Governors Loldia House Rift Valley
Governors Loldia house is an original Kenyan home on an old farm on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Here guests can enjoy a gentle pace of life, relax by the pool, head off on a game drive or indulge in a variety of treatments from the pool side spa room. Governors Loldia house offers a choice of accommodation either in the old family house or in cottages in the grounds. In the main house, there is one en-suite double room. Close by are 3 other guest cottages, surrounded by pretty gardens and offering incredible views across the lake to the extinct volcano, Mount Longonot. Up on the hill is the top cottage, which has 3 double bedrooms and its own sitting room with an open log fire, making it ideal for families or close friends travelling together. The vista from up Governors Loldia House is stupendous.
Getting there
Loldia house is only a 2-hour drive from Nairobi and is within easy reach of Nairobi’s international airport. It is also conveniently located for day trips to the famous Lake Nakuru national park. There are daily flights on Governors’ aviation direct from Nairobi to Governors Loldia house and then on to the Masai Mara, making it the perfect place from which to begin or end your exciting safari holiday around Kenya.
Hells gate national park
Deep gorges twist and turn, cutting into rock that witnessed humanity take its first steps. Extinct volcanoes still stand tall against the African sky. But time has whittled it down. The sense of timelessness is heightened by the acrid smell of sulphur piercing the air. As one of Africa’s smallest national parks, Hell’s Gate harks back to the prehistoric. Measuring just 26 square miles, it provides visitors with the opportunity to experience an area of profound geological interest, and immerse themselves in the distant past. Guests are Loldia house can visit Hell’s gate on a day trip, where they’ll have the option to be accompanied by one of our resident naturalists on a walk, learning not only about the area’s special geological features but also its captivating wildlife.
Hell’s gate gorge
Hell’s gate gorge snakes through the centre of the park, a tributary to an ancient lake that once existed. Visitors can explore the curving walls of the gorge with a guide, and experience the aptly-named sections – the devil’s sitting room, Hell’s clinic, and the devil’s mouth. There are several small waterfalls, both cold and hot, as well as stunning, multi-coloured rock strata and formations. You might even recognise some of the locations – they’ve been included in productions such as Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, and inspired others such as The Lion King.
Fischer tower
At 25 metres tall, Fischer tower is a remnant of the park’s volcanic history. This craggy behemoth was formed when semi-molten rock was forced through a fissure and solidified around 35 million years ago. Accompanied by a guide, visitors can climb the tower and gaze over the surrounding area.
Obsidian caves
Another vestige of volcanic activity are the obsidian caves, located along the Buffalo circuit. Entering the cool of the caves, you’ll notice the shiny, black and dark green surface of obsidian rock. This mesmerising gleam is the result of molten lava coming into contact with water and cooling rapidly.
Wildlife
Aside from the spectacular geology, Hell’s Gate is also home to a wide range of wildlife. Despite its relatively small size, the area’s wildlife includes giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalo, thomson gazelles, and eland antelopes. The high cliffs of the park are also ideal for nesting birds, which total around 103 species. Of particular note is the bearded vulture.
Lake Nakuru national park
One of the highlights whilst staying at Loldia house is a day trip to Lake Nakuru national park, which is world famous for its millions of colourful flamingoes and abundant rhino. Guests depart from Loldia after an early breakfast and enjoy a drive through the Rift valley on their way to Lake Nakuru, which is approximately 2 hours from Loldia House. The park is abundant with a wide variety of wildlife, large numbers of rhino and millions of both Great and Lesser flamingoes. Enjoy game viewing around the park in our specially designed 4wheel-drive land rovers before choosing a shady spot for a sumptuous picnic lunch. Return to Loldia house for afternoon tea and delicious cakes, on the lawn overlooking Lake Naivasha. A day trip to Lake Nakuru is included in the overnight rate. Park fees are to be paid direct at the park entrance gate.
Eburu forest
The Eburu forest comprises 8,715.3 hectares of prime indigenous forest area contained within the steep hills, deep valleys and rolling foothills of Mount Eburu. Overlooking Lake Naivasha to the south east, Lake Elementaita to the North and Lake Nakuru to the North West, the Mau Eburu forest is nestled within the folds of a geologically active volcanic mountain, whose highest peak, Ol Doinyo Eburu, stands 2,820 metres above sea level. The forest is fully demarcated with formal title held by the Kenya forest service. It is one of the 22 gazetted forest blocks that comprise the Mau forests complex water tower. Guests staying at Loldia House can explore the forest on a game drive and guided walk through the forest. You can be book this with the Loldia Manager at the house. There is a small entrance fee that guests wanting to visit the forest must pay.
Boating on Lake Naivasha
We offer boat safaris on Lake Naivasha to our guests. Lake Naivasha, at over 6,000 feet, is the highest lake in the Rift Valley and one of its most beautiful. Fringed by papyrus and with the extinct Mount Longonot as a backdrop, this is a wonderful place to watch and photograph birds. Over 400 species of birds are in the Rift Valley, and Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Hells gate all offer great bird viewing opportunities.
At Loldia house we have a resident ornithologist and you can enjoy this wonderful bird life by boat around Lake Naivasha, and on game drives. From boat trips on the lake you can get close to Cormorants drying their wings, Pink Backed Pelicans, Herons, colourful kingfishers and fish eagles. Other birds seen around the lake include the Goliath Heron, Jacana, Great White Egret, White Fronted Bee-eater and the Saddle- billed Stork. Acacia woodland and open grassland surrounds Lake Nakuru, and millions of Greater and Lesser Flamingoes fringe the lake in shades of pink.
