an introduction to the resident wildlife and some of the ranch’s flora and fauna.

• Climb Mount Longonot

  – Visible from Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot is a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley, its slopes home to buffalo, eland, lion, leopard, bushbuck, zebra, giraffe, Grant's gazelle, and endless species of birds of wildflowers. A strenuous climb, this activity is best suited to experienced climbers, but the views from the top are truly spectacular and well worth the effort! (£+)

• Lake Oloidien

  – A 45-minute drive around the western side of Lake Naivasha takes you to picturesque Lake Oloidien, where small boats are available for hire for a leisurely ride. (£+)

• Horse riding

  – Set off on a 1.5-hour horse ride through Sanctuary Farm, an area with plenty of wildlife to observe along the way, including bat-eared fox, warthog, giraffe, hippo, eland, zebra, buffalo, and gazelle. Ride across the open plains and along the lake shore for possible hippo sightings. Riders of all levels are welcome. Please note that this activity must be pre-booked. (£+)

• Golf

  – Guests can play golf at the 18-hole golf course at Great Rift Valley Lodge overlooking Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot and across to the Aberdare Mountains. (£+)

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.