Loldia House | Naivasha
Loldia House is an ideal spot to rest, taste the pleasures of Kenyan country life and explore the wonders of the Great Rift Valley.
Set amidst a 6,500-acre family farm on the shores of Lake Naivasha, this charming property is steeped in history, dating back to 1943. Guests are invited to enjoy a gentle pace of life, relaxing by the pool, taking in the views, or heading out on a game drive.
In the original family home, there is a master en-suite bedroom. Close by are three guest cottages (each housing two separate en-suite rooms) and two luxury suites (with private plunge pools), offering incredible views across the lake. Our poolside spa provides a range of massages using 100% natural products by The Wild Herb Company.
Loldia House has been awarded a GOLD Eco Rating from Eco–Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices.
- Images
- Video
- 360 Panoramas
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
Loldia House Virtual Tour
Each suite has a spacious bedroom that can be converted into a double or a twin with room for an extra bed if needed. A double-sided log-burning stove provides heat to the living room and the bedroom, transforming the suite into a cosy, warm space with a stunning focal point of flickering flames. The beautiful bathrooms feature double vanities, porcelain bathtubs, and double rain showers, while a comfortable indoor seating area offers breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling windows. To guarantee privacy, each suite has its own entrance, verandah, and plunge pool overlooking Lake Naivasha.
Located just below the infinity pool and spa area and shaded by giant fig trees, the suites are perfect for those seeking a peaceful start or end to their Kenya safari. Please note that there is a supplement charge on top of the Loldia House accommodation rates for these suites.
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Bath Towels, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fireplace, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Lounge, Plunge Pool, Private Lounge / Sitting Area, Private Pool / Jacuzzi, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah, Wardrobe
There are three external cottages set amongst the pretty gardens, each housing two separate en-suite bedrooms (six rooms in total)
Room Facilities
Bath Towels, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fan, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah, Wardrobe
Our family-style accommodation comprises an interconnecting double and twin room (ensuite), enabling you to keep your little ones close at night. Both rooms are ensuite with a rain shower, an alcove bathtub and double vanities; this set up is ideal for families who want to share space and maintain privacy.
Room Facilities
Bath Towels, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Safe, Shower, Twin Bed, Verandah
One master en-suite bedroom overlooks the rolling lawns and beautiful gardens.
Room Facilities
Bath Towels, Bath, Bed Linen, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fan, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Wardrobe, Wheelchair Friendly
Property Facilities
Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Library, Malaria Free, Pool, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Bath, Fan, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Pure Cotton Linen, Shower, Verandah
Available Services
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card Facilities, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Meal on Request, Room Service
Activities on Site
Big 5, Bird Watching, Boating, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Garden Tours, High Tea, Massages, Safaris, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
Activities Nearby
Animal Encounters, Big 5, Bird Watching, Boat Cruises, Boating, Child Friendly Activities, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Garden Tours, General Sightseeing, Golf, Hiking, Horse Riding, Mountain Biking, Rhino Tracking, Rock Climbing, Safaris, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
We can arrange day and night game drives on Loldia Ranch to see the resident wildlife, which includes abundant plains game. Night game drives typically depart after dinner and last about one hour. Animals that may be seen on night game drives include bat-eared foxes, hyenas, impalas, aardvarks, leopards, white-tailed mongooses, springhares, nightjars and spotted eagle owls, as well as numerous hippos leaving the lake to graze
Game drives on Loldia Conservancy are included in the accommodation costs.
At over 6,000 feet, Lake Naivasha is the highest lake in the Rift Valley and one of its most beautiful. It is picturesque and fringed by papyrus and with the extinct Mount Longonot as a backdrop. A boat ride is an excellent way to view many bird species and hippos in the area. Loldia House has its own boat and launching jetty.
Boat rides on Lake Naivasha are included in the accommodation cost.
We can offer a nature walk around the farming side of Loldia Ranch, accompanied by one of our naturalist guides and another member of the Loldia team.
This walk takes place within the 700-acre fenced area of Loldia farm, where Lucerne (Alfalfa) - a high-yielding fodder crop - is grown to sustain wildlife during periods of drought. During the walk, it is possible to spot some of the smaller wildlife, including warthogs, monkeys, and a variety of interesting birds.
