New lodge sets up home at Lake Elementaita
Milliam Murigi @millymur1
Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge, the newest four-star facility, is set to stake its claim in the rapidly evolving hospitality sector.
Located on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway overlooking Lake Elementaita near Gilgil town, the Sh800 million property features a conference centre, 52 cottages, restaurant, gym and spa.
Superior Homes, the owners of the hotel, recently hosted the media for a sneak preview into what the hotel will offer ahead of its official opening in a few weeks.
Nicholas Njogu, manager at Superior Homes, said they are also betting on the completion of the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway project (Nairobi to Naivasha) to drive tourist numbers in the area.
The four-star hotel opens its doors at a time when the tourism sector is projected to grow.
A report by audit firm PWC says though tourism numbers declined during the first half of 2019 (but remained constant for the full year) arrivals are expected to pick up this year.
The hospitality industry in Kenya is forecast to maintain a growth trajectory over the next five years, amid economic uncertainty, tempered Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and terrorism threats.
The new lodge is expected to compete for tourists frequenting Nakuru county and its environs with established hotels such as Sirville Lake Elementaita, Sentrim Elementaita, Lake Elementaita Serena Camp and Pelican Lodge.
Located in a semi-arid area, Lake Elementaita occupies 18 square kilometres and boasts of wildlife such as zebras, antelopes, giraffes and jackals.
The lake is a popular Kenya safari destination among bird enthusiasts, with visiting greater and lesser flamingos which feed on the lake‘s crustacean and insect larvae and on its suspended blue algae, respectively. Others are pelican’s kingfishers, marabou storks and crested grebes.
“There are 450 species of birds recorded in this lake. It has been added to the Ramsar list as the fifth wetland of International importance,” Richard Kipng’eno, the Resident Naturalist at Lake Elementaita Serena Camp, told Travewise recently
At the southern end of the lake lie the Kekopey hot springs, in which Tilapia Grahamii breed.
The hills surrounding Lake Elementaita and the acacia forest makes this area dramatic and suited for hikes, picnics and nature walks.
Near the lake are other attractions including the Delamares Soysambu Conservancy and Kariandusi prehistoric site while Lake Nakuru National Park lies about 30km away.
