06 Nights Naivasha and Masai Mara

One of the highlights whilst staying at Loldia House is a day trip to the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park, which is world famous for it’s thousands 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. Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s smaller National Parks, yet it is one of the most beautiful. 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 Landrovers 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.

Nakuru Park fees are $60 per adult and $30 per child, subject to change.

Accessed by our boat launched from Loldia House, take a boat ride over to the picturesque Crescent Island, which is actually a peninsular connected to the main land when the lake levels aren't too high!

With our guide, take a walk on the island to view the bird and animal life. The shores host abundant birdlife including pelicans, cormorants and fish-eagles with their haunting cry. There are herds of Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Zebra and Gazelle. The giraffe who were born on the Island return to give birth; sometimes you see three generations at a time. Hyena come to hunt at night but are not resident on the island, the many python who do live here can be seen occasionally with a kill.

From the top of the hill there is a 360 degree view across the Lake from Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and onto the Aberdares.

Entrance fee for Crescent Island is $33 per adult and $16 per child, subject to change. Please note that the boat charge across to Crescent Island is $30 per person.

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, the lake is picturesque.

The lake is extremely productive for a variety of birds, and is also home to pods of hippo.
Loldia House has it's own boat and launching jetty and a boat ride is a wonderful way to view all the feathered and non-feathered species of the region.

Boat rides on Lake Naivasha are inclusive in the accommodation cost.

We can arrange day and night game drives on Loldia Ranch to see the resident wildlife on the ranch, which includes abundant plains game. Night game drives normally depart after dinner. The drive lasts for one or so hour and you explore the ranch at night. Animals normally seen on night game drives include bat-eared foxes, aardvarks, leopard, long-tailed mongooses, spring hares, nightjars and eagle owls as well as hippos leaving the lake to graze.

Game drives on Loldia Conservancy are inclusive in accommodation costs.

Escorted by one of our highly skilled and experienced guides, depart Loldia House after an early breakfast to Eburru Forest in time for the early morning activity of it's forest birds with a bush walk. Golden-winged and Tacazze sunbirds, Doherty's Bush-Shrike, White-Headed Wood-Hoopoes, Narina's Trogan and more can be found in the lush vegetation of Eburru Forest.

After an early morning of birding, continue through the forest by road passing over the ridge of Eburru and descending down towards Soysambu Conservancy in the north, where over 450 birds have been recorded in the conservancy itself. Soysambu encompasses Lake Elmenteita, one of the Rift's soda lakes and home to a stable and larger seasonal population of Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, Great White and Pink-Backed Pelican. Avocets, Sandpipers, Snipes and Spoonbills are some of the other species occupying the water and shorelines. Out in the open grasslands, Ground Hornbills, Secretary Birds and several species of Bustards can be found.

After a picnic lunch, visit the Raptor Rehabilitation Centre on Soysambu, run by the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust. Simon Thomsett uses the principles of falconry to rehabilitate injured raptors back into the wild. View a demonstration of falconry. The centre also houses 2 African Crowned Eagle pairs, from who 11 generations of chicks have been released into the wild.

Guide price of a birding day trip with all entry fees is $90pp, subject to change.

Eburru Forest crowns the geologically active Mt Eburru, a volcanic massif in the Great Rift Valley. Mt Eburru is key in influencing local weather patterns, creating a catchment for rains that feed Lake Naivasha and Lake Elmenteita.

The biodiversity of the Eburu is astounding, with some 60 species of mammal a very small relic population of the incredibly rare Mountain Bongo, a beautiful antelope. We have teamed up the Rhino Ark and the Bongo Surveillance Program to support their conservation activities of the Eburru Forest and restoring the population of Mountain Bongo.

A walk in the Eburru Forest will reveal active steam vents, a multitude of forest bird species and a rich floral ecosystem. A demonstration of honey harvesting by the Ogiek is a fascinating experience.

A truly wonderful experience is to see a traditional honey harvesting demonstration by the Ogiek people, who are the traditional inhabitants of the Eburu forest. Enjoy a tea and biscuits with some freshly harvested honey.

