Rating: Mid-range
Kiangazi, meaning "hot and dry season", is a beautiful country house set amidst lush gardens overlooking Lake Oloidien, adjacent to Lake Naivasha and a wildlife corridor. Naivasha was a haven for the early settlers in Kenya, home to the infamous happy valley stories of the early 1900s. The community thrives today in this gorgeous Rift Valley setting with agricultural, dairy and flower farms dominating the export business in the area.
A stay at Kiangazi House takes you back in time. The house is built in traditional settlers style with big rooms, huge fireplaces and a large verandah that has stunning views across the valley. The Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary and Game Corridor is home to a huge variety of wildlife and from Kiangazi you can enjoy the sunrise from the terrace watching giraffe and zebra strolling by! The house has well kept gardens and a large pool area and tennis court. There are 7 guest rooms, some in the house, including a large suite, and others located in the garden. All are en-suite and fires are lit in the cool winter evenings.
Activities from Kiangazi House include game drives in 4 wheel drive vehicles and guided bush walks, trips to Hells Gate National Park, bass fishing, sundowners and bush breakfasts, boat trips on Lake Naivasha, day trips to Lake Nakuru National Park, visit Elsamere, home of the late Joy Adamson, tour the flower farm. Animals that can be seen in the Sanctuary include White Rhino, giraffe, hyena, jackal, Bat-eared Foxes, leopard, eland, topi, kongoni, impala, hartebeest, zebra (common and Grevys), oryx and many smaller mammals. There is a huge population of birds in the Naivasha area (around 320 species) the gardens of the house also are home to a variety of sunbirds, weavers and many others. The call of the Fish Eagle is a symbol of Lake Naivasha and these magnificent birds can be seen all around the lake area.
Open: Kiangazi House is open all year.
Location: Kiangazi House is in the Great Rift Valley near Lake Oloidien and Lake Naivasha. It is in the 18,000 acre Oserain Wildlife Conservancy, between the lakes and Hells Gate National Park. The hotel can be reached by vehicle from Nairobi, a journey of about 90 minutes, or by flight to the local airstrip.
Rooms: There are 7 rooms in total. 3 of these are in the main house and the other 4 are in the gardens. All have private bathrooms. Garden rooms are slightly larger than those in the house and have private verandas. Of the rooms in the house the Ibis Suite is the largest.
Activities: The hotel offers 4x4 game drives in the Oserian Conservancy and in Hells Gate National Park. You can also explore the lake shore by vehicle or on foot and take boat trips on Lake Naivasha to observe the profuse bird life. The hotel can arrange horse riding. Al fresco champagne breakfasts and sundowners round a campfire in the wildlife conservancy or by the lake are popular. You can take leisurely strolls in the gardens, swim and play tennis.
Facilities: The main house has a lounge, library with a good selection of books, a bar and dining room. All have large fireplaces making them feel homely on cool evenings. Meals include 3-course lunches and 4-course dinners and are prepared from local ingredients, many of them from the hotel's own dairy and vegetable garden. Most meals are served on the terrace, which overlooks a waterhole, ideal for relaxed game viewing. For recreation there's an outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court in the gardens.
Dining: Meals are generally eaten at individual tables.
Children: Children aged 6 years and over are welcome. Younger children may be accommodated on request.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access in the main house.
Kiangazi House and indeed the whole Oserian estate, employs thousands of local people on the flower farm and the estates. A commitment to conservation is shown in the management of the 3,000 acre Wildlife Corridor, and the 18,000 acre Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary.
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0"Although the communal areas were lovely, the bedroom was "tired"... leaking loo, non existent shower seal, water stains etc"