Naivasha

NAIVASHA

LAKE NAIVASHA
The area around Naivasha was one of the first to be settled by white people and one of the hunting grounds of the hedonistic Happy Valley set. In fact Delamere Estates, originally owned by the eccentric Lord Delamere, surrounds the town.

Between 1937 and 1950 this beautiful, peaceful fresh water lake was used as a landing place for plane passengers destined for Nairobi! The flying boat from London would land on the lake where the Lake Naivasha Country Club now stands, and travellers would board a bus for Nairobi. Today the lovely lake, with its cool climate, has become a retreat for Nairobi residents and tourists looking for peace. Because the lake is freshwater and the surrounding soil fertile, this is a major production area for fruit and vegetables and, more recently, vineyards.
Over 400 birds have been recorded on the lake and it supports a large number of hippo. Despite conservation efforts however, the ecological balance has been tipped by the introduction of sport fish, including the Nile perch, the north American red swamp crayfish and various aquatic plants. There are several wildlife sanctuaries in the area.