Olerai House Naivasha Claimed
Olerai House Naivasha is one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets, a charming and relaxing getaway on the shores of Lake Naivasha, where you can immerse yourself in luxury and comfort in a beautiful farmhouse on a private wildlife sanctuary just two hours by road from Nairobi. Nature was left to take charge of this former cattle farm in 2001, and today, the farmhouse is shrouded in bougainvillea and the scent of wildflowers fills the warm air.
Olerai House Naivasha was the home of Kenya’s renowned elephant researchers and conservationists Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton, and is located on the farm where Oria grew up. The family still owns the property and Oria helps to oversee its daily management. For much of its history, it was a working ranch raising cattle and other livestock, but was also farmed for lucerne, cabbages and other crops. In 1993, the decision was made to turn it back to nature and to open a small lodge to invite guests to experience the sanctuary as it reverted back to its original environment, to the joy of the animals.
This decision was made in part because the family is passionate about preserving Kenya’s wilderness. In the face of the increasing pressures of modernization and a growing human population, there is less and less space for wildlife. But it was also because protecting the environment and maintaining its biodiversity is critical for our future, and there are many ways that good environmental stewardship can help improve the livelihoods of the local people. At Olerai, as in other parts of the Elephant Watch Portfolio, the family are passionate about putting their ideas into practice.
Rates – Low season
Residence Kes 20, 000 per person, Sanctuary Fee included.
Non-Residence $ 250 per person + $20 Sanctuary Fee.
High season – Call for rates.
GETTING HERE
Olerai is a very straightforward two-hour drive from Nairobi mostly on good tarmac with a short murram stretch at the end. Scheduled or chartered light aircraft flights from Wilson airport take between 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the aircraft, and can either land on the sanctuary’s kilometer long airstrip, or at Loldia which is a short 10 minute transfer by car.
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- Saturday24 hours open
- Sunday24 hours open
- Monday24 hours open
- Tuesday24 hours open
- Wednesday24 hours open
- Thursday24 hours open
- Friday24 hours open
