Thursday, 25 June 2009

Lake Naivasha

Today was action packed, Howard Marshall reports on our morning activities, a boat ride on Lake Naivasha!

This morning we had the pleasure of a boat trip on lake Naivasha. Morgan, Aby, Alice and myself were quite breath taken by the wildlife and natural beauty surrounding the lake. The birds and wildlife on the banks of the lake such as Zebras were an experience not to be missed, not to mention the birds and herds of Hippos swimming in the lake, many quite close to our boat.

Apart from the wildlife Zak our skipper was telling us a little about the history surrounding the lake and its colonial past. On the banks of the lake alongside Elsemere is the Djinns Palace originally owned by Lord Hayes. Lord Hayes had this palace designed by a North African Architect to a grand Moroccan design of architecture. Lord Hayes sold the palace to the Delamere family and is now owned by the Oserian Flower company. The Djinns Palace provided the setting for the film White Mischief, set in the early part of the 20th Century when Kenya was a British Colony. Alongside this palace is a water pump used by the controversial Oserian Flower company to provide hydration for their horticulture. Oserian is one of many companies drawing water off the lake and its tributaries that is both affecting the water level of the lake and its wildlife.

Howard Marshall.

2 comments:

  1. Hi guys, it is taking me back to when I was there, I had to leave the employment of Oserian owned by the Zwager family I could never come to terms with what they and other growers were doing to the lake, the wildlife and the people.
    They promised to improve would like to know if they have.
    I remember vividly being o a boat with my children and a hippo came up mouth wide open scary, we left quicly!! If you go to Tommys bar on the lake not far from you, lots of travellers stay there, please give him and his family my love, say Nikki of Terry and Nikki sends love.
    Hope you have a wonderful informitive time. Love the blogs...Nicola

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  2. Thanks Nicola, it is certainly a most amazing place. We have learned so much and Howard has collected a lot of footage to show what the lake it like now. Beautiful, but endangered. I have been interviewing people to get insights into the problems, should be able to make a useful short film about it. Please keep reading and forward it on to everyone! Morgan

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