Guest Appreciation

Review: The Lake Nakuru Lodge

October 19, 2010 | Author nikki

View of Lake Nakuru National Park from a Balcony

The second stop on my 2010 Kenya safari was Lake Nakuru, which I believe is the most densely populated wetlands National Park in Kenya.

We were staying at The Lake Nakuru Lodge for one evening only. Before we went I had read up on this lodge, like the others, to see what other people had thought about it. And I was a little dubious about what we were going to be getting. Some people had written about the poor views from their bedrooms and the not so well cooked food. I am delighted to say I did not experience either of these and that the lodge more than exceeded my expectations.

We were greeted with a cool non-alcoholic cocktail and warm towels to wipe our faces and hands with. We were then shown to our rooms. They were down a path a beautiful path with trees and plants around it. The rooms from the outside looked fantastic and from the inside even better! We entered the room to be greeted by a very spacious area and huge sliding doors to our balcony overlooking the park with the lake itself in the distance- and it did not disappoint.

Lake Nakuru Lodge Twin Room

I was in a twin room with two single beds positioned apart. They each had their own mosquito net and the only slight downside was that I felt very enclosed when I went to bed. But that feeling didn’t last long as I was soon fast asleep!

The food was cooked beautifully, with plenty to choose from at each meal. There is an outside area should you wish to eat there. Our group chose to and we had little ‘fires’ lit for us to keep us warm after the sun had set. Dinner was then accompanied by a man on his guitar in the background.

There was a shop and a swimming pool here, but I did not use either, so I cannot comment on them. The shop looked like it had the standard items in it and the pool seemed a decent enough size.

I would not hesitate to return here!

Gifted by Nature and the East African region

News from Uganda - Gifted by Nature and the East African region

BY PROF. DR. WOLFGANG H. THOME , ETN KAMPALA | MAY 2009

NEW CRANE SPECIES FOUND
Uganda apparently has a new crane species, according to reports filed by Achilles Byaruhanga, Executive Director of ‘Nature Uganda’, a key environmental and conservation NGO in Uganda. The so called ‘wattled crane’ was found in the rice fields of Kibimba recently and is a hitherto not seen kind of the crane family, unlike the crested or grey crowned crane and the black necked crane. According to Byaruhanga this brings the number of birds seen and recorded in the country to 1.040, a remarkable number by any standards. The bird is normally resident in the highlands of Ethiopia while other populations are said to exist in Botswana and Zambia and to a lesser extent in other parts of southern Africa. The birds are not normally known to migrate long distances. The ‘hunt’ is now on to find if there are more of the birds found in the area to form a viable breeding community and extra measures of protection have already been called for to ensure that the birds are not captured or in fact poisoned by the regular aerial spraying of the rice fields to keep the other birds in check. It is understood that the owners of Kibimba rice estates have been approached by Nature Uganda to play a part of ensuring the survival of the rare bird but it remains to be seen what, if any, effect and outcome this commendable effort will bring.

In a measure of support the Uganda Wildlife Authority has by the way waived park entrance fees for local ‘birders’ and members of the Ugandan birding and guiding clubs on the occasion of the ‘Uganda Birding Day’ to be held on the 23rd of May. The main launch of the national birding day will take place at the Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira Forest, arguably the flagship property of GeoLodges Africa, formerly called Inns of Uganda. Guest of Honour will there be the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, but lesser profile events are due to take place across the entire country with bird watching and counting that day from 6 a.m until 6 p.m. Any extraordinary finds and reports will appear in this column of course.
Meanwhile, concerns about bird habitats have also arisen in Kenya, where the indiscriminate felling of trees and clearing of forests are increasingly impacting on the water catchment areas, impacting on the flow of rivers and streams and affecting the water levels in the rift valley lakes. Mr. George Kamau, a manager of the Lake Nakuru Lodge, responded to this column’s enquiry about the situation and expressed his concern over the developments. He spoke of tree planting campaigns but also years of anxious wait until such measures show results, while in the meantime the large flamingo migrations may be affected until at least some years of above average rains may supplement the lake waters and restore the bird habitats. This is crucially important for Kenya’s goals to have several of the rift valley lakes designated as ‘world heritage sites’, which will include not just Lake Nakuru, globally renowned for the massive flamingo population, but also lakes Bogoria and Elementaita, the latter incidentally located on the ‘Delamare’ estate, the heir of which was recently in the global news over a criminal case he had to answer and was found guilty of manslaughter. Kenya Wildlife Services and other bodies in Kenya are preparing an application to the UN to consider awarding this prestigious status alongside several other sites presently so designated across the country.

http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/africa/05-25-2009/news-from-uganda-gifted-by-nature-and-the-east-african-region

http://safarisasa.ning.com/

Kenya After Obama Wins

What do we expect after Obama wins.

Forget goddies in a golden busket, there wont be any direct benefit to Kenya.

We will benefit indirectly, especially in areas like tourism.