Mountain Bongo experts Donna Shepherd, Colin or Tony Church can also be invited to speak about their ongoing surveillance work, and the future plans to reintroduce Mountain Bongo to where they once freely roamed.

Loldia conservancy sits between Eburru forest and Lake Naivasha.

For a drive up into Eburu Park, entrance fee is $7 per person.

Walking in Eburu Forest to see tree planting program, water extraction from steam jets, guided walk in
forest to see the flora and fauna is $15 per person. Honey extraction demonstration is $50 per experience.

We can organise a visit to Loldia Primary School. A previous manager of Loldia House and longstanding guests formed the Loldia School Fund, a UK registered charitable trust, which has worked hard to improve the school for the children of the area. To date the school has been completely rebuilt, making it one of the best schools in the region. Scholarships have been offered to primary school leavers to attend secondary school, and some of the brighter students have gone on to Universities in Kenya and South Africa. The school also serves the wider community offering evening adult literacy classes and a kindergarten. The Governors’ Camp Collection supports the work of the Loldia School Fund which is helping provide a standard of education that enables the children attending to better their circumstances and find a way out of the poverty that exists in this area of Kenya.

Donations in the form of pencils, footballs, etc to the school are very welcome, and we will be happy to facilitate. We encourage you at the time of booking to request for information on the most pertinent needs of the school, so as to make the most impactful contribution. Visits to the school are a rewarding experience for all, with the children learning as much from you as you from them. We will organise a visit around the children's school routine so as to not be disruptive.

This visit is by appointment only and a monetary donation is expected.

Between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru lies another of Kenya's alkaline lakes – Lake Elementeita. The area is an incredibly important feeding ground for both Greater and Lesser flamingos and a critical breeding site for Great white pelicans. You can stop off here for a leisurely wander along the shoreline and enjoy the sight of beautiful flamingos in their thousands as well as other animals such as Zebra, Gazelle, Eland and Warthog. We generally suggest a stop off here either on your way to, or return from, Lake Nakuru National Park as it is on the way.

Entry to the Lake Elmenteita area costs $22 per adult and $11 per child (subject to change) which is paid directly to the Community Project.

Also of interest nearby is the Kariandusi Prehistoric Site: An African Early Stone Age site that dates back approximately 1 million years. It was discovered by renowned palaeontologist Louis Leakey in 1928 and is famous for the abundance of Acheulean hand axes thought to have been made by Homo erectus in a possible ‘hand-axe factory’ like setting.

We can offer a guided nature walk around Loldia Ranch. You would walk with one of our naturalist guides and another member of the Loldia team. During the walk it is possible to see some of the wildlife resident on the ranch and be introduced to some of the smaller flora and fauna of the ranch.

Included in the accommodation price.

We are able to arrange a climb up Mt Longonot. Mt Longonot is a dormant volcano which lies in the Great Rift Valley and is visible from Lake Naivasha. Mount Longonot is a demanding hike but the views from the top across the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha are glorious. There is a thick forest on the crater floor and the volcano's slopes are home to buffalo, eland, lion, leopard, bushbuck, zebra, giraffe, Grant's gazelles as well as countless species of wild flowers and some interesting birdlife.

We arrange a picnic lunch for guests going on the climb, the park entrance fee is payable direct and our manager will be happy to advise you of the current rates. Please note Mt Longonot is a strenuous climb and clients must be in good health and fit to take on the climb.

Climb Mt. Longonot costs $26 per adult and $17 per child (subject to change). Park Fees paid direct.

Head off on a 45-minute drive around the western side of Lake Naivasha from Loldia House brings you to another small lake where boats are available for hire and will take you for a leisurely cruise along the lake edge. This lake has particularly prolific birdlife and a healthy population of hippo. Take a picnic basket of tea and cake and stop along the lakeshore to take in the beauty of this little corner of Africa.

Boat trip on Lake Olodien - $50 for the boat (maximum 6 pax).

Kenya is one of the largest growers and suppliers of flowers to the European market - it's where many Valentine's Day long-stem roses come from!

