Life & Work

Naivasha beckons for Easter

Malu ranch

A cottage at the Malu Lodge inside Malu ranch. PHOTO | COURTESY

For decades Naivasha town remained static with not much happening around it except for the tourists who would confine themselves to hotels around the lake. In other words, all activities were restricted to establishments around the lake.

LaBelle Restaurant in Naivasha, located on the main street inside the town and which was once he preferred stopover for anyone passing through, has been part of the motionless past of this farming region.

Enter Buffalo Mall and now Naivasha is bustling with life. The Mall and has given residents and travellers great new options when it comes to what to do over the weekends. This is a great place for a lazy weekend especially for those who will be in Naivasha for the Easter holidays. You no longer have to be confined to your hotel for a whole four or five days depending on how long you will be holidaying there.

Even for those on their way to the western part of the country, this is a great place to stopover for a meal or for some shopping to take home with you.

Opened last month, this is a modern shopping centre whose aim is to help in seal the gap experienced in towns across the country where all the high-end malls worth talking about were concentrated in and around Nairobi.

Mall

So, when Simon Trappes-Lomax, Michael Lloyd and Paul Phillips did some research whose outcome pointed to the problem, they came in ready to invest in a multi-million shilling development that would address this problem for people living or passing through that side of the country.

And with high-end homes coming in the area, the timing could not have been better. The three Buffalo Mall directors teamed up with the Delamere Holdings which owns 25 per cent stake on the mall.

The first phase is up and running with Tuskys Supermarket as the anchor tenant. Java House extends to a nice terrace which offers patrons spectacular views of Navaisha and its surrounding areas.

“The Java at Buffalo Mall is just fantastic. It’s not the same coffee shop you are used to,” said Simon Trappes-Lomax during an interview with BDLife.

High-end stores

One Way, Wine Gallery, Health U, Blue Sky, Craydon Fashion, City Walk and Rift Valley Leather are some of the high-end stores at the new mall.

There is also a children’s playground which is a perfect location for families with children.

For those who may be staying at self-catering facilities in Naivasha during your holiday, the fresh farm market within the mall is a must-visit. This outlet has provided farmers in the area with the opportunity to market their fresh farm produce.

Naivasha enjoys a rich history which dates back to the colonial days when British settlers came in. The Delameres for years focused on farming, conservancy and more recently, the hospitality industry.

Delamere

Tom Cholmondeley, grandson to the late Hugh Cholmondeley, has overseen leasing transactions on the family land for luxury, leisure and recreational facilities.

The prestigious Serena Hotel Lodge in Naivasha sits on the Delamere property. This hotel hosts big spenders wishing to while away time in Naivasha. There is also the Mawe Mbili Camp and Mbweha Camp.

The Delamere Milk Shop, on the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway is the most cherished stopover for travellers passing by Naivasha.

Leisure spots

But, the leisure spots on the Delamere farm are just a fraction of the abundant accommodation and leisure spots Naivasha has to offer.

The old town on the happy valley has lots to offer both young and old like rock climbing at Hell’s Gate and Eburru Hills which is part of the Mau Escarpment, bird watching, camping, horse riding at Malu Lodge and other adjacent facilities like camping at Cray Fish, Fisherman’s Camp, Kongoni Lodge, Camp Carnelley’s, Naivasha Eco Lodge. Hell’s Gate is also wildlife watchers paradise.

The Kengen Geothermal Health Spa is the perfect spot for those who want to experience hot water spa treatment. Completed last year, the blue lagoons have attracted large numbers of people out to have fun in the heat.

The pools are located in Olkaria, just 120 kilometres from Nairobi. Currently, only two of the three lagoons are open for use.

The third pond has a temperature of 35 degree Celsius and is the most used pool among local tourists with a capacity of 400 people. It also has a small lagoon beside it for children.

The Geothermal spa centre has fully functional changing rooms, restaurant and sauna. There is also a museum detailing the history of geothermal power in Kenya and around the world.

The centre charges residents Sh1,000 for a full spa experience and Sh1,800 for foreigners. A day at the pool costs Sh400 for locals. So if heading out to Naivasha this Easter, make sure you enjoy what the town has to offer.

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