Kogelo and Kisumu City will be the bomb, everyone will be willing to go and see the roots of the magic touch man.

KTB has a burden to work on to promote this region.

The hoteliers need the upgrade the facilities in this region.

Looking forward to a blighter future here.

Regards.

George Kamau.

Kenyan Hotelier.

www.georgekamau.com 

Migration Of Its Kind - Masai Mara Wildbeast.

Kenya being the destination of choice especially during this period when Masai Mara is the greatest attraction to see the seventh wonder of the wild the wildbeast migration.
The president of the Republic of Kenya with Ministers and Members of Parliament steerheadrd by the Minister For Tourism Hon Najib Balana Visited Masai Mara to witness the migration with their naked eyes other that watching over the media.
This is a chance to show Kenyans and the entire world that God created our country in a special way, if it can attract us who are here 24/7 what about the tourists from all over the world, you are most welcome to join us and fill your eyes to the fullest. This is a movie with no director you need just only your eyes to see the lifetime experience.

Welcome welcome welcome, lets us enjoy nature in its movie.

George Kamau
Hotelier Kenya.
www.georgekamau.com

Kenya The Destination Of Choice

Despite the low turn up by Tourists in the 1st half section of the year there is a big promise for more visitors in the second half. We have started realizing good numbers from the month of July and we are very optimistic that the numbers will keep on going up.
There are many places to visit especially now the 7th wonder of the world the wild beast migration at the Maasai Mara Kenya. The other attractions are Lake Nakuru national Park, Aberdare, Meru, Kakamega, amboseli, tsavo and not forgeting the wonderful beaches in Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and kilifi. Why not city life in Nairobi and Kisumu.

George Kamau
Hotelier.
www.georgekamau.com

Tourism Is Back In Kenya Safari Country

Kenya have done wonders to regain its name internationally after the post election violence. The people has proved that they can take care of their differences and work together to achieve development and attain the goals set for Vision 2030 as marked recently by President Mwai Kibaki. Prime Minister Raila Ondinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka in a well attended launch at Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
Recently Kenya Tourism Board organized a Mega FAM trip for Journalists from major suppliers and another Mega FAM trip coming nest week Organized by Travel Agents inviting international Agents to sdample the peace in the country to sell it better.

For more discussion contact me www.georgekamau.com

Regards.

George Kamau.
Hotelier.
www.georgekamau.com

Hospitality Destination in Kenya By George Kamau

Lake Nakuru National Park

The park is located in Central Kenya, 140km north-west of Nairobi , in Nakuru District of the Rift Valley Province . It covers an area of 188 km2. Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter. Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo.Climate ranges from Cold, Hot and Humid, Hot and Dry. Annual rainfall is 965mm

Accessibility

The park has a tarmac road connection with Nairobi , a distance of 156 km north west of Nairobi on the main A104 road. The most commonly used route into the park is via the main gate, 4 km from Nakuru Town Centre. It is also possible to enter the park from the main Nairobi Nakuru road at Lanet Gate. The Nderit Gate is used by people accessing the park from Masai Mara or Elementaita. The Naishi airstrip services the park for tourists.

Major Attractions

• Flamingo (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds including a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species in total.
• Mammals: 56 different species including white rhinos.
• View-points: Lion hill, Baboon cliff and Out of Africa
• Hills: Enasoit, Honeymoon, Lion hill ridge etc.
• Waterfalls: Makalia
• Unique vegetation: About 550 different plant species including the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa , Picturesque landscape and yellow acacia woodlands.

Bandas:
Naishi bandas

Lodges:
Lake Nakuru lodge &

Sarova Lion Hill Lodge.

Special Campsites:
Naishi, Chui, Rhino, Soysambu, Nyati, Nyuki and reedbuck.

Public Campsites:
Makalia and Bacpakers.

Activities

Game viewing, bird watching

Common Vegetation

The vegetation is mainly wooded and bushy grassland with a wide ecological diversity and characteristic habitats that range from the lake waters to the escarpment and ridges.The normally water-covered surface of the lake occupies about a third of the park. The lake water supports a dense bloom of the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina platensis from which it derives its colour and which is the major food source for the flamingo.The lake is fringed by alkaline swamps with areas of sedge, Cyprus laevigatus and typha marsh along the river inflows and springs. The surrounding areas support a dry transitional savanna with lake margin grasslands of Sporobolus spicatus salt grass moving into grasslands of Hyparrhenia hirta and rhodes grass Chloris gayana in the lower areas.

More elevated areas have dry forest with Acacia xanthophloea, olive Olea hochstetteri and Croton dichogamus; Euphorbia candelabrum forest; and bushland dominated by the composites, Mulelechwa Tarchonanthus camphoratus and Psiadia arabica.

For more information please visit the Kenya Wildlife Service Website www.kws.org


Compiled By.


George Kamau.
Hotelier.
www.georgekamau.com