We can arrange a visit to a nearby flower farm for guests staying at Loldia House. Guests are given a guided walk through the farm's greenhouses to see how the flowers are grown, harvested and prepared for shipment to Europe. From cutting to arriving at auction in Europe the process and transport takes just over 48hrs to ensure they arrive fresh!

Entry fee is $10pp, subject to change.

Head off on a 1.5hr horse ride throughout wildlife-rich Sanctuary Farm, an area teeming with bat-eared foxes, warthogs, giraffes, hippo, eland, zebra, buffalo and gazelles. You’ll ride across the open plains to view the abundant game and then along the lake shore where you’ll see lots of hippo in the lake.

This is a safe and professional outfit where riders of all skills are welcome and total beginners can be hand-led by the guide if desired. You will be asked about your experience prior to arrival to pair you with the right horse and provide the right level of support. We highly recommend this activity! Must be booked the day before.

Horse Riding costs $75 per person per hour. From Sanctuary Farm.

We can arrange for guests to go to play golf at the nearby Great Rift Valley Lodge. The golf course has 18 holes and is located above Loldia and there are lovely views out over Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot and across to the Abedare Mountains. There is also swimming pool. There is plenty of birdlife on the course and guests can sometimes see zebra wandering across the fairways. Guest need to pay entrance fee, green fees, hire of golf clubs and caddie fees. The manager of Loldia House can advise on these fees.

Costs for Golf at Great Rift Valley Golf Resort (also has a tennis court):
Hire of Golf Clubs $10 pp
Green fees to play 18 holes $35 pp
These rates apply to week days only

After a long drive, boat ride or bush walk immerse yourself into the tranquil world of your Lake Naivasha surroundings in our poolside spa room, while our fully-trained spa therapist pampers you using the finest products by Terre D'Afrique, Wild Earth Botanics, or Cinnabar Green ensuring that you emerge feeling totally relaxed and recharged.

Please request our spa price-list once you are at Loldia House.

Hell’s Gate National Park is known for its interesting geology and the steam geysers that are found in some areas. The cliffs in the park provide ideal nesting and vantage points for many birds of prey. It is possible to hike down the gorge to the hot springs and one of our resident naturalists will be happy to accompany you on the walk.

Hell's Gate Park fees are $26 per adult and $17 per child, subject to change.

We can arrange guided morning or afternoon walks around this 14-hectare lake, home to a troop of over 70 Black and White Colobus monkeys and 400 bird species (100 of which can easily be spotted in a day). At certain times during the year flocks of flamingos congregate here in numbers as high as three or four thousand.

Visit Crater Lake - $25 per person (subject to change). Park Fees paid direct.

Governors’ Camp properties combine the best locations in the Masai Mara with the best-designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides to give our clients un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in the world’s prime wildlife area.

We are in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara; we take you out twice a day into the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve and surrounding areas. Our driver-guides are hand-picked and nurtured by us. They undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field. Having operated in the Masai Mara for 50 years, our driver-guides have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for the importance of this wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.

Game drives are included in the accommodation rate.

For those looking for an adventure of a different kind, we suggest a magical hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara.

The adventure begins just before dawn. Departure is from a launch site behind Little Governors’ Camp. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks, the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective.

What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness – the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara.

After about an hour or so, your balloon safari finishes with a flourish. In the time-honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, toast your return to earth with sparkling wine and enjoy a delicious breakfast that is set up and served at a very special spot. The experience ends with a game drive back to your camp.

There is an extra cost for a hot air balloon safari and the price depends on the time of year.

For a very unique experience, enjoy the excitement of a bush dinner in the wild. You will arrive at a special secluded location on the banks of the Mara river. A welcoming drink awaits by the warming campfire, followed by a delicious meal prepared by our Bush chefs, served under the stars, with the soft lights of safari lanterns and accompanied by the sounds of the African night and the grunting Mara river hippos.

