Ajabu House, Lake Naivasha
A delightful colonial-era bungalow and guest cottages overlooking Lake Naivasha, Ajabu sits withinto—Nairobi. the private 5,500-acre Loldia Conservancy on the quiet and little-visited North Lake shore. Tranquil, traditional and highly-recommended as the ideal weekend escape from—and antidote to – Nairobi.
Summary
- Beautifully and peacefully situated overlooking Lake Naivasha
- Lovely gardens, bird-watching, and game drives
- Sleeps 14+ guests in Main House and guest cottages
- Attentive, experienced staff and delicious organic food
- From KES 73,080 per night for up to 6 guests “self-catering” with a chef and staff
Location
Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot
Lake Naivasha sits at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift Valley at 1,884 meters (6,181 ft) and around 90 km northwest of Nairobi. The name Naivasha comes from the word Nai’posha, meaning rough water in the language of the Maasai, and the surface of the 50-square-mile lake can often be subject to unexpected squalls and storms.
In early colonial times, the lake became a popular retreat for white settlers, with several beautiful and unusual houses being built along the lakeshore, such as the notorious Djinn Palace. In the 1930s the lake began to be used by Imperial Airways as a landing place for their flying boats travelling between England and South Africa.
Crescent Island Naivasha
Naivasha and the surrounding area remain popular with weekenders from Nairobi, and there are numerous water sports and related activities on hand for visitors. Boating, sailing, fishing, and bird watching are available at various locations around the lake—as are horse riding, biking, and hiking. Golf takes place in a spectacular location at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort off North Lake Road.
Lake Naivasha Sunset
Apart from tourism, the major business of Naivasha is floriculture—numerous flower farms are to be found close to the lighthouse and export large quantities of flowers, especially roses, to Europe daily. Another major commercial enterprise on the lake is the geothermal plant, which was commissioned in 1981 and now generates a substantial amount of electricity.
Lake Oloidien Naivasha
The lake and its surroundings are home to a wide variety of wildlife and game, including a large population of hippopotamuses and several species of fish. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded here, and the lake is home to pelicans and Kenya’s largest concentration of African fish eagles. You will often see large flocks of flamingos on Lake Ooidien, which adjoins the southwest corner of the lake.
Hell’s Gate National Park Naivasha
Hell’s Gate National Park is one of the few national parks that permits walking, bicycling, and rock climbing. Both Fischer’s Tower and Central Tower make challenging ascents for rock climbers, as does the escarpment. The gorge, slicing through striking rock formations, contains a series of hot springs that heat the surrounding rocks, and local guides are available to guide walkers through the gorge. The park is home to plains game and other wildlife and is particularly known for vultures, eagles, and buzzards. The setting for the film The Lion King was heavily based on the area.
Crater Lake Naivasha
Crescent Island, an arc of land linked to the mainland lake shore by a causeway, has several animals but no predators and makes a lovely place to walk and picnic. Crater Lake, to the west of Lake Naivasha, also has wildlife and birdlike and attractive walks. Mount Longonot, between Naivasha and Nairobi, is an inactive volcano whose crater makes for a lovely but quite strenuous walk with spectacular views both into the crater and across the surrounding area.
Mount Longonot, Naivasha
For food and general supplies, there is good shopping in Naivasha Town and at the new Buffalo Mall, which has a large Tusky’s supermarket. There is an excellent new farm shop and butcher shop on South Lake Road, where you will also find attractive crafts for sale at Lake Elementaita Weavers and Fired Earth Pottery. Recommended places to eat off South Lake Road include Carnelly’s Restaurant, The Ranch House Bistro, and The Club House Cafe.
Club House Cafe Naivasha
Detailed Information
Accommodation and Facilities
- Six full-time House Staff
- Accommodation available for nannies or drivers
- Pet-friendly—dogs welcome
Inside
- Main House—sleeps 4 in two bedrooms
- Siriane Guest Cottage—sleeps 4 in two bedrooms
- Muse Guest Cottage—sleeps 6 in three bedrooms
Outside
- Beautiful Shady Gardens
- Tennis Court—out of service until further notice
- Children’s Trampoline
- Birdwatching
Available nearby
- Game Drives on Loldia Conservancy
- Golf at Great Rift Valley Resort
- Boating
- Hell’s Gate National Park
- Crater Lake
- Crescent Island
- Mount Longonot
How to get there
Ajabu Sign
By Road
Guess should allow around 2 hours to drive from Nairobi to Ajabu. The house is located 14kms from the A104, the main Nairobi-Naivasha-Nakura road, and accessed along Moi North Lake Road. Although the North Lake Road is in the process of being properly surfaced a 4×4 vehicle is recommended as the access road to the house is rough and steep in places.
The road to Ajabu
By Air
At certain times of the year there are daily scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the nearby Loldia airstrip with Safarink. The flight takes less than 30 minutes and also connects with the Masai Mara.
Safarilink
Visitors Book
“Ajabu has excellent staff who clearly care about the property and the guests. The chef was particularly impressive—we didn’t give him much to work with, but he put together a delicious feast for every meal.”
Shamim, Nairobi
“We had a fantastic stay at Ajabu House. The house, gardens, and setting are really beautiful, neat, and well kept. The tennis court was a super plus and used quite frequently. The team in the house took great care of us and our meals. The road to the house was easy to do and actually a nice little game drive—we saw lots of animals on the way. All in all a super weekend.”
