Loldia has enjoyed beautiful sunny mornings with slightly overcast afternoons in September. On the 22nd we recorded 16mm of rain.
The evening drives after dinner have again been both popular and exciting. Aardvark sightings are becoming more frequent and the resident leopard has been seen a good number of times.
Aardvark and Loldia’s resident leopard this September – photo credit Dave Richards
We have even had the pleasure of two lion spotted on the 5th and some of our guests witnessed hyenas feeding on a zebra kill, not far from the house. Other interesting sightings have included a family of bush pigs, Spring Hares (we call them African Kangaroos as they hop along with their long rear legs just like a Kangaroo!), Scrub Hares, Silver-backed Jackals, Zorilla, Common Genets, Kirk’s Dik Dik, Bat-eared fox, White-tailed mongoose, Bush Babies (also known as Lesser Galagos), Defassa Waterbuck, Common Zebra, African Buffalo and hippos which are feeding several kilometres inland from the lake.
A bat-eared fox on Loldia Ranch – photo credit Dave Richards
Our September guests have made the most of the lovely mornings and headed off to Lake Nakuru National Park with picnic lunches, where they can see the endangered Black Rhino and White Rhinos and the rare Rothschild’s Giraffe. Lion sightings can be particularly interesting here as they are often found resting up in trees. In August our guests spotted a lion up a tree with an unsuspecting rhino relaxing directly below, and on the 27th of September our guests found two female lions high up a tree, while a male was sitting on a rock nearby.
Black rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park – photo credit Dave Richards
White rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park – photo credit Dave Richards
Another popular activity has been afternoon visits to Lake Oloiden, also known as the ‘twin’ or ‘little lake’ to Lake Naivasha. This saline volcanic crater lake was once part of Lake Naivasha but is now its own lake and a great place for bird watching! There are usually flamingo here due to to the salinity of the water which produces the algae that they feed on but currently the best place to see these beautiful birds in their thousands, (if that is your focus) is at Lake Elmenteita.
Lesser flamingoes at Lake Elmenteita in September – photo credit Helen Turner
Otherwise you can expect a plethora of other bird species on and around Oloiden such as the African Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Egyptian Geese as well as huge flocks of both Great White and Pink Backed Pelicans. There are numerous other migrating birds from other lakes in addition to weavers, plovers and vultures – just to name a few.
An African Fish Eagle on Lake Oloiden – photo credit Dave Richards
A Giant Kingfisher, Lake Oloiden- photo credit Dave Richards
Great White Pelicans and hippo, Lake Oloiden – photo credit Dave Richards
Lake Oloiden is only a 45 minute drive from Loldia House and although the road can be a little bumpy, it is definitely worth the trip. Apart from exceptional bird viewing, you can expect to see large pods of hippo not far from the boat as well as many other wetland species along the shoreline. Our Loldia guide will accompany you on the boat ride to make sure you catch all that there is to see on this wonderful half-day excursion.
Happy hippo, Lake Oloiden – photo credit Dave Richards
Now that we have a big new boat in operation at Loldia, many guests are opting to head straight across Lake Naivasha over to Crescent Island and walk amongst the wildlife. It is of course possible to drive to Crescent Island, if boating is not your thing. White-bearded Wildebeest, Common Zebra, Masai Giraffe, both Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles, Bushbuck, Buffalo and Defassa Waterbuck roam freely throughout this private island sanctuary and there is also the very rare possibility of spotting a leopard here – but don’t count on it since their activity is mostly nocturnal. Walks along the stretch of the island can take anything between 90 minutes to a couple of hours depending on your pace and how long you stop to take photos, or sit down in the shade for some lunch – we can send you along with a picnic if you like.
Walking alongside the wildlife on Crescent Island – photo credit Dave Richards
We hosted one particularly adventurous family in September, who took off to explore the various tracks and trails of Eburu Forest on foot, accompanied by one of the forest guides. The very next day they not only climbed Naivasha’s strikingly beautiful dormant volcano, Mt Longonot, but continued on to walk the entire length of the rim!
Climbing Mount Longonot – photo credit Dave Richards
By Dave Richards, Relief Manager at Loldia House, Lake Naivasha.