Included in the accommodation price.
One of the highlights whilst staying at Loldia House is a day trip to the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park, world famous for its abundant rhinos and thousands of colourful flamingoes (seasonal).
Guests depart from Loldia after an early breakfast and enjoy a drive through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, 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, including white and black rhinos, endangered Rothschild giraffes, hippos, zebras, buffalos, and various bird species. Depending on the season, guests may have sightings of both the lesser and greater flamingos that famously lined the shore. Enjoy game viewing around the park in our specially designed 4-wheel-drive Landcruisers before choosing a shady spot for a picnic lunch.
Return to Loldia House in time for afternoon tea and cake on the lawn overlooking Lake Naivasha. NNP fees are $60 per adult and $30 per child, 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 and a tiny relic population of the critically endangered mountain bongo. A gentle walk through Eburru will reveal active steam vents, many forest bird species and a rich floral ecosystem.
A truly wonderful experience is witnessing a traditional honey harvesting demonstration by the Ogiek people, the local community living on the edge of the forest. Traditionally hunter-gatherers (and very much into their honey!), the Ogieks maintain and harvest their bee hives as a sustainable livelihood.
Entry into Eburu is $7 per person. The Honey extraction demonstration is $50 per experience.
Between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru lies another of Kenya's alkaline lakes – Lake Elementeita. The area is an important feeding ground for greater and lesser flamingos and a critical breeding site for great white pelicans. A leisurely wander along the shoreline offers a chance to see flocks of flamingos in their thousands and zebras, gazelle, eland, and warthogs. We generally suggest a stop 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.
The Kenya Bird of Prey Trust (KBoPT) is a registered Kenyan Trust (not-for-profit organisation) founded on many years of experience in bird of prey management and conservation in Kenya and worldwide. Their monitoring and research efforts are focused on using the latest methods and technologies to improve the understanding of species’ populations and ecology and inform their conservation directly.
We are proud to be a major supporter of the KBoPT. We cover the costs of providing high-quality meat for all their rescued birds each month. We have also provided funding towards poison-response kits, owl boxes, and X-ray equipment and donated a solar freezer to the Soysambu Raptor Center.
Loldia House guests are encouraged to visit the Naivasha Raptor Centre to spend time with the birds and learn about their rescue, rehabilitation and conservation. Visits are by appointment only, either at 11 am or 3 pm. A USD 20 donation per person is suggested for our guests.
We can also arrange for presentations by one of The Kenya Bird of Prey Trust directors, followed by dinner with an informal question and answer session at Loldia House. A minimum donation of USD 150 is required, and this must be booked in advance.
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.
Head off on a 45-minute drive around the western side of Lake Naivasha from Loldia House, which brings you to another small lake where boats are available for hire and will take you for a leisurely cruise along the lake's edge. This lake has particularly prolific birdlife and a healthy population of hippos. 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).
Crescent Island is a peninsular connected to the mainland when Lake Naivasha's levels aren't too high.
With our guide, take a walk on the island to view all kinds of wildlife, including wildebeest, waterbuck, zebras, giraffes and waterbuck. The shores host abundant birdlife, such as pelicans, cormorants and fish-eagles. 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.
The 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.
TAFA is a community-based organisation situated close to Loldia House, adjacent to Lake Naivasha. The project’s objective is to engage the youth of Kasarani Village in healthy social activities. By keeping the children (many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds) involved in the project, they are kept out of trouble and learn important life skills. It uses football and its community centre as a platform to do this. The project is run by three teachers/mentors, who dedicate their time to train highly talented young boys and girls from the age of seven to seventeen years old. We support the project through the daily provision of “uji” (finger millet porridge), which ensures the children do not go hungry, as well as providing sports equipment, uniforms, food parcels for their families, stationery supplies and a monthly stipend for the mentors. The kids are also invited to Loldia House during quiet periods, for educational game drives and boat rides, which we hope will inspire this next generation to protect their natural heritage.
Loldia House guests are very welcome to visit the project.
Initially, this was a small, mud-and-wattle farm school, built to serve the children of the area. However, over the last fifteen years, the school’s population has quadrupled, from 500 students to just over 2000. A lot of work has been done to keep up with the influx of students.
