A delightful boat trip to Crescent Island Sanctuary stops en route at a hippo pool where hundreds of buffalo and hippo wallow in the mud. Once at Crescent Island, guests spend the morning walking with zebra, waterbuck, giraffe and all kinds of gazelle - a rare vacation treat. A gourmet picnic is served on the lake edge where giraffe turn to stare as you sip a chilled Chardonnay.

A truly unique breakfast experience. Olerai house Lodge is set amidst a green oasis; it's a welcoming change from the dusty plains for weary travellers during or after their safaris in Africa. Olerai Hotel offers Kenya luxury accommodation all year round. At 6000 feet altitude, there is no Malaria. The Olerai house Lodge is owned and operated by Oria and Iain Douglas Hamilton, well known for their work with Africa's Elephant.

While staying at Olerai House you may wander through the Sanctuary to Sirocco House Lake Naivasha, their home, to share some of their stories. Here you will experience true Kenyan hotel hospitality in elegant surroundings. The view of the grass plains from the terracotta patio at the Kenya lodging is striking. The red terracotta of the patio, the green of the lawn, and the amber of the plains show the beauty and harmony of the African palette.

Lined with an archway of Jacaranda Trees, planted by Oria's father in the 1930s, the Jacaranda Boulevard is the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll. When in bloom in April and October, the brilliant blue-violet flowers of the trees create a spectacular site. The staff at Olerai House greets you with a smile, serve you with graciousness and ensure your holiday is peaceful and relaxing. From the moment you rise in the morning until you retire for the night, the wonderful staff will see to your every need.

Olerai Lodge is a beautifully furnished and distinctive home on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Well known for their research and conservation efforts on behalf of African elephants, and the owners of Elephant Watch Camp in Samburu Kenya, Iain and Oria now welcome guests into their private piece of paradise. Each room has a character of its own and carries Oria's personal touch. The menus revolve around locally available fresh produce and are always tasty and interesting.
While Naivasha has seen a massive boom in the local economy through the rise of intensive flower farming under plastic, Olerai still provides a little hideaway where you can still enjoy the Kenya of the 1950s; trips out on the lake in the 'African gondola', bird walks around the grounds where a variety of wildlife grazes peacefully or simply relax in the comfortable lounge or in the flower-filled garden. There are places in Naivasha that offer more activities for the same price as Olerai Lodge and although there is a swimming pool, it is not always available for use by guests at the house. Some may be perfectly happy to just enjoy the house and the garden.

Olerai House Naivasha Kenya sits in a pasture surrounded by vegetable gardens, sheep and cows and the setting is calm and serene, the air is fragrant, barely a breeze and except for the fluttering wings of a bird and the buzz of a fly, hardly a sound can be heard. The sun streams through the gossamer netting over the canopied bed, tempting you to sleep, especially if you have been on a long flight, the lodge is small and intimate, made of wood and stucco and accessorised with cotton throws, natural straw mats, oversized pillows and lamp shades handmade by Oria.

The Lodge cottages on the farm are in colors of Africa--the browns of the earth, the orange shades of the cats, the purples of the blossoming jacarandas--the rooftops are a mass of tangled greenery. Amidst the lush farmer's fields, the effect is disarming, charming and so mellowing. Visitors can't help but unwind the moment they arrive. "They sleep in. They forget what time it is," says Oria. "For two, three days or more, their busy lives belong to someone else."

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