You can still find places in Kenya where the pace is soft and the horizon serene.
Loldia House, set on a 6 500-acre ranch along the northwestern edge of Lake Naivasha, is one of them. Built in 1943 and still family-owned, it offers guests an unhurried luxury that feels like a well-kept secret in the world of high-gloss safari setups.
Jessica Savage, Media and Marketing Manager for Governors’ Camp Collection (which has managed and run the property for the past three decades), puts it plainly: “People stay at Loldia for a glimpse of life in a bygone era.”
For travellers drawn to gentler rhythms, Loldia House is the ideal blend of old heritage and contemporary comfort, of sustainability and the quiet pleasures of country living.
Preserving Elegance
Loldia hums with history, and that authenticity is intentional. Jessica notes that “the original house remains remarkably true to its heritage, with many features preserved exactly as they were — the stone fireplace, the wood-panelled dining room, and even the old ox-drawn farm cart from the property’s early days as a cattle and sheep farm. Much of the interior décor is also original, including antique dressers, consoles, bronzes, books, silverware, and other period pieces.”
Updates have happened here and there, but always with sensitivity towards the original designs. New cottages, for example, were built using the same purple volcanic rock quarried locally, ensuring visual continuity. As Jessica explains, “Architectural details such as arches and columns have also been carried through into the newer rooms, preserving a consistent sense of heritage throughout the property.”
Where Time Slows Its Pace
Loldia’s landscape is an amplifier for the calm ambience. It’s one of Kenya’s most soothing safari gateways, developed around open views, lake breezes, and a relaxed pace. Here, guests aren’t pushed into early game drives; instead, the house prioritises rest, slow mornings, and spontaneous days.
Jessica describes it: “Loldia is definitely regarded as a place to relax, unwind and taste the pleasures of Kenyan country life.” Morning tea or coffee is delivered to your room on request, followed by breakfast on the lawn overlooking the lake, where fishermen cast nets, and fish eagles call from the trees.
That sense of peace is shaped by sweeping views of Mount Longonot, attentive but unhurried hosting, rolling lawns, fig trees, and abundant birdlife. As she puts it, “One cannot help but slow down, breathe in the fresh air, feel at peace…”
Many travellers use Loldia as a gentle landing pad after long-haul flights before heading deeper into the Mara or Laikipia.
Stories in the Landscape
Some of Loldia’s most charming elements lie behind the scenes. The little shamba (their kitchen garden) allows guests to pick herbs, salads, tomatoes, carrots, and more. Jessica explains that visitors can gather produce and “pass it on to the chefs,” who then incorporate it into the meal.
Then there are the legendary fig trees. When the house was built, there was only one small fig on the lawn. Today, more than 15 towering Ficus wakefieldii surround the property. One has lived for more than a century; another stands behind the luxury suites, which were elevated “to preserve this tree… above the maze of roots.”
These living landmarks give Loldia a sense of continuity that’s both quiet and mighty.
A Gold-Rated Commitment to Conservation
Loldia’s Gold eco-rating from Eco-Tourism Kenya reflects years of behind-the-scenes work. Jessica highlights their zero-waste operations, ban on single-use plastics, and the use of reusable water bottles for guests.
Conservation initiatives include tree-planting programmes in Eburu Forest, support for the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust, and broader forest-restoration efforts.
Community engagement is equally strong. She mentions the TAFA Community Centre and a newly launched bursary fund designed “to try and raise funds for bright children who have been identified as most in need by their community.”
They also support the TAFA Uji Program, which feeds 150-200 community children each day, pays the monthly salaries of two teachers, pays 14 bursaries, and has supplied over 18 tons of meat to endangered raptors at the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust.
Most Magical Moments
Evenings are when Loldia becomes most atmospheric. According to Jessica, the verandah glows with lanterns and candles, pre-dinner drinks are served by the log fire, and dinner unfolds as a three-course affair in the main house.
Afterwards, she recommends a night drive — “one of my favourite experiences” — where nocturnal wildlife emerges across the conservancy. She notes that many guests would never know this world exists “unless you did a night drive.”
Even the resident impalas return each evening to sleep beneath the ancient fig by the pool.
What the Next Decade Holds
“Hopefully, Loldia will continue just as it is for many more decades,” Jessica says. “Certainly, the character, charm, and history must be preserved, as this is what makes Loldia unique…” The recently added lakeshore suites and family cottage, she believes, are enough additions for the foreseeable future.
They will want to continue offering this magical experience to overseas visitors and to Kenyans seeking a quiet weekend escape from Nairobi. And in a country full of bold new lodges, Loldia House chooses stillness, offering an increasingly rare luxury — one that feels like coming home.
Pair Loldia With These Experiences
(All 30–90 minutes away)
- Lake Nakuru Flamingos — A classic full-day outing when the lake turns pink.
- Crescent Island Walking Safari — A serene, vehicle-free wander among giraffes.
- Eburu Forest — book a traditional honey harvesting demonstration.
Loldia House offers a lakeside escape and a preserved chapter of Kenya’s safari past, strengthened by thoughtful conservation and expressed through slow, soulful living. For anyone seeking tranquillity and landscapes that encourage stillness, there may be nowhere quite like it.
How to Book Loldia House
- Website: governorscamp.com/safari-camps/loldia-house/
- Reservations Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +254 703 097 500 (main office line) / +254 733 268 888 (sales out of hours) / +27 825 769173 (Emergency contact)
- Rates: Seasonal nightly rates are available on request and include full board, drinks, activities on the conservancy, and laundry.
- Access: Loldia House is a 2.5- to 3-hour drive from Nairobi, or a short flight to Loldia Airstrip, located within the estate. Private transfers can be arranged.
- Best for: Travellers seeking slow luxury, lakeside tranquillity, birdlife, heritage charm, and easy connections to the Masai Mara via Governors’ Aviation.