The school was previously supported by a small UK-based charity that helped provide classrooms, teacher accommodation and toilet blocks. Unfortunately, this support has now ended; however, the growing student numbers mean that the school is facing numerous challenges. Exam results have been affected as student to teacher ratios fall (only half of the 41 teachers are paid for by the government, the others must be paid for by parents or donors). Scholarships have in the past been offered to some primary school leavers to attend secondary school and some of the brighter students have even been able to attend universities.
Loldia House guests are welcome to visit the school during term time.
We can arrange a climb up Mt Longonot. Mt Longonot is a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley, visible from Lake Naivasha. Mount Longonot is a demanding hike, but the top views 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, leopard, bushbuck, zebra, giraffe, Grant's gazelles, as well as countless species of wildflowers and some interesting birdlife.
We arrange a picnic lunch for guests going on the climb. The park entrance fee is payable directly, and our manager will gladly 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 are paid directly.
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.
We can arrange for guests to play golf at the nearby 18-hole golf course at Great Rift Valley Lodge. There are lovely views over Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot and the Aberdare Mountains. Enjoy plenty of birdlife on the course and the occasional zebra wandering across the fairways.
Guests must pay the entrance fees, 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 are $35 pp
These rates apply to weekdays 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 The Wild Herb Company.
We have made a conscious effort to ensure that all products are organic. We only use skincare and massage products made from natural and plant-based ingredients. Using organic products is also a way for us to support small independent businesses committed to sustainable and ethical practices.
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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Your Stay
3 Nights
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
Other
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 9
Special Interests: Big 5, Birding, Flora, Golf, Hiking, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Wildlife
Little Governors' Camp | Masai Mara National Reserve
The award-winning Little Governors’ Camp is intimate in character, with just 17 luxury ensuite tents dotted around a large watering hole that teems with both birds and wildlife. The camp is approached by a boat ride across the Mara River, then an escorted walk through the riverine forest. Vehicles are left on the far river bank, and the camp is therefore quiet and undisturbed. The guest tents at Little Governors’ have wooden decks with large verandahs for guests to enjoy the constant game activity that takes place around the camp’s watering hole. Guests may need to make way for elephants which often visit the camp.
- Images
- Video
- 360 Panoramas
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
Little Governors' Camp Virtual Tour
The guest tents at Little Governors' are all tucked into the forest overlooking a waterhole frequented by a myriad of animals. Each one is spacious with an en-suite bathroom, with polished wooden decks and large verandas to enable guests to relax and enjoy the panorama of animals visiting the watering hole in front.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the open air, and the resident family of warthogs frequently wander amongst the tables. Since all Governors' properties are unfenced and in the heart of the Reserve, elephants may also stroll past. In the evening a warming log fire burns in front of the Bar Tent, and dinner is served in the nearby Dining Tent.
Tent 17 or the Honeymoon suite is located at the edge of the camp with wonderful wide views over the waterhole and plains. It has a wild and private feeling. The tent is spacious with an en-suite bathroom, polished wooden deck with large veranda to enable guests to relax and enjoy the panorama of animals visiting the watering hole in front.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the open air, and the resident family of warthogs frequently wander amongst the tables. Since all Governors' properties are unfenced and in the heart of the Reserve, elephants may also stroll past. In the evening a warming log fire burns in front of the Bar Tent, and dinner is served in the nearby Dining Tent.
Property Facilities
Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Kiddies Club, Malaria Free, Mobile Connectivity, Restaurant, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Safe, Shower, Verandah
Available Services
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card Facilities, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Private Vehicle (Available), Room Service
Activities on Site
Big 5, Bird Watching, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Massages, Safaris, Walks (Guided)
Activities Nearby
Animal Encounters, Big 5, Bird Watching, Cultural Tours, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Rhino Tracking, Safaris
Governors’ Camp Collection 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.
Little Governors' Camp is located in the Mara Triangle and guests have the option of game drives in either the Masai Mara Game Reserve or in the Mara Triangle. We offer up to three game drives per full day on safari.
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 just 15 minutes drive away. 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.
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.
Sundowners are included in the nightly rate but premium drinks are extra.
Your Stay
4 Nights
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
5 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, French, Swahili
No. Rooms: 17
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
