Hippo Point Wildlife Sanctuary
A few years ago I had the wonderful experience of going on a Safari in Kenya; staying at excellent lodges throughout the trip. One of them being an the shores of Lake Naivasha, but wow, if I’d come across the privately owned Hippo Point Wildlife Sanctuary this would have been the icing on the cake!
Hippo Point Tower
Hippo Point House is an Elizabethan style house belonged to a magistrate and was built in the 1933. The house has recently been restored to the higest standards with just seven double bedrooms, a swimming pool, open gazebo and lush gardens where you can indulge in yoga courses and body treatments. However the nearby Hippo Point Tower is really where its at! This nine storey Tower is rated as one of the top retreats in the world, and one of Kenya’s less known, but most luxurious hideaways. It is for exclusive use only and had a lounge and deck on the first floor and three double bedrooms - one on each floor above.
With magnificent views over Oloidien Bay it’s designed for romantics (by Dodo Cunningham-Reid) and guests are able to watch the hippo’s grazing at the foot of the Tower.
I remember the sounds of the bush a night time, eerie, magical, with the excitement of wondering what animals you will see. Close your eyes and imagine it’s the total darkness of the nights you get in Africa; something rustles in the bush, you hear the splash of water as hippo’s venture out of the lake. Then go to the first floor veranda to watch them (in safety) grazing below. I experienced this at Treetops, which is a unique and wonderful place, but at Hippo Point you have the addition of luxury.
Tower Bedroom
Gourmet meals are served with silver serviced candle lit dinners, family buffets, high tea, and excellent breakfasts. For photos of the food look on the web site and I defy you not to feel hungry!
If you want to arrive ‘in style’ there is a nearby airstrip so guests can charter a plane or helicopter from any destination from Kenya. By road it’s about one and a half hours drive from Narobi.
Day safari’s are on offer with game drives, taking you to Lakes Nakuru, Elementeita, Crater Lake as well as Lake Naivasha. Hot air balloon trips can be arranged, hiking, climbing to an extinct volcano to view the Great Rift Valley.
Hippo point as been granted a Conservancy status, and the wildlife sanctuary is home to zebra, many species of monkeys, giraffe, buffalo, Thompson gazelle, dik-dik, aardvarks – and many more species of animals and birds.
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