Sunbird Lodge is a relatively new camp, located on private land overlooking Lake Elmenteita and the Soysambu Conservancy. Because it is not actually on the conservancy, however, no conservancy fees are payable. Simple and affordable it offers just ten simple cottages or chalets and a central dining, lounge and bar area. The lodge also offers a swimming pool and sun deck while daily balloon flights take off from the lodge daily. 

Location

The Lake lies 160 kms from Nairobi – a 2-3 hour journey depending on road conditions. 

The Background

The Soysambu Conservancy is part of the lands of Lord Delamere, one of Kenya’s most prominent colonial figures. Formerly a cattle ranch, which includes the western shores of Lake Elmenteita, one of Kenya’s most beautiful soda lakes, the land has never been open to the public. Even today, access is strictly limited to the guests of the conservancy. Utterly pristine and hauntingly beautiful, Soysambu is one of only a handful of private conservancies in Kenya.

A part of the extensive lands, first owned by one of Kenya’s best-known pioneers, Lord Delamere, the non-profit Soysambu Conservancy is dedicated towards preserving this previously private and still pristine wilderness - for the benefit of its unique wildlife, and for the generations of tomorrow. Featuring volcanic hills, rolling plains, and dense acacia woodlands, the Conservancy also includes a substantial part of Lake Elmenteita, the ancestral home of 1.2 million flamingoes and their attendant cast of pelicans, commorants, waders and storks. Within the shelter of the crater, wander large herds of buffalo, within the acacia thickets graze the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, and across the plains bound an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of plain’s game. Long protected from the impact of mass-tourism, the Conservancy also provides sanctuary for a wide range of carnivores, including the shy and secretive leopard. 

Accommodation

The camp offers just 10 luxurious and spacious en-suite cottages, approx. 55 m² in size including and a large veranda with an unspoilt, spectacular view(laundry service, hair dryers, telephone to reception, safe, 24-hour electricity).

Dining and bars

The camp offers a central dining and bar area. A wide variety of cuisines are offered to include international and traditional African BBQ. The camp offers a well-stocked bar area, drinks can also be enjoyed on safari or in a spectacular ’sundowner’ setting with canapes. 

Child-friendly

The camp welcomes chidren.

What to see and do

The lodge has a swimming pool and sundeck with pool bar. 

Activities include:

Escorted day and night game drives around the private conservancy.

Tours of the lakeshore, periodic home to over 2 million flamingoes.

Escorted walks

Ornithological walks around the conservancy, home to 450 species of birds.

Sundowners or bush lunches.

Ballooning across lakes Nakuru and Elmenteita

Excursions to Lake Nakuru – across the rangelands which separates the two lakes

Wildlife highlights: 

Defassa waterbuck, gazelles, antelope, colobus monkey, rock hyrax, impala, dik-dik, bush pigs, aardvark, leopard, striped hyena, bat-eared fox, wild cat, golden cat, reedbuck and buffalo and over 450 species of birds.