Attractions in Nakuru County
18. Kilimandege Sanctuary
In 1962 British-born filmmaker Alan Root, lionized for his nature documentary series like Survival, moved his family to Kenya on the 88-acres plot that is now Kilimandege Sanctuary lying between Longonot Farm and Simba Lodge along South Lake Road. Alan’s repute as the spirited pioneer of nature documentaries speaks for itself and his original narrative style portrayed in much of Survival’s output helped to enkindle a sophisticated genre known as Blue Chip films. The Year of the Wildebeest was the epic story of the thundering migration of the gnu across the plains of Serengeti. Mysterious Castles of Clay, by contrast, showed wildlife in intricate detail in and around termite mounds, revealing the insects’ highly organised society and skills of construction. It received a nomination for an Academy Award. Until 1990, Alan was married to Joan Root, a Kenyan-born conservationist. Sadly, Joan was murdered at Lake Naivasha in 2006 just days before her 70th birthday. Before the tragedy, they had done ‘Nat Geo’ articles together from 1963 to 1971 on Galapagos Islands and African wildlife. Although Alan and Joan went their separate ways in the 80s, she stayed on the sanctuary to pursue her conservation work. Joan focused on protecting the environment and lake resources. The sanctuary was created under protection of a foundation to continue her noble effort. Hosting almost 250 species Kilimandege, or ‘Hill of Birds’ in Swahili, offers an opportunity to enjoy a colourful birding world, with plenty of game like giraffe, zebra and gazelle. Otter Cottage sleeping 8 and the historic Kilimandege House sleeping 12 are sited on the shore of Lake Naivasha.
19. Fisherman’s Camp
Also known as Carnelly’s, this is a camping ground intended mainly for fishing and boating enthusiasts. There are plenty of boats and fishing tackle for hire. Its lodge with luxury cottages, restaurant and bar is popular as a weekend getaway.
20. Elsamere Nature Reserve
Elsamere is one of the earliest, if not the oldest, hotel establishment along Lake Naivasha, accessible via Moi South Lake Road near Kengen Olkaria Geothermal Plaza. 2010 marked the centenary of Victoria ‘Joy’ Adamson’s life – a pioneer in the field of conservation. With her husband George, a Senior Game Warden for Kenya’s untamed Northern Province, she founded one of the world’s foremost wild animal appeals which in 1963 became the Elsa Conservation Trust. Once a holiday home and later a retirement home for the Adamson’s, Elsamere Nature Reserve is a nostalgic, but reposeful, destination. In the house, one room serves as a museum. Up until now, Elsa Conservation Trust perpetuates the life long conservation efforts founded by Joy and George Adamsom. The lodge has 10-double rooms (en-suite with private verandah facing out to the lake). For those who wish to visit the museum on a day-trip, Elsamere is open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. Elsamere is found 22 kms from the turnoff into Moi South Lake Road.
She arrived in Kenya in 1937 where she met and married in 1938 the botanist Peter Bally, who gave her the nickname “Joy”. Peter did botanical paintings, and it was he who encouraged her to continue sketching and painting flora and fauna. She met her third husband, senior warden George Adamson, while on safari in the early 1940s and married in 1944. They made their home together in Kenya
21. Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Formerly known as the Oserian Ranch, this 18,000-acres private sanctuary and adventure site has for years focused on extenuating the age-old human-wildlife conflicts in Lake Naivasha Ecosystem. Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary works to guard and conserve endangered wildlife through sustainable programs centered on preserving and perpetuating a natural balance. It has two luxury properties at Chui Lodge and Kiangazi House. The wildlife sanctuary surrounding Chui Lodge was created in the mid 1990’s with the sole purpose of giving the resident wildlife a place of safety and refuge. Over 18,000-acres is girded by an electric fence, as much to keep illegal cattle grazers out as it is to keep the wildlife from straying into the nearby farmlands. Within the sanctuary and game corridors there are over 50 mammal species, that include; leopard, topi, zebra, serval cat, impala, warthog, and lesser galago. All year round, there are over 400 species of birds that thrive in the different ecosystems. On the other hand, Kiangazi House offers pretty views of the Great Rift Valley and the shimmering Lakes Oloiden and Naivasha. Kiangazi House is located 5 kms from Elsamere Nature Reserve.
22. Djinn Palace at Oserengoni
With its Moroccan antiques, even the architecture of a royal palace sporting the true-to-type curved doorways and striking arches on a brimming white-washed facade, Djinn House is stack, exotic, fancy, deluxe and a tad dramatic all in one. If truth be told, few country homes in the area can shimmer close to the beauty of this one. And Naivasha (Nakuru County in general) is rich in baroque houses left behind by colonial settlers but Djinn Palace at Oserengoni Conservancy is a world apart from the common conventionally English-style homes. Under the directions of Major Cyril-Hill, rancher and former officer in an Indian regiment and sometimes Hollywood actor, the magnificent site was completed in 1927 as his country home. Like many things ‘Happy Valley’, Djinn Palace bore its share of sagas. “During the colonial period, the Djinn Palace was where things usually were very lively for the Happy Valley set,” according to Ulf Aschan. It was built for Ramsay-Hill’s wife, Molly (née Edith Mildred Maude; 1893–1939), who had an affair with but later married Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll. Legend has it that it got its ‘Djinn’ title from the overflowing gin that was drunk there. Even more than that, it is said that the famed Lady Diana Delamere – a key character in the Happy Valley Set – once tenanted the house. The current owners of the conservancy (the Zwagers) reside there now after painstakingly rebuilding and renovating the house. Decades later, in 1969, Oserian was established as a small vegetable growing farm. In 1982 it became the pioneer flower farm in Naivasha.
23. Hippo Point
Situated on a narrow tract of land separating Lakes Naivasha and Oloiden near Oserengoni’s Kiangazi House, this private wildlife sanctuary is included among the top-rate wildlife retreats in the world. Hippo Point offers wonderful scenery and an abundance of big game. Its iconic 120 feet eight-tier Dodo’s tower built in 1993 at the shore has great views of rolling grassland interspersed with strips of woodland and thicket. By night, it offers a dazzling lookout to the cosmos. Its 1932 Manor House, a exemplar British country home, is both elegant and cozy. Over 350 species of birds and plenty of wildlife can be easily sighted. “Plans are underway to develop a highly restricted number of beautiful modern ecological villas for sale to vetted conservation friendly individuals – tucked into the hill side and each with private pool overlooking Lake Oloidien, these high end villas represent a mix of urban African sophistication and wilderness” – Hippo Point.
Abiri Kenya 