William Holden’s dream gets a grandeur facelift

By Ferdinand Mwongela and Catherine Ochung

This is the 50th anniversary of the Mt Kenya Safari Club and we are here to check out the newly renovated hotel and the end result is remarkable.

From here, Mt Kenya is a breathtaking sight, especially with the realisation that we are standing at the foot of the second largest mountain in Africa. Its signature peak stands at 5,199 metres (17,057 feet). The sight from the hotel is amazing.

Through the state of the art binoculars, the temptation to touch the snow on the mountain is irresistible

We set off from Nairobi in the afternoon and, although the three-hour drive was without drama, for first-time tourists like us the journey was a major eye-opener. We were amazed to encounter a plethora of sites as we drove through three provinces — Nairobi, Central and Rift Valley.

From the city and its concrete jungle, we passed through the lush greenness of Thika, Murang’a, Karatina and Nyeri before passing the rolling plains of sunburnt grass of the upper Rift Valley. We finally got to Nanyuki where the sun shines down with a vengeance. All we could see were sheep grazing in ranches and farms along the road. There were hardly any trees.

Before getting into the town, we turned off onto an all-weather road. Along the way, residents went on with their lives seemingly unimpressed to be in an area that many would give and arm and a leg to visit, but then home is always rarely appreciated.

After an eternity of twists and turns, we finally saw the hotel’s main gate. We had arrived. The throaty sounds of Maasai morans welcomed us into the man-made heaven. Just as we thought we were about to enjoy a long, luxurious relaxation, the Club’s naturalist, Simon Mureithi, enthusiastically invited us to take a walk with him through their orchid farm.

Coriolis effect

First things first though, he said, as he treated us to a demonstration of the Coriolis effect, which is the impact of the Equator on the direction of water movement. In general, water moves in a clockwise direction when on the southern hemisphere and anticlockwise on the northern hemisphere. At the Equation, there is virtually no effect. For witnessing this magical display of nature, we were awarded certificates as proof that we had crossed the Equator.

One of the many bird species here

Mureithi cut short our tour of the orchid farm when he realised we were extremely tired. A few minutes later, the hotel porters ushered us to our deluxe rooms in the William Holden cottages, named thus after the Club’s founder. By this time, it was too late to have a look at the mountain so we resigned ourselves to dinner at the Tusk restaurant and a cold night. But we were relieved to find a hot water bottle in our beds when we tucked ourselves to bed later that night.

It was hard getting out of the cosy bed the following morning but we had been told the view of the mountain in the cold, crispy, morning air is to die for. And that the longer we stayed in bed the more clouds would cover the mountain, so we forced ourselves out.

True to word, the view was bewitching even to the naked eye. Unfortunately, there is little snow on the mountain, thanks to man’s destructive activities. Fortunately, the clouds did not obscure the magical view until about noon.

Standing outside the cottages, the main building framed by the green lawns and a clear blue sky looked like a picture on a postcard. We spent the rest of the day enjoying various activities, from horse riding to playing golf.

To sum up, the club, which is part of a global chain, befits the description of a paradise restored, right from the scenic outdoor to the grandeur interiors. The exclusive club richly demonstrates that being a ‘five-star’ is part of a lifestyle.

Inside, suites go by famous names like Manor and William Holden. The presidential suite has luxurious amenities and provides a stunning view of the mountain from its balcony.

The refurbished guestrooms, suites and cottages total 120. Each of the cottages boasts a sophisticated dÈcor with impressive wood furniture, snug seats and a fireplace that completes the picture of luxurious cosiness. The Equator Suite has a connecting door that leads from one part of the equator to another, the separation being a prominent study.

The club’s exclusive nature does not necessarily lock out the ordinary visitor. In a bid to promote domestic tourism, the club has set aside reasonably affordable packages for residents with incentives to keep both your pocket and mind at peace. In line with marking the anniversary, the club has ambitiously managed to put together 50 activities and attractions both within and at close proximity to indulge in during one’s stay.

For those who love the outdoor, there is a spot to enjoy the club’s famous bush meals right along the banks of a river that flows from the mountain. There is also a wooden church that houses a grand piano. The lavishly manicured gardens are hired for wedding ceremonies. Later that day, we enjoyed a bike ride down the slopes of the mountain that gave us an adrenaline rush