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Attractions in Nakuru County

24. Lake Oloiden

Lake Naivasha comprises of three lakes: Crescent Lake (varying in drop from 18 ms at Hippo Point to 8 ms), Crater Lake or Lake Sonachi (found near the south western edge of Lake Naivasha but is independent of the main Lake Naivasha) and Lake Oloiden (sometimes inter-connected to the main lake). It is a smaller lake at the the southern end of Lake Naivasha and depending on the water level may be detached from the main lake. This semi-separated sodic extension lake is also shallow, averaging 5 ms, but is more alkaline than the main lake. “In the mid-1800’s, Lake Oloiden dried up but a few years later, Lake Naivasha’s levels rose so high that it interconnected with Oloiden, which turned it fresh. In 1982, when Lake Naivasha’s water levels began to fall, Lake Oloiden steadily became separated from Lake Naivasha and slowly turned saline again” – Nation Media. The fully serviced Oloiden Camping Site is the best place to enjoy the lake. It is located 27 kms from the turnoff, along Moi South Lake Road, nearby Kongoni Center. Look out for a large white tire with ‘Oloiden Camp’ written in black ink.

25. Mundui House

Another yellowing hotel around Naivasha, literally painted a dashing off-yellow colour on its stack angular walls, is the private, highly-rated luxurious Mundui House which holds a diverting history having hosted many eminent guests the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill. It has a gorgeous lakefront setting too. “The Earl of Enniskillen owned the Mundui Estate for many years before it was sold to its current owner Margaret Zak, who created the Animal Rights Reserved foundation and wildlife conservancy in 2010. The conservancy, comprising nearly 2,000 acres of Kongoni Game Valley and Mundui Estate, with varying landscapes and a wealth of wild game, serves as the ideal location to reintroduce many rescued or relocated animals” EA Retreats. It is situated on the shore of Lake Oloiden within the ARR private wildlife conservancy nestled on the volcanic hills and open grasslands at the western edge of Lake Naivasha. The fairly large house, of an old English country home design, has seven double rooms and two single rooms all looking out to the garden that rolls down to the lake’s edge. It has a detached guest wing separated from the main house by a swimming pool and lovely gardens. Kongoni Game Valley, Oserengoni Wildlife Conservancy, Elsamere Nature Reserve and Hell’s Gate National Park are just off the road to Oloiden and can be visited within a day from the Mundui House.

26. Kongoni Game Valley

Moi South Lake Road eventually terminates at Kongoni Centre. The road taking south signs to Kongoni Lodge. Continuing west, an all weather road travels past Crater Lake to Ndabibi then over the border with Narok County 35 kms away. 1.7 kms from Kongoni southerly heading you arrive at Kongoni Game Valley, a 2,000-acres wildlife ranch with a lodge and fine gardens. Its open-game policy, allowing resident wildlife to roam within sight of the lodge, is one of the unique features at this beautiful game valley. The main house, a generous colonial-style country home, is a living history lesson in victorian architecture. It contains six en-suite rooms with double occupancy and a one bedroom annex whose entry is at the terrace. The Ranch also has 26-deluxe suites, at their Ole-Itiko Cottages.

27. Crater Lake

Crater Lake (or Lake Sonachi) lies at the southwestern flank of Lake Naivasha filling its own distinct volcanic crater as a soda lake fully independent from the main lake, but its levels are believed to oscillate in harmony with the main lake as a result of groundwater connection. The striking 1 km2 pickle-green lake is a small paradise by its own with a distinctive micro-climate. A dense forest covers the steep wall of the crater lake where umpteen flocks of flamingos roost. Crater Lake is encircled by a 10 km2 game sanctuary hosting a varied array of wildlife. Other interest include the beautifully-appointed 11-rooms Crater Lake Camp at the base of the hill overlooking the lake, the happy valley’s tragic heroine grave (Corville Cemetery) and “Caves of God”. It is found 7 kms from Kongoni Centre.

28. Crater Lake Camp

Crater Lake Camp is a famous escape, set about in the bush at the private Crater Lake Sanctuary. The camp, located at the bottom of the hill overlooking Crater Lake, is comprised of eight double rooms and two permanent family bandas; all en-suite. A honeymoon suite with a large bush pole bed and a double jacuzzi is also available. In addition, there are 13 tents posited by the emerald-green lake. Activities at the camp are centred around nature and wildlife. There are guided nature walks at the crater and the sanctuary. The bird list is over 400 species of which it is easy to spot more than 100 species in a day. There are 30 species of wildlife in the sanctuary. At night, hippos come out of the main Lake Naivasha to graze, and it is possible to see the aardvarks and spring hares on night game drives. There is a colony of almost 70 Colombus monkeys existing here. What’s more, for most times of the year, are flamingos covering almost the entire Lake.

29. Colville Cemetery

Surprisingly little-known considering its overly conspicuous location atop a hill in the farmland backwoods near Ndabibi Centre, Corville Cemetery is certainly worth a visit by history buffs at heart. A brazen cemetery, enclosed with walls, within it towering fig trees growing over three graves, raised in seclusion close to the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. It is the final resting place for Lady Diana Delamere, buried between her last two husbands – Gilbert Colville and Thomas Cholmondeley Delamere. Infamous as the happy valley’s tragic heroine, Diana Caldwell had been a main suspect in the mystery of Lord Erroll’s (Josslyn Victor Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll) death in 1941 in company with her first husband, Sir Jock Delves Broughton. In late 1940, Lord Erroll met Diana, Lady Delves, the new, pretty and young wife of Sir Jock Delves Broughton, 11th Baronet. Lord Erroll and Lady Delves soon became lovers. Diana had planned to divorce the influential Broughton and marry Erroll. This would be the beginning of many scandals attached to her name that captured the fascination of global tabloids. Broughton supposedly gave his blessings at a late night aristocratic shindig, or may not exclusively; the exact details of this acceptance are unclear. Whether Broughton, Diana and Erroll had reached an amicable consensus, or supposed to, or whether Broughton just wanted to dismiss the embarrassment depends on whose account one follows. What was very clear by the next morning is that Erroll, discovered murdered in his car on January 14, 1941, would not end up in a happy second marriage, his first wife Edith Maude (“Molly”) having divorced him and moved on with Ramsay-Hill. Broughton was charged with his murder but was acquitted in the trial. Diana stood up for her husband, but after the trial accused him of being the murderer and abandoned him. Following her divorce from Broughton, Diana married Gilbert Colvile, in 1943, one of the prominent landowners in Naivasha and inherited much of his vast estate after his death. Some years later, Diana married Thomas Cholmondeley, 4th Baron Delamere, further increasing her land fortune. “For many years in the 1960s and 1970s and until the death of her lesbian lover, Diana lived in a three-way relationship with her husband and Lady Patricia Fairweather (daughter of the 2nd Earl of Inchcape). By the time of Delamere’s death, Diana was skindered to be the most powerful settler woman in Africa, aptly nicknamed the “White Queen of Africa.”