Why Naivasha is giving the Coast a run for local holiday makers

For years, the lakeside town of Naivasha was in the news for all the wrong reasons, from the infamous cannibal to donkey meat and as a rendezvous for illicit liaisons.

Despite this bad press, Naivasha town is steadily becoming not only one of the safest and fastest growing towns in Nakuru County, but an exciting holiday destination.

Home to tens of flower farms, geothermal power plants, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park and tens of hotels, the town has created a niche for itself in the local tourism circuit.

The town whose name is derived from the Maasai word ‘Enaiposha’, meaning ‘living water’, has a rich history.

Between 1937 and 1950, the beautiful freshwater lake was used to land planes carrying Nairobi-bound passengers. The flying boat from London would land in the area around where the Lake Naivasha Country Club now stands, and travellers would board a bus for the capital.

Today, the lakeside area, with its cool climate, has become a retreat for local and international tourists seeking peace, quietness and fun.

These days, Naivasha town is one of the most visited in Kenya, mainly during holidays. Area MP John Kihagi says Naivasha is the ‘Second Coast’.

According to the Kenya Tourism Board, on the highway linking Nairobi to the border town of Malaba, Naivasha is the area with the highest number of hotels.

As the festive season kicks off, throngs of holiday makers have been flocking there to make merry.

And as hoteliers in the coastal region decry bad business caused by concerns over insecurity, their counterparts in Naivasha are wearing big smiles as many of their establishments are fully booked.

Some hotels that have defined the tourism face of the town include Crayfish Camp, Simba Lodge, Sopa Lodge, Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naivasha Country Club, Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge and Club Heritage.

In the last couple of years, new hotels such as Enashipai Resort, Masada, Sweet Lake, Eseriani and Kongoni have also come up, increasing the variety of luxurious choices available to vacationists.

Entertainment joints like Moxies, Thrills, Litmus, Labelle, Olive and Rocky Resort have sprouted in the town centre, to the joy of revellers.

Avid bird watchers are drawn to the lakeside, where a rare treat awaits them.

Boat operator David Kilo says the lake area is home to at least 365 species of birds, while the whole catchment area carries 625 species.

“This is the place to be for bird watchers, because they will find a fascinating diversity of birds like nowhere else in the country,” Kilo says.

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua admits that Naivasha is turning out to be the industrial and hospitality hub of the country.

He is full of praise for the number and quality of the hotels around the town, saying this is second to none in the country.

 “We expect hundreds of visitors over the festive season, and we are assuring them that their security and comfort is catered for,” Mbugua says.

Nakuru Chamber of Commerce chairman Kamau Njuguna points out that it has taken a lot to change the image of the town.

For instance, he says crime has come down to manageable levels thanks to sustained measures to improve security.

“As we head into the festive season, we want to assure visitors that Naivasha is one of the safest places they can ever visit,” Njuguna says.

County commissioner Mohammed Birik says that patrols and security checks have been heightened to reduce the chances of unpleasant incidents.

“Security will be at its highest around major tourist attractions sites and hotels,” he says.

While condemning terror attacks in the Coast, Njuguna admits that the lakeside town has benefited from cancelled trips to Kenya’s traditional holiday destination in December.

He is also quick to add that hoteliers and security officers are not leaving anything to chances.

Security expert Richard Tutah echoes these sentiments.

“Naivasha is easily accessible, and has overcome its troubled past so its popularity keeps growing,” Tutah says.

Crayfish Camp chief executive Peter Mehta adds that the proximity of Naivasha to Nairobi attracts numerous visitors from the city.

“The good roads, tens of interesting sites and some of the best hotels in the country have acted as incentives to isitors,” Mehta says.

Masada Hotel’s proprietor, Rahab Mwihaki, says many investors are keen to open more hotels around the lake. “We want to expand around the lake and urge those holding onto idle land to sell it to investors,” she says.