Chui Lodge in Oserengoni Sanctuary Naivasha

The nine-cottage safari lodge, situated in the Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary close to Lake Naivasha, is set among acacia and candelabra trees and offers a private wildlife environment together with views of the Rift Valley escarpment. Since there are only a limited number of cottages, the lodge has a more peaceful atmosphere and provides greater privacy than the larger hotels in Naivasha.

The lodge was developed by June Zwager in conjunction with members of the local community and skilled artisans. The dining room, lounge and bar have the atmosphere of an African art gallery because of the hand-carved pillars, African antiques and the ochre-coloured walls. This kind of design gives a strong sense of place and thus distinguishes it from ordinary safari hotels.

The Lodge is suitable for couples, honeymooning couples, families staying in the two-bedroom Garden Cottage, and those looking for a private Lake Naivasha safari. When planning your Kenya safari, we include Chui Lodge in your itinerary and consider your arrival in Nairobi, your other destinations and your travel pace.

Getting to Chui Lodge

The Lodge lies on a tarmac road, taking between two and two-and-a-half hours to reach from Nairobi to the gate of the Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary. This route is appropriate for tourists who prefer to enter the Rift Valley by road and thus begin their safari without taking a domestic flight.

Another option is to fly from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Loldia Airstrip, which takes around 20 minutes, and then drive for 20 minutes to reach the lodge. This option reduces the travel time for trips that include several safari stops or when time in Kenya is limited.

Before finalising your transfer plan, we look at the available road and flight options in light of your schedule. This makes it possible for your method of arrival to match your overall itinerary.

Cottages at Chui Lodge

There are nine cottages, each one uniquely designed and having a private bathroom, together with its own veranda and views either of the sanctuary or of the Rift Valley cliffs. Because of their separate arrangement, there is private outdoor space, and the lodge does not become crowded.

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The Standard and Deluxe Bandas have tea and coffee stations, and the minibars can be restocked if requested. Fireplaces ensure that you are kept warm during Naivasha's cooler nights, and the Deluxe Bandas also feature a separate lounge for extra relaxation between safari activities.

The Garden Cottage is suitable for families since the bedrooms are connected by a common living area. This arrangement enables both parents and children to stay near one another while still having their own private en-suite rooms.

Safari experiences in Oserengoni

The lodge is the only one situated within the Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary, an area covering 18,000 acres and linked to Hell’s Gate National Park and the lakeshore of Lake Naivasha by wildlife corridors; guests can start their safaris at the lodge without having to travel each day from Naivasha town.

Experienced guides adjust the daily activities according to the guests' interests; these options are day and night wildlife drives within the sanctuary or along the lakeshore, boat safaris and outdoor breakfasts, day drives focusing on the sanctuary's scenery and animals, and night drives which provide a special view in the dark.

The area around Oserengoni hosts predators, giraffes, and some smaller nocturnal mammals. Although the number of sightings varies, the private sanctuary provides guests with access to a more peaceful section situated away from the crowded public areas near Lake Naivasha.

The plan of our itinerary includes details about the lodges, such as the meals, the activities and the transfers during your stay.

Meals, pool time and relaxation

The chefs at Chui Lodge make use of the ingredients from the lodge's own dairy and organic vegetable farm, and also use produce that is sourced locally when this is possible. By doing so, the way in which meals are served is linked to the Oserengoni area and can be adapted to meet guest preferences.

Three-course dinners are available either indoors with a log fire or outdoors under the stars, and guests have the option of dining in a private cottage or having lunch by the pool, thus allowing for a choice between shared meals and some private time.

The swimming pool, which is heated, sits beside the waterhole and the sanctuary and offers guests a chance to relax between activities while enjoying the wildlife. For those staying at the property, a spa tent is provided for treatments.

Hell’s Gate and Lake Naivasha

Nearby, Hell’s Gate National Park is famous for its cliffs, gorges, grasslands and hot springs. It provides activities such as walking, cycling, hiking and wildlife watching in certain areas and thus offers a more active option than traditional vehicle-based safaris.

The lodge experience is improved by Lake Naivasha, with boat trips along the lake shore matching the game drives in Oserengoni and thus allowing guests to explore both the water and the acacia woodland.

We can advise on whether a stay of two or three nights will give you enough time to carry out the sanctuary activities as well as visit Lake Naivasha and the other nearby sites without having to rush your safari schedule.

Conservation and local craftsmanship

The lodge was constructed with stone from the bush, together with acacia, olive and leleshwa wood, which is said to have been obtained in a sustainable way within the sanctuary, and the furniture is hand-made in the workshop on site, as a result of which each cottage and shared area has a distinct character.

The Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary says that the accommodation of visitors contributes to its conservation work; it keeps the ranger posts, the waterholes, the dams, and the wildlife corridors which link to Hell’s Gate and the lakeshore, all of which help in the protection of the wider Naivasha habitat.

Weather and timing

The fact that Naivasha is situated in the elevated Rift Valley results in cooler evenings, especially between June and August; March and May generally experience the most rainfall, while October to December may also have shorter periods of rain. These seasonal variations can influence road conditions, the timing of activities, and the appearance of the landscape during a stay.

What to know before booking

• The property includes nine cottages, which provides the possibility of a private experience. Yet, during busy travel periods, the various preferred cottage categories might be restricted.
• The lodge is situated in a private sanctuary, not in Naivasha town, and this location provides a more immersive wildlife experience, making a stay of two or three nights especially worthwhile.
• In the Rift Valley, the evenings may be cool, and comfort can be obtained after participating in activities in the late afternoon or at night through the use of cottage fireplaces and dining by the fire.
• Wi-Fi can be found in the main lodge areas, but connection speeds may differ while you're there, so anyone who has essential online needs should make appropriate arrangements before traveling.
• The Garden Cottage includes one king-size bedroom and one twin bedroom, which makes it a suitable arrangement for families. However, it might not be appropriate for groups that want the same kind of bed in both rooms.
• Before confirming your itinerary, our team looks at the room layouts, the availability, and your booking.