…It was by chance that we discovered Ol Donyo Wuas. We live in Nairobi and my favorite horseback riding lodge was fully booked over my birthday weekend. I called a friend (Rose at Timeless Tours and Travel- a great travel agency) and she suggested I head for the Chyulu Hills and Ol Donyo. Rose knows I can be picky having been on over a dozen safaris in the past two years. Ol Donyo Wuas is a dream, a haven far away from the rush of everyday life and with no other tourists around (except the lodge guests). The rooms are elegant, airy and beautiful yet they never let you forget you are in Africa. Glass doors instead of walls face your private pool, the animals at the watering hole (many elephants) and the endless expanse of tawny wind-blown savannah. And to crown it all Mt Kilimanjaro sits on the horizon, massive, unchanging, demanding attention…
I spent 3 days over US President’s Day weekend at Ol Donyo with two friends/colleagues who work in Kenya, and savored the experience. Our agent Rose Muya at Timeless Tours & Travel in Nairobi had recommended it a couple of times, and we wanted elephants and some of the winter migrant birds, so it fit the bill. Yes, all the rooms really do have views of Kilimanjaro and yes, there are elephants and other animals at the watering holes much of the day. But those obvious pleasures are enhanced by the incredible staff and overall ambiance of the lodge. The rooms are tastefully and very well appointed, including a “star-bed” on the roof. Amenities are plentiful – our request for bubble bath was met not just with the product, but with a hot tub filled and bubbling when we returned from safari!! Everyone – from the night watchman to the manager — was warm and friendly. Chef Timothy’s menus were beautifully balanced and the food was superb – and the surprise bush dinner was a special treat. In addition to the usual game drives, our guide Seki went well beyond the norm to help us find fabulous birds and to explain their feeding and mating patterns, and to explain the geology and ecology of the reserve. (He also introduced us to the Ant Lion and showed us its tracks and death traps.) We missed our planned horseback trip due to rain, but figure we can catch up on it on another visit. Yes – it is one to return to, it’s that special!!
Stayed February 2015, traveled with friends