Olerai House, Lake Naivasha
A magical old farmstead on the shores of Lake Naivasha where vibrant colours and inquisitive wildlife collide
Location
The house is on the southern shore of Lake Naivasha – or, more strictly, the smaller Lake Oloiden – and is accessible from the newish northern road, with only a short stretch of tarmac to the conservancy entrance. It is about a 40-minute drive along a mainly rough road to Hell’s Gate and other main Naivasha attractions.
Layout
The house is less a homogenous entity than a sprawling labyrinth of rooms encircling the main lawn, where meals are usually taken. The main sitting room is a gorgeously cosy spot with a smattering of colourful cushions and throws. Adjoining this is a video room, with a nice selection of old films. The kitchen – usually the domain of the resident cooks – is large and well-equipped. Outside, there are comfortable mattresses and loungers dotted around the garden, and a firepit at the extremity of the garden. The pool, which is open to guests at Olerai and the two neighbouring properties, the Dairy and the Studio, is about a 10-minute walk from the house. The animals (zebra, warthog, giraffe among others) that meander around the property and nibble at the bougainvillea are arguably the house’s biggest attraction.
Rooms
The house has six bedrooms, and can be rented out on an exclusive and non-exclusive basis, or sometimes on a per-room full board rate. There are no losers at Olerai – every room has been lavished with thought and quite some expense, and all have a very individual style from the most colourful to a more muted design. On one side of the property, a double adjoins to a triple room, while arguably the best room has its own kitchenette and seating area, but is off limits to kids. Inside the house proper, there is an upstairs double, and a ground-floor twin room with two sections, sleeping four. A few metres from the house is a final double room with gorgeous views of the lake. All of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, while some of them also have bathtubs. If a very big party, it is possible to rent out the two nearby properties – the Dairy (three bedrooms) and the Studio (two bedrooms), both of which are designed in similarly upbeat and cosy style. Staff members are also happy to shift beds around to accommodate families.
Dining
The house can be taken on a self-catered basis, or fully catered. The cooks working for the conservancy are generally very experienced, and can whisk up a variety of dishes from quiches to lasagnes to curries. Dining is al fresco for breakfast and lunch, if the weather is nice, and in the dining room for evening meals.
Activities
There is a wealth of activities in the Lake Naivasha area from Hell’s Gate, a national park well-suited to cycling and walks in the gorge (weather-permitting). Sanctuary Farm on the eastern side of the lake offers horse riding, and boat rides depart from a point on the lake about a 25-minute drive away. On the Olerai conservancy itself, a ranger can take guests for guided walks around the property, allowing one to get close to buffaloes safely, while the guests can also use the pool next to the owners’ house.
Upsides
Olerai is easily one of the loveliest properties within striking distance of Nairobi. There is a huge amount to do around the lake, yet the Olerai sanctuary itself easily provides the setting for a peaceful, do-nothing kind of weekend. There are few other places in Kenya where you'll get quite so close to the wildlife from the comfort of your lounger.
Downsides
Although the staff are generally very good and well-versed in what they do, they do not always put on such a slick service that one might expect for a property of this standard and price bracket. Its location at the foot of the lakes means that there is a longer drive to the main attractions, such as Hell’s Gate, La Pieve farm shop, restaurants and riding. Finally, if travelling with family, the daily sanctuary conservancy rate – which at Ksh 1,500 per adult and Ksh 750 per child is high by resident standards - can rack up.
Price
Self-catering ranges from Ksh 75,000 to Ksh 100,000 per night, dependent on whether the party is taking five or six rooms. Cost of a chef is Ksh 1,500 per day. It is important to stress in advance if you want to take the house on an exclusive basis, and it may also affect the price even if not using all six rooms.
www.elephantwatchportfolio.com
Tel: 0713 037 886
Location
The house is on the southern shore of Lake Naivasha – or, more strictly, the smaller Lake Oloiden – and is accessible from the newish northern road, with only a short stretch of tarmac to the conservancy entrance. It is about a 40-minute drive along a mainly rough road to Hell’s Gate and other main Naivasha attractions.
Layout
The house is less a homogenous entity than a sprawling labyrinth of rooms encircling the main lawn, where meals are usually taken. The main sitting room is a gorgeously cosy spot with a smattering of colourful cushions and throws. Adjoining this is a video room, with a nice selection of old films. The kitchen – usually the domain of the resident cooks – is large and well-equipped. Outside, there are comfortable mattresses and loungers dotted around the garden, and a firepit at the extremity of the garden. The pool, which is open to guests at Olerai and the two neighbouring properties, the Dairy and the Studio, is about a 10-minute walk from the house. The animals (zebra, warthog, giraffe among others) that meander around the property and nibble at the bougainvillea are arguably the house’s biggest attraction.
Rooms
The house has six bedrooms, and can be rented out on an exclusive and non-exclusive basis, or sometimes on a per-room full board rate. There are no losers at Olerai – every room has been lavished with thought and quite some expense, and all have a very individual style from the most colourful to a more muted design. On one side of the property, a double adjoins to a triple room, while arguably the best room has its own kitchenette and seating area, but is off limits to kids. Inside the house proper, there is an upstairs double, and a ground-floor twin room with two sections, sleeping four. A few metres from the house is a final double room with gorgeous views of the lake. All of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, while some of them also have bathtubs. If a very big party, it is possible to rent out the two nearby properties – the Dairy (three bedrooms) and the Studio (two bedrooms), both of which are designed in similarly upbeat and cosy style. Staff members are also happy to shift beds around to accommodate families.
Dining
The house can be taken on a self-catered basis, or fully catered. The cooks working for the conservancy are generally very experienced, and can whisk up a variety of dishes from quiches to lasagnes to curries. Dining is al fresco for breakfast and lunch, if the weather is nice, and in the dining room for evening meals.
Activities
There is a wealth of activities in the Lake Naivasha area from Hell’s Gate, a national park well-suited to cycling and walks in the gorge (weather-permitting). Sanctuary Farm on the eastern side of the lake offers horse riding, and boat rides depart from a point on the lake about a 25-minute drive away. On the Olerai conservancy itself, a ranger can take guests for guided walks around the property, allowing one to get close to buffaloes safely, while the guests can also use the pool next to the owners’ house.
Upsides
Olerai is easily one of the loveliest properties within striking distance of Nairobi. There is a huge amount to do around the lake, yet the Olerai sanctuary itself easily provides the setting for a peaceful, do-nothing kind of weekend. There are few other places in Kenya where you'll get quite so close to the wildlife from the comfort of your lounger.
Downsides
Although the staff are generally very good and well-versed in what they do, they do not always put on such a slick service that one might expect for a property of this standard and price bracket. Its location at the foot of the lakes means that there is a longer drive to the main attractions, such as Hell’s Gate, La Pieve farm shop, restaurants and riding. Finally, if travelling with family, the daily sanctuary conservancy rate – which at Ksh 1,500 per adult and Ksh 750 per child is high by resident standards - can rack up.
Price
Self-catering ranges from Ksh 75,000 to Ksh 100,000 per night, dependent on whether the party is taking five or six rooms. Cost of a chef is Ksh 1,500 per day. It is important to stress in advance if you want to take the house on an exclusive basis, and it may also affect the price even if not using all six rooms.
www.elephantwatchportfolio.com
Tel: 0713 037 886
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