Olerai House: A home and sanctuary
Lifestyle
By
Nailantei Kenga
| Mar 11, 2023
Olerai House is one of the best-kept secrets. The enchanting place is home to wild animals on the shores of Lake Naivasha. It is a picture-perfect sanctuary and farmhouse.
Oria Douglas Hamilton, the owner of Olerai Sanctuary, is also an author and founder of Save the Elephants. She has learned to co-exist with wild animals. She is charming, knowledgeable and a creative genius.
It is unbelievable how one can transform the fantasy of mingling and brushing shoulders with beautiful zebras into a glorious reality. I wanted to spend hours watching and perhaps take selfies with the zebras while they grazed on the beautiful lawn.
The house is veiled in bougainvillaea, which beautifully scents the air.
As I marvelled at the beauty of the place, Oria shared that she inherited it from her father, and they will be celebrating 90 years very soon.
The design of the living room's decor and style is another highlight.
The raised ceiling with exposed wood beams and white walls is aesthetically pleasing.
The floor is oak wood, and the huge windows around the house make the space bright and airy, and one can, from time to time, peek at the abundance of wild animals outside.
Filled with wooden accents, and warm tones, the eclectic and chic style blend effortlessly with authentic local craftsmanship in the incredible natural environment.
"Most of the furniture and cushions are made by our local artisan here," said Oria.
Bespoke brightly coloured carpets, meticulously hand woven with rich, intricate patterns from Sudan, and a brass table with a top that looks like a cooking pan from Egypt are exquisite and quaint. She inherited these from her parents.
Locally made sofas, pouffes, traditional stools, cushions, and ottomans adorned in warm colours such as orange, red and yellow with different patterns offer a cosy and relaxed feeling.
Oria has intricate sculptures on her fireplace and exotic treasures and souvenirs. Some are dramatic, but they tell a story.
One of their favourite bedrooms, the Elephant Room, pulsates with colours and patterns. While staring outdoors, one can indulge, soak in the magnificent views and wild animals grazing, and not miss out on anything.
The cosy and vibrant room makes one feel like summertime and you are at the beach because of the coastal vibes. Looking outside, one would believe they are on safari.
From the makuti, a rustic bed with colourful flowery bedcovers, to the exposed wooden beams, bright blue intricate patterns kanga adorns the room; the kanga-covered seats, to the cushions and the kanga curtains in the room, the space oozes harmony.
In this room, Oria and her husband, Ian Hamilton studied elephant behaviour and wrote books in German, Italian and English. Oria explained they expanded the space as the family grew.
Married to a scientist, she developed an interest in the study of elephants. The two have studied elephants for more than 50 years.
Curious to understand what she had learnt after half a century of studying them, she mentioned that they only attack when threatened. "They either fight or flight."