Serena Mountain Lodge, Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya (5,199 m) is Kenya's highest mountain, a national icon, a climbers' Mecca, the nation's namesake, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site and a wildlife stronghold. One of the world's highest National Parks, it is also an extinct volcano some three and a half million years old and the sacred home of Ngai, God of the Kikuyu people.
Serena Mountain Lodge is within Mount Kenya National Park about 193 kilometres from Nairobi. Sailing like an ark amid the primeval forests of Kenya's highest mountain, Mount Kenya, this timbered tree hotel offers champagne-clear mountain air, sweeping views across the tree-canopy, sparkling trout streams, and gentle forest walks. Located at 2,134 metres above sea level, on the lower slopes of the mountain, the lodge is cool, tranquil and hushed for optimum game-sightings. The open-air viewing-deck looks down on to its own water hole and salt-lick, which attracts numerous herds of elephant and buffalo. There is also a tunnel leading to a photo-hide, which offers spectacular viewing and photographic opportunities just metres away from the wildlife at the water hole.
The Lodge has 41 rooms .Each timber-built, cabin-styled room has its own luxury ensuite bathroom and a private balcony overlooking the water hole. The décor, which echoes the Kikuyu culture, features hand-woven wall hangings, soft lighting and cosily-warm soft furnishings. Hot-water bottles are provided at night. Smoking is not permitted within the lodge, due to the fact that it is of timber construction but a smoker's area is provided on the roof-top terrace.
The central dining room is raised to tree level offering long views over the forest canopy. All meals are served on a buffet basis and showcase both local and international cuisine. The panelled bar is decorated with scenes from Kikuyu life and features a central fireplace and access to the viewing platform over the waterhole.
High on the roof of the lodge is a terrace, which overlooks the waterhole. Here, as the sun goes down, private ‘sundowners’ or evening cocktails can be served as you watch the animals as they slowly make their way to the waterhole. Floodlit at night, it attracts a wide variety of species; common visitors include elephants, buffalos, water bucks, warthogs, baboons, genet cats, red duikers and marsh mongooses. Alternatively a private dinner can be served on the terrace
Raised on stilts above the forest canopy, a timbered drawbridge leads from the forest and up on to the wooden ‘decks' of the lodge. Inside, the impression of having boarded a ship is perpetuated by a combination of log panelled walls, timbered game-viewing decks and winding stairs leading to a selection of snugly comfortable, cabin-styled rooms.
Activities include guided walks through the forest, trout fishing in the clear mountain streams, trips to the high moorlands of the mountain, and 5-day luxury climbs of the mountain.