Bush breakfasts and bush lunches are also available. Please try to book bush meals in advance. Costs: bush breakfasts and lunches USD $75 per person, bush dinners USD $92 per person

The Masai people of East Africa are a striking image, synonymous with safari. A proud people with many traditional practices still very much alive in their culture. Visit a local Masai village and learn about who they are in their own words.

Entry to the Maasai village is currently USD $40 per person and is paid directly to the community.

Visits to our responsible tourism projects can be organised from camp. Mara Rianda Primary School and Mara Rianda Medical Centre are two inspirational projects supported by Governors’ Camps.

There is no extra charge for this activity but donations to any of the projects are welcome.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century the cheetah population has fallen dramatically from 100'000 individuals to 7'500 individuals with human activity a major cause. It is therefore important to understand the cheetah-human interface, which is one of the key works of the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project, led by Dr. Elena Chelyseva.

Our Governors' Guides play a critical role in the data collection for Dr. Elena and her team, reporting through sightings and behaviour observations of cheetah spotted. Dr Elena enjoys sharing her expertise on the cheetahs in the area with our guests through talks or by accompanying guests game drives.

Please let us know if you would like to pre-book a talk or a guided game drive with Elena when booking your safari. There is a minimum donation requirement of USD $500 for a presentation in camp.

We welcome guests of all ages at Governors’ Camp - you are never too little to experience your first African safari together with the family!

Safaris open up a world of wonder and discovery of nature, and over the years we have hosted many families at Governors’. Some of our camps are better suited to small children; Governors’ Camp has specially designed family tents which can comfortably sleep a family of four - we can provide cots for babies and infant travellers (on request).

We will happily arrange early meals and sole use of game drive vehicles (please enquire in advance as this depends on family size and is subject to availability).

On your arrival at Governors’ Camp, you will notice our numerous little furry friends; the dwarf and banded mongoose, who are well loved members of our famous ‘Cast of Characters’! We wanted to celebrate these entertaining critters by naming our new kid’s club after them, and so the Governors’ Mongoose Club has been formed.

The idea behind this club is to educate and inspire our youngest visitors in ways that they would never have access to in their mainstream schooling systems abroad. Game drives are, of course, wonderful experiences in themselves to be shared with family, but there is so much more for your children to take away from their Kenyan safari.

The activities are designed to be fun and informative and we know that these experi- ences will provide your children with lifetime memories. You, as the parents, can take some well-deserved timeout; enjoy a spa treatment, read a book or just have a siesta while Julius (Our “chief Mongoose”) who is a local Masai guide, and the rest of our friendly team keep your children as entertained and educated as they would like to be, whilst of course ensuring their complete safety at all times. Please note that the Mongoose Club is only available at Governors’ Camp.

Included in the accommodation price.

Governors’ Camp hosts a wildlife photographer in the Mara who is available to be booked by our guests for accompanied photo safaris and in-depth tutorials on all elements of photography, including editing. Do let us know if you would like to guarantee a full day with them capturing the very best of this incredible wildlife reserve. Please note that guests will need to secure an exclusive use vehicle at a daily rate if their group size does not already secure one, on top of the photographer's daily fee.

Governors' also has 3 'photo safari' vehicles. Listening to the specific needs and recommendations of the photographers we've hosted over the years, we've modified three Landrover vehicles to include same level seating throughout, cut-out side panels in the middle row to get those much desired low angle shots, high roofs, fully folding windscreens and wide side panelling to offer the perfect place for resting a beanbag and long lens. The cars are available on an exclusive use basis and can be requested for and reserved while making your Governors' booking. They are available at all our camps in the Masai Mara.

Please see https://www.governorscamp.com/travel-planning/resident-photographers/ for full details and costs.

After your late afternoon game drive, end the day with a 'sundowner' at our very special spot on the banks of the Mara River. Our team will have set up a traditional 'safari bar' ahead of your arrival.

Sundowners are included in the nightly rate but premium drinks are extra.

Governors’ Camp offers a breathtakingly beautiful location in the wild where you can celebrate your recent nuptials with a Maasai blessing ceremony and more.

Please contact our office for a quote which will be based on the numbers in your group.