Oliver, Nairobi
“Ajabu House was all manner of goodness. The staff was kind, the food was awesome, and everything about the place was top-notch. Thank you for your services too.”
Deborah, Nairobi
Rates
Self-catering accommodation rates
- Minimum stay – 2 nights.
- Occupancy—14+ guests (only possible with children)
- Minimum stay over Christmas, New Year, and Easter—3 nights.
Standard season rates (valid from 6th Jan to 15th Dec—excluding Easter, 12th to 16th March, and 16th Dec to 3rd Jan)
- Up to 6 guests—KES 73,080 per night
- Additional adults—KES 8,700 each per night
- Additional children (3-12 years) – Kes 4,698 each per night
- Infants 2 years old and younger stay free of charge
- Conservancy Fee (charged once for adults from 18 years) – Kes 2,000
WRC Rates (12th to 16th March)
- Up to 6 guests—Kes 93,960 per night
- Additional adults—Kes 10,440 each per night
- Additional children (3-12 years) – Kes 6,329 each per night
- Infants 2 years old and younger stay free of charge
- Conservancy Fee (charged once for adults from 18 years) – Kes 2,000
Christmas & New Year (16th Dec to 3rd Jan)
- Up to 6 guests—Kes 102,950 per night
- Additional adults—Kes 12,035 each per night
- Additional children (3-12 years) – Kes 6,960 each per night
- Infants 2 years old and younger stay free of charge
- Conservancy Fee (charged once for adults from 18 years) – KES 2,320
Please specify the exact numbers of guests and ages of all children and infants when making your booking.
Maximum capacity is 18 guests—accommodating 14-18 guests is only possible when some are children—please ask for details.
Rentals include a meet and greet on arrival, WIFI, chef and housekeeping services, and use of the Ajabu garden.
A basket of fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit from the vegetable garden can be provided at a fee.
These rates are for residents on a ‘self-catering’ basis, including the services of a chef and team of staff—please contact us for high season and non-resident rates.
All rentals are for exclusive use of the property.
Check-in at 11 am, check-out by 10 am. Later check-out by prior arrangement. Additional fees may apply.
These rates and terms & conditions are valid for stays up until 3rd January 2026.
Please contact us to make a booking.
Please familiarize yourself with all our terms & conditions when making a booking.
“We had a fantastic stay at Ajabu House. The house, gardens, and setting are really beautiful, neat, and well kept. The tennis court was a super plus and used quite frequently. The team in the house took great care of us and our meals. The road to the house was easy to do and actually a nice little game drive—we saw lots of animals on the way. All in all a super weekend.”
Oliver, Nairobi
Ajabu House—’the miracle’ in Kiswahili—sits in an idyllic clifftop spot above the lake—manicured lawns and colorful terraced gardens slope down towards the water, and much of the property nestles under the shade of huge spreading fig trees. The canopy of trees and breezy lakeside position ensure that the house and gardens are cool and sheltered even on the hottest days, and there are numerous shady spots in which to sit and enjoy the area’s extensive birdlife and wonderful lake views.
Ajabu Main House comprises two ensuite bedrooms, a dining room, a drawing room, a kitchen, and a front veranda. The master bedroom features a 4-poster bed and a double sofa bed (useful for small children) and an ensuite bathroom. The adjoining and unique Bird Room is twin-bedded and ideal for children. The lovely murals on the walls and ceiling were painted by a family friend over 60 years ago to educate children on East African birdlife.
The Siriane Guest Cottage sleeps up to 4 guests. There are two spacious double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a veranda with armchairs, a dining table, and paintings. It is a truly peaceful spot with exceptional views across the water to Mount Longonot.
The Muse Guest Cottage, the original stable block and offices for the house and farm, has recently been converted to provide additional and very comfortable accommodation and sleeps up to 6 guests. There is one family room with a shared bathroom (a double bed for parents and a bunk room for children) and one twin bedroom with an ensuite bathroom.
“Ajabu has excellent staff who clearly care about the property and the guests. The chef was particularly impressive—we didn’t give him much to work with, but he put together a delicious feast for every meal.”
Shamim, Nairobi
Meals can be taken in the main dining room, on one of the verandas, or down on the huge wooden deck under the largest fig tree. The kitchen specializes in delicious home-cooked meals, and a selection of fresh produce is always available from the organic vegetable garden, together with free-range chickens and lambs from the farm, all of which are available for purchase by self-catering guests.
Guests are ably looked after by a very dedicated and experienced team of six staff—several of whom have worked at the house for decades. Esther, Joseph, Norah, Andrew, Sammy, and Adreano will do all they can to make sure your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
For more energetic visitors, there is a trampoline for children and game drives through the Loldia Conservancy, which carries over 4000 head of wildlife—including leopard, aardvark, buffalo, eland, bat-eared fox, hyenas, impalas, zebras, and hippopotami.
Ajabu has been in the Hopcraft family for over 100 years. Built in the early 1930s and added to over the decades, it was a family home for over 65 years and is now owned by the great-grandchildren of the original settlers. A genuinely unspoiled and authentic home that harks back to a bygone era, it makes a wonderful getaway from Nairobi—and a really comfortable and relaxing spot from which to contemplate or to recover from, a more grueling safari.
