Love on a tree

By CHARLES NGENO

Usually after a wedding, the bride and the bridegroom plan to have a honeymoon. Often favourite destinations have either been to the country’s game parks or the coastal beaches.

But one man’s idea has demystified the total meaning of a honeymoon by establishing a room on top of a tree specifically for lovers. The room that has been named ‘The Lovers’ Nest’ is found at Osim Country Lodge in Ewaso Ngiro center, 11 kilometers South West of Narok town.

The Lover’s Nest is a unique abode, self contained room that has bed inside, a shower and only two chairs for the lovers. The wooden floor has tiles that make it easy to clean. It is strictly for lovers who want to enjoy themselves in a unique environment.
Couples who have spent their time at the Nests said there are a lot of things that soothe the lovers once they are inside the room.

“The whispering of the acacia leaves, the chirping of the birds, and the gurgling waters of the Ewaso Ngiro River as it meander its way down stream has a really soothing effect for the lovers,” said Arnold from Australia whom The Standard met at Osim, visiting for the second time.

He said most of the people who go for honeymoon usually live in stone houses and can access most big hotels and after their wedding they need something peculiar. He says the house on top of a tree that does not touch the ground gives a new meaning to love.

According to David from Narok the Lover’s Nest has therapeutic effect on an ailing relationship. He reveals that he had wronged his fiancé and was wondering how he could make up for her.

“I had heard about this place and I decided to surprise her by bringing her here. When she heard that we were going to spend on top of a tree she could not believe it. In the morning she requested that we spend one more day and that did the trick. We went back home having won her forgiveness,” said David.

Stella from Bomet, on her part is all praise for the Nest. She says the realization that it is only the two of you in a world of your own, adds to the thrill of love making.

“After getting married I asked friends to direct us to the most fascinating destination but several talked of going to the Maasai Mara. One of my friends asked us to try Osim as we head to the Mara. When we arrived we changed our plans and resolved to spend the whole week there,” she said adding that she would recommend the place to any friend because she describes the feeling as a treat of a life time.

Lovers can access the room by use of a removable metallic ladder that is often removed once the lovers are booked in and is only brought back at 9 in the morning.

The Lovers’ Nest has been in operations for the last eight years and during the high season last July the room received bookings from foreign tourist who had read about it on face book or heard from their friends.

Osim Country Lodge Propriety David Sankok said he came up with idea after seeing many lovers head to the Mara for their honeymoon only to spend their time just in the same rooms like the ones they have left back home.

“After establishing my lodge I thought of conceiving something that was going to be unique and ahead of the rest. I resolved that I had to divert some of the lovers to my lodge,” said Sankok.

“Foreign tourist normally pay four hundred US dollars for a night but locals are charged Kshs 3000. Visitors can also be allowed to tour the lovers nest by paying Kshs 500,” said Sankok.

He says the hospitality industry has been very close to his heart because reasons that it is in the industry that one gets to socialize, listen and interact with people. Sankok, a trained medical doctor, adds that his is an attempt to offer that sought after getaway from the hectic life of urban centers.

The signpost to Osim, which loosely translates to a place where there is no loneliness in the Maasai dialect, invitingly declares, “Jichinjie, Jichomee, Jienjoy.”

“We give our patrons a chance to also slaughter and roast the goat for themselves. This is another unique thrill that we are sure has put us ahead of our competitors,” he says.

The lodge manager Joshua Taekwo said holiday lovers are also offered an opportunity to do sport fishing along the river banks and game drive.

The place is bubbling with life. A group of tourists from Holland are shooting a movie called “An African Adventure” as some children ride happily on powered Formula One motor bikes. Some other children are having fun at the jungle gym as their parents watch the Ewaso Nyiro River lazily snakes its way downstream. The scene is breathtaking.