The Dairy, Lake Naivasha

The Dairy, (where Oria once milked the family cows when she was a child) has now been rebuilt by Oria, with pale pink bricks, in to a lovely country barn-house with spacious rooms, big windows, high ceilings, wonderful wood work and a fabulous kitchen. The Dairy is situated within the beautiful Wildlife Sanctuary on the northern shores of Lake Naivasha; home to multiple zebras, impala, giraffe, waterbuck, leopards, hyenas, hippos, warthogs and other wildlife, plus countless birds. The space The large open main room of the Dairy is full of sunlight and fresh air, with a lovely kitchen, dining table, comfortable arm chairs, a fire place, and opening out on to a big verandah with garden. Almost tame wild animals wander by all day long unperturbed by its occupants - they have replaced the cows and are happy to share the open spaces with the guests. The three lovely bedrooms, two with king size beds and one with twin beds have brightly coloured bathrooms with a shower. An extra bed or baby cot can be added if needed. The bedrooms have lovely curtains, covers, feather pillows and plenty of linen, as well as hot water bottles, drinking water, tissues, and insect repellent. All bathrooms are supplied with organic shampoo, conditioner and soaps. There is a wonderful farmhouse kitchen fully stocked with basic larder supplies; fresh milk, tea, coffee, sugar, cooking oil and vinegars, and detergents are also supplied. The furniture is designed by Oria and made on site with old wood, setting the tone for a very special house. There is a housekeeper, as well as an askari (night watchman) to look after you throughout your stay. The housekeeper will clean the house daily and is also available to do laundry; please let her know and she will ensure it is all done. You can ask the estate manager for anything else that you may need. Tips are encouraged, and very much appreciated, so please do leave a token of your enjoyment with the manager. Tips are divided among all the Sanctuary staff at the end of the month. Guest access Guests can enjoy guided bird walks, and can amble close to the animals with our specialised rangers, a wonderful experience, included within your Sanctuary fee. Guests can also swim in the big pool in the grounds, or hike up in the surrounding hills. At night a bonfire is lit at your house, where you can enjoy a sundowner as the sky bursts into a blaze of stars. In the distance hyenas howl and hippos growl. Delicious food made with home grown vegetables, lamb, duck, chicken, eggs and fruit from Oria's organic garden is available and something not to be missed. Freshly made pasta dishes, spicy fish pies, rosemary focaccia bread, avocado soup, mulberry tarts, lemon coconut sorbets and much more, can be ordered from the nearby Olerai House Lodge kitchen. A cook is also available at an extra cost to make any of these sumptuous dishes. Other things to note There is a mandatory Sanctuary fee payable in cash upon arrival, Ksh 1,500 (US$15) for adults and Ksh 750 (US$7.50) for children per day, which goes towards the upkeep of the beautiful area in which we are situated, and to look after all the precious wildlife. Wifi is available in The Dairy, at an additional fee.