Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Kenya

The Lodge Naivasha is a Masai name given to the area where the resort is located, denoting the characteristics of the lake including size and its tendency to roughness when windy. The history of the area has always been important as it formed the main route of the slave trade from Uganda and the highlands of Kenya, including in 1884, the Scottish explorer Joseph Thompson’s epic journey through Masai land – where he writes in his journals of his time in Naivasha. Location Situated by the shores of Lake Naivasha, a sweet water lake approximately 177sq kms in size, and home to many varieties of flora and fauna. The resort is on 120 acres of prime land. The drive to the reception centre is through beautiful green lawns which bring you to the entrance. Crossing a little walk way with a small pond on one side surrounded by plants, is the reception desk and cashier on one side. Right in the centre is a tree trunk that has been converted to beautiful table with a beautiful floral arrangement in the middle. Hanging above it is a magnificent conical wrought chandelier. Lobby A charming area, crescent shaped with a mixture of comfortable sofas in different fabric including leather. Surrounding the lobby, are glass windows which open out to a small terrace with beautifully manicured grass on the side with plants and colourful flowers. In this area there are 3 fire places with huge inverted copper funnel shaped chimneys. The roof is high, wooden, with glass panels allowing a lot of light, and these panels have birds cleverly input with blue glass mosaic work. There are beautiful wrought iron chandeliers in this whole area, and walls decorated with intricately carved wooden panels. There are 2 desks where guests can check in while sitting in comfort. On one side of the lobby is the main bar with high stools and on the other is the main dining room. Accommodation 21 cottages built in a crescent shape, and each has 4 rooms, 2 on the ground and 2 at the top, which totals to 84 rooms. 2 of these rooms are suitable for the physically challenged. 6 of the 21 cottages have inter-connecting rooms on the ground floor. Part of the pathway from the reception to the rooms, is lined with giant cactus and different kinds of plants with colorful flowers. Little rock gardens are scattered along and these too have vibrant coloured flowers which gives it a beautiful contrast with the greenery of the well manicured lawns. Monkeys are playfully rolling on the lawns and different species of birds chirping in the trees and some building their nests. Colobus monkeys are easily spotted as well. The rest of the pathway is in the open lawns and rock gardens are strategically placed, and frangipanis, aloes, proteas to name are few, are growing in abundance. The acacia trees are plentiful in this area and are growing everywhere, providing shade. The exterior walls of the cottages have stone walls giving it character and creepers and bougainvilleas add a lot of colour. The same stone work is carried into the rooms, and is the exterior bathroom wall. The banister going up the top floor is wrought iron as well and the same creepers and bougainvilleas are entwined around them. Ground floor rooms have 2 queen size beds and a sunken living room at the front which opens out on to the beautifully manicured lawns. They also have sunken bath tubs and bidets. Top floor rooms have 1 king size bed and in front of it a balcony which has a beautifully designed wrought iron railing and furniture to match. This faces the lawns as well. The bathrooms on this floor have shower cubicles and bidets. All 84 rooms are tastefully furnished with mahogany coloured furniture, from the beds, side tables, dressing table, wardrobe, luggage rack and cabinet. As a contrast to the mahogany colour, the walls are peach in colour and the fabric used for curtains and bed linen, match perfectly including the carpet. The walls have paintings and locally woven sisal pieces placed in embedded concrete frames which form part of the wall. The rooms are spacious, airy and light as, the windows are all glass. There are mini bars in all the rooms, TV’s in 48 out of the 84 rooms, telephones and safes. Ammenities & Services Parking Gift shop Laundry Swimming pool Children’s swimming pool Evening turn down service Baby sitting on request Mini bars Safety deposit Tea/coffee making facilities Foreign exchange Dinning The main restaurant is located at one side of the lobby. In the centre, hanging from a high wooden paneled ceiling, is a huge intricately done wrought iron chandelier and smaller light fixtures complimenting it around the rest of the dining room. The colours are a rich dark green, which is carried through the upholstery, carpet, and to break this are maroon coloured table cloths and napkins. A dispense bar sits on one side and on the other, the buffet and tea/coffee station. A tree grows right by the buffet area and adds on to the character of the dining room. This room opens out to an area where guests can sit and enjoy the garden in front of them, and have their pre or after dinner drinks and coffee. Pool snack bar – serves a light a la carte menu with a pizzeria next to it to compliment it. This is a very pleasant and relaxing area with the swimming pool next to it and the beautiful gardens right in front. Bar The main bar is in the lounge area, with the second one being the dispense bar in the dining room and the pool bar. Weddings at the Lodge The large green lawns with rock gardens, with different plants and brilliantly coloured flowers are an ideal venue for small and intimate or elaborate weddings. Incentives Bush breakfast Bush breakfast with champagne Bush lunch Bush dinner/bbq Mock Masai attack can be set up to add on to the atmosphere. Coastal buffet African buffet African night + khanga Gala dinner Are arranged within the lodge grounds, and decorated according to the theme. Conferences Sundowner + bar snacks Sundowner + canapés Sundowner + canapés + 45 minutes open bar The venue is an open area which has a magnificent view of the stunning sunset. The resort conference venues can accommodate 24 to 100 pax, with PA system, over head projector, LCD, TV/Video, flip chart, internet, writing material and pens. Suswa – is the smaller conference room which can accommodate a maximum of 24 pax. Theater style – 24 U shape – 15 Board room – 24 Longonot – is the larger conference room and can accommodate up to 120 pax. This room has a large area where the delegates can have their breaks and refreshments. Theater style – 120 U shape – 60 Classroom – 80 Boardroom – 50 Next to this are 2 breakaway/secretariat rooms. A separate area is designated for team building exercises for the conference delegates.