Great Rift Valley Lakes Hotels & Resorts

There’s plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to try near Lake Naivasha, from climbing volcanoes to cycling through geothermal landscapes. If you like to hike, then climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley is a must.

You’ll leave Loldia House at about 7am with a guide for the two-hour climb, which is slightly shorter on the way down. While it isn’t a difficult trek, you need to be aware of the altitude, which reaches 2,776 metres at the peak, and go slowly. At the summit of Mount Longonot, you can see right into the huge crater rim, which is filled with thick forest.

Then, sit back with a picnic and take in views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, which is home to herds of buffalo and game, predators and lakes known for their huge flocks of flamingos. 

You can also take guided morning and afternoon walks of Crater Lake. This 14-hectare lake is home to colobus monkeys and 400 bird species. Loldia House also offers a popular day trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which is special for its geothermal activity, including geysers and bubbling sulphur pools formed by volcanic activity. You’ll get the chance to cycle through this unusual landscape with a naturalist guide, who’ll teach you about the geological features, including the obsidian caves which were formed when molten lava and water collided. Along the way, you’ll spot wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and sometimes even rare colobus monkeys.

Take a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley. Governors' Loldia House has its own boat and launch jetty giving easy access to this picturesque lake.

Set against the backdrop of the extinct Mount Longonot, the lake is a haven for birdlife. Look out for cormorants, pelicans and eagles. As you cruise the waters, you will probably be under the watchful eye of pods of hippo, their heads bobbing in the water with the occasional wide yawn making the perfect photo opportunity.

Take a full day tour to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's smallest but also extremely beautiful parks. The park is famous for its population of rhinos and the seasonal arrival of flamingos.

You will leave after an early breakfast and drive through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is home to a range of animals including both black and white rhinos, endangered Rothschild giraffes, zebras and hippos. You'll explore the park in 4x4 Landcruisers before enjoying a picnic lunch. You'll return to Loldia House in time for afternoon tea on the lawn. The journey from Governors' Loldia House to Lake Nakuru National Park takes about two hours. Park fees are payable.