Lentorre Lodge
LENTORRE LODGE IS SITUATED ON THE EXCLUSIVE OLKIRAMATIAN CONSERVANCY, IN THE REMOTE SHOMPOLE WILDERNESS AREA AT THE SOUTHERN END OF KENYA’S RIFT VALLEY.
Lentorre Lodge offers luxurious accommodation with commanding views eastwards over the conservancy and south along the escarpment towards Mount Shompole. The lodge is located next to a natural spring at the foot of the Nguruman Escarpment, which forms the western wall of the Great Rift Valley. Lentorre is family owned and operated and the only property on the 25,000 hectare Olkiramatian Conservancy, with access to the adjacent Shompole Conservancy.
Whilst the lodge is ideally suited for guests who want to experience a different and remote area of Kenya and its culture, within an exclusive, relaxing and very comfortable setting, it is perhaps best suited to photographic guests. The property is home to a professionally and luxuriously equipped photographic hide, which includes the chance for overnight stays. There is also the opportunity to arrange some aerial photography of the stunning Lake Magadi with its flamingo population, pink and red colouration and brine patterns.
Rooms
Accommodation is provided for up to 16 guests in six villas, including two family units. Each spacious thatched villa is built on to a solid plinth with a solid frame and canvas sides which can roll completely up to create an open-fronted villa. There is a bedroom with king or twin beds under a mosquito net, a sitting area and a bathroom with plumbed facilities including shower, bath tub, vanity and flush toilet. The bedroom and sitting area leads on to a veranda furnished with sun loungers and a private plunge pool. The two family suites each comprise two en suite bedrooms with veranda and plunge pool also. One family suite has two bedrooms connecting internally via a shared sitting area, whereas the second unit is two storey and the bedrooms connect externally via steps (so better suited to families with teenage children). All rooms are equipped with plug points and adapters and standing fans.
Central Areas
The central areas comprise an upper dining area, lounge and bar, where breakfast is usually served; and a lower area comprising dining room, relaxation area and a second bar overlooking the waterhole. There is a swimming pool between the two main areas.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Shompole and neighbouring Olkiramation Conservancies form an exclusive wilderness area nestled in the most southerly section of Kenya’s Rift Valley, close to the border with Tanzania. The conservancies are flanked by Lake Magadi to the east, the Rift Valley wall and Loita Hills to the west and the imposing Shompole Mountain and Lake Natron to the south. The conservancies are a success story in terms of sustainable wildlife and community management, with the local communities heavily involved in the management of the conservancies. The area is typically very arid and harsh, but able to support a wide range of wildlife due to various streams flowing down from the Loita Hills, and the significant Ewaso Nyiro river flowing through the heart of the conservancy into the Shompole Wetlands. Elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, Grant’s gazelle, impala, baboon, vervet monkey, lesser kudu, waterbuck and bushbuck can all be seen, though animal densities rotate throughout the conservancies according to food sources and seasons. Lion, leopard and even the occasional cheetah can also be seen, as can spotted and striped hyena, and small cats such as caracal, African wild cat and serval.
Other small creatures include aardvark, aardwolf, civet, genet, honey badger, golden jackal and white-tailed mongoose. Whilst general game can be seen on daytime game drives, due to the presence of Maasai villages and cattle in the region, it is more usual to see predators at night, when they move around more confidently. The area is home to a couple of specialist photographic waterhole hides, and it is from these hides at night that you are most likely to encounter the region’s rarer inhabitants. Over 450 species of birds have been seen in the area, and Lake Magadi is home to large populations of lesser and greater flamingo, and is known for its incredible pink and red colouration.
Activities
Activities include game drives (by day and by night) and guided walks (which range from shorter nature walks looking at tracks and learning about the flora, fauna and landscape, to morning sunrise hikes, and longer three or four hour hikes for those looking for more strenuous exercise). A local research centre has also habituated a group of baboons and walks with the baboons are possible. Tubing on the Ewaso Nyiro River is also possible and authentic Maasai village visits and cultural experiences can also be arranged at an extra cost. However, for photographers, a highlight of Lentorre Lodge is the photographic hide situated in front of the lodge at the edge of the waterhole. The sunken hide is air-conditioned and equipped to a high standard with professional glass, lighting and soundproofing and there is a small bar, library and two beds within the hide, as well as four beds and a bathroom in the ante room. The hide can be backlit, providing excellent photographic opportunities.
There are also two bird hides on site around the lodge grounds, one facing the sunrise and the other the sunset. Helicopter flights over the surrounding landscape and soda lakes (including the option to take aerial photographs) can be booked at extra cost, the main attraction being the very alkaline Lake Magadi which is known for its Greater and Lesser flamingo populations, pink and red colouration (due to the algae in the water) and surface brine patterns – all of which are a photographers dream.
Seasons
Lentorre Lodge is open year-round, however November, April and May are the generally the wettest months. Photographers will need dry conditions so that there is activity at the hide, and the best seasons tend to be late July to October and then late January to March.
Lentorre Lodge accepts children of all ages and the two family villas are ideal for travelling with children (one is better suited for older children). With flexible activities and a swimming pool, the lodge would make a good choice for a family looking for a remote, relaxing and exclusive safari escape, though the game viewing experience is not typical as day time sightings of traditional big game are often challenging.
Lentorre is operated in partnership with the Olkiramatian Maasai community and 95% of the lodge’s team comes from the local area. Guests staying in the area pay conservation and community fees which go directly to wildlife and habitat conservation and community support. The conservancy, along with neighbouring Shompole, is an example of highly successful community conservation, illustrated by the Rebuilding the Pride project. The main goal of the program has been to rebuild lion prides (and other carnivore numbers) by proving that the coexistence of pastoral livestock and wildlife is not only possible, but is the best hope of sustaining large viable carnivore populations. Rebuilding the Pride also refers to the pride communities themselves take in conserving wildlife to their economic advantage.
