NAIROBI, KENYA JULY 2014
Naivasha has officially taken the stand
where out-of-town partying is concerned; from her serenity, proximity
to the capital and its versatility as a destination-Nairobi may soon
be begging Naivasha Naivasha to break her spell!
Located in the Great Rift Valley of
Kenya is a place with a talent for combining many different elements
and aspects of nature with a remarkable expertise! Commenting on
Naivasha as a major tourist attraction, Lillian Gaitho the PR Manager
at JOVAGO , a leading online
hotel booking and travel site, acknowledges the unprecedented rise in
her popularity; you need to allocate more than a few days for a full
excursion of this legendary town. There is something for everyone;
from naturalists to geologists and romantics dreaming of fairytales
to film-makers chasing adventures worth prime time on Discovery
Channel”
This coming weekend, the town will be
hosting the Great Rift Valley Festival, and judging by history-the
host camp; Fisherman’s Camp might already be fully booked! Here are
some of the few stop overs you may need to make on your way, and
where to safely keep your travel kits while you party the-Naivasha
-Way!
- THE ITALIAN CHAPEL
This could make our very slice of the
Roman’s architectural finesse! The Catholic Chapel was built by
Italian prisoners as a sign of compassion for their hard labor during
the construction of the Naivasha-Nakuru road in the 1940s.
The little chapel
is a big attraction for wedding ceremonies and offers serenity and
peace to travelers without discrimination. Inside the church, there
are Latin inscriptions while a picture of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph
surrounded by angels stand behind the altar. The nearby Triple
Eden Naivasha Hotel will make a good stay for group visitors who
may also want to reach out to their Religious Being.
- A BOAT TRIP ON LAKE OLOIDEN
Once your inner being syncs with the
environment, you may want to give back to the local conservationist
and nature protectors; a small community who live by the shores of
Lake Oloiden about six kilometers away from Naivasha town. There are
a number of hotels not too far from the lake such as Enashipai
Resort & Spa and Kiboko
Luxury Camp, Naivasha which offer great packages inclusive of a
visit to Lake Oloiden. The small, serene lake is a festival of
senses; from sites of hippo families, sounds of the giant fish eagle,
fresh pure breeze emanating from the lake and beautiful wildlife
gracefully grazing meters away.
It’s of great fulfillment to know
that the proceedings from the boat trips and related adventure
directly support the Oloiden community who live by the lake shore.
- AN EXPEDITION ON CRESCENT ISLAND
Crescent Island is considered one of
the most beautiful parks in Kenya with an unprecedented and
impressive number and variety of wildlife per acre.
The docking area accessible from Lake
Naivasha Country Club safely tucks you on a breathtaking cruise
to the Crescent Island. While here, enjoy panoramic views from the
hilltop; Lake Naivasha glitters right beneath you while Mt Longonot
stands fiercely in your eye path, further ahead are the Mau
Escarpments, one of the country’s water catchment block while the
Aberdares rise towards the skies as if in an embrace.
- HIKE AND PICNIC ON Mt LONGONOT
Thought to have last erupted in the
1860s, this extinct volcano is a big attraction for hikers, outdoor
enthusiasts and even geologists. This colossus of bewitching beauty
dominates her surrounding landscape with lava canyons running on her
steep sides in frozen ashy rocks. On the rim of the mountain is a
circular caldera over a kilometer in which forms a magnificent view.
Looking down on the crater floor, a thick forest stands abode to
dozens of an unperturbed wildlife.
Families vacationing with children will
find Mount Longonot Lodge great
since they have cottages designed to cater for diverse family needs.
- HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK
If you are not fortunate enough to spot
wildlife at Mt Longonot, worry not; Hell’s Gate National Park,
though small by African Standards is home to diverse and an amazing
birdlife in the region.
Apart from the wildlife, the park
allows activities such as biking, motorcycling, and hiking is allowed
in the park an aspect that’s only found in one more park. You may
consider staying close by in camps such as Camp
Carnelley's just to ensure you rise early enough to catch the
wildlife by the waterholes!
You cannot miss one of the major
highlights of Hell’s Gate National Park; a big deal for Angelina
Jolie’s Tomb Raiders. The Ol-njorowa gorge is very scenic,
from the steep and incised rock moldings to the pumice lava and green
algae thriving in the “day lighting” spots of the underground
springs. The gorge is very picturesque and especially at the section
named “Devil’s bedroom” apparently so named by early visitors
because of the monkeys who usually congregate here and make unearthly
noises.
Rock climbers will have a great time
scaling the rocky extrusions of Fischer’s tower at the mouth of the
gorge. Picnics and team building are great here, but beware of the
flash floods-we shall need to document your stories from the cradle
of life!
- ELSAMERE CONSERVANCY (JOY ADAMSON CENTER)
English high tea on the manicured lawn,
shadows floating on the lake’s shimmer and the golden rays of the
sun sinking behind the horizon; this is how you describe the English
high tea party at Elsamere. The conservancy was established in memory
of Elsa of the Born Free fame, it is a treasure for lovers of
nature, rustic and vintage countryside.
The house is full of exciting photos
and paintings and artifacts by Joy Adamson. Accommodation is
available at both the cottages and at the spectacular makuti-
thatched Chui Lodge a few minutes
away.
- FIRED EARTH AND ELEMETAITA WEAVERS
Fired Earth is a small pottery workshop
with a great collection for styled clay pottery with customized and
signature themes. For both functionality and aesthetic purposes,
Fired Earth will make a great stop over if you are anywhere near the
Southern shores of Lake Naivasha.
There is a little cute shop where you
can watch weavers weave away lovely hand-woven fabrics ideal for
keepsakes after a hospitable stay at the nearby Sawela
Lodge
.
- CRATER LAKE
Tucked away in a
hidden part of Africa, is this little lake comes with great blessings
including a tastefully put together camp Crater
Lake Tented Camp to host her visitors. The lake is believed to
have mystic healing powers by the local community. The air is quite
magical, and the view ecstatic.
This will make
glorious memories for couples on holidays or just taking some time
off. Down in the “wheat fields of Ndabibi” are the mysterious
“caves of God” believed to bear oracles.
- Go Golfing at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort
Voted as the
Leading Golf Resort in Kenya at the 2010 World Travel Awards, this
18-hole gold course will make a good tee for any golf enthusiastic.
Whether you are a pro, handicap or secret admirer of its panoramic
views will certainly enthrall you. The vistas stretch from the shoes
of the sparkling Lake Naivasha to the rugged terrains of the
Aberdares and the incised edges of Mt Longonot. It’s a perfect
backdrop regardless of the sun’s position! Situated less than an
hour’s drive from the Golf Course, Naivasha
Peppercon Holiday Resort makes a great alternative to the resorts
accommodation.
- FINALLY, GO FISHING IN LAKE NAIVASHA!
Lodge at the
legendary Lake Naivasha Country
Club with an endless view of the pristine fresh waters dominated
by shadows of Mt Longonot. This gives an inviting aura for sundowner
cruises and fishing after a long day of excursion or an afternoon of
golfing.
For more
information on where to stay while visiting these destinations go to
www.jovago.com
For any queries, contact Lillian
Gaitho, PR Manager JOVAGO ,
the Leading Hotel booking site in Africa
Tel: +254 773 014 918 / 0729 823 884
Email: lilian.gaitho@jovago.com
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