Stay at Olerai House, The Dairy, The Studio, or Tinga House and experience true serenity. Olerai House is the family home of Oria Douglas Hamilton, a native Kenyan of French-Italian origin. The house was built in the 1930s and is nestled beneath soaring acacia trees at the heart of the 100-acre Sirocco wildlife sanctuary on the shores of Lake Naivasha. It has been open to guests since 1993, before which it was part of a functioning cattle farm. In 2001, Oria turned the land over entirely to wildlife, and the sanctuary is now bursting with wild species of flora and fauna. Zebras and giraffes stroll by at breakfast while Cape buffalo, impala, Thompson gazelles, waterbuck, warthogs and 4 species of monkey forage near by as an avian concert of 300+ bird species fills the air with the most delightful symphony of song. Olerai House has a delightful web of six independent rooms, some of which are furnished with small kitchens for self-catering, plus a sitting and dining area near to a warm fire. The rooms are decorated with colourful tapestries, local art and sprinklings of flowers on the beds. Delicious three course meals are available for full board guests, with each being a sumptuous affair of freshly-baked bread, hot or cold soups made with vegetables picked fresh from the organic garden, exquisite salads, home-made pasta and ice-cream. Olerai is the perfect weekend escape from the bustle of Nairobi - be it on a full board, family bubble or self catering basis - an haven for long distance travellers embarking on safari in desperate need of a few days to decompress from flights. The house is a delight for children and adults alike, with smiling staff (100% vaccinated against Covid) welcoming guests with open arms. Activities include:
• Bird watching, gentle bush walks, or hikes up the Leleshwa ridge behind the Sanctuary, all in the company of a Samburu warrior to keep you safe. Our guides are trained ornithologists as well as experts on the behaviour of wild species.
• Expeditions up Mt Longonot can also be arranged, for those in need of a bit more adventure or thorough exercise.
• Delightful boat rides with local ornithologists to indulge in the glorious bird life of Lake Naivasha, with pods of curious hippos all around. Every now and then, flamingoes take up residence on a small adjacent lake, which are a joy to visit too.
• Night drives to meet the nocturnal wildlife - hippos, buffalo, leopards, aardvarks, civet cats, hyena and jackals
• Swimming in the Sirocco pool with zebras, giraffes and colobus monkeys lazing on the lawn nearby.
• Celebrating the sunset or moon rise wiht a sundowner by a roaring fire on the shores of the Lake.
• Visiting Soy Sambu or Lake Nakuru National Park
• Olerai is the perfect base from which to explore the lakes of the Rift Valley on camping expeditions - Nakuru, Baringo or Bogoria - in particular.
