Nestled deep in the forests of
Aberdares National Park, this world-renowned rustic tree house exists for the
primary purpose of game viewing. The Treetops is the original tree lodge, and is
world famous for its location facing a water hole and a salt lick in the
Aberdares National Park as well as its historic connection to the British
Monarch. Initially built in 1932, Treetops fame took off when during her stay in
1952Princess Elizabeth learned her father, King George VI had died. As the
cliché goes “she climbed the tree as princess one afternoon and descended the
following morning as Queen to the British throne.
Today Treetop’s reputation had
spread far and wide; for the globetrotter, the rich, the famous, and the
fashionable, no visit to Kenya and indeed Africa is regarded complete without
experiencing the Treetops adventure. Even with all the many exciting safari
lodges, and camps Kenya has to offer, 50 room Treetops sit on top of many wish
lists. The lodge lies in a dense
lichen hung forest of the Aberdares National Park and overlooks two waterholes,
and the magnificent snowy peaks of Mount Kenya.
From the safety and comfort of its
many observation lounges, guests can photograph at close quarters the
territorial charge of short sighted rhino, a protective elephant matriarch
chaperoning her calf, the graceful bounding of a bushbuck doe. A family of
lions, has on more than one occasion, made a meal of a warthog to the
fascination and horror of Treetops dinners.
This unique property lies along an
ancient Elephant migratory route between the Aberdares Mountains and Mt Kenya
National park, and is ideally situated a top a popular watering hole and salt
lick.
Guests can drink in the sight of
Elephants, Buffalos, Rhinos and more from the safety of four viewing decks and a
rooftop platform. Shutterbugs can take close shots from two photographic hides
at ground level.
For the die-hard animal lovers
worried a bit missed game sightings, even into the early hours of the morning.
An optional buzzer in the rooms will alert guests when a spectacle is unfolding
at the waterhole. Game drives and a lecture about Treetops are also available to
the guests.
This lodge-on-stilts is as
space-efficient on the inside as it is unassuming on the outside. Trees grow
right through the building. There are 48 cozy rooms and two suites, a lounge
overlooking the waterhole and two bars. There is also a restaurant where dinner
is served on charming old world refectory tables with bench seating. It is 17 km
away from Outspan Hotel, where guests begin and end their journey to Treetops.
Guests are advised to bring warm clothing as nights can get chilly at this
lodge, which is 6,450m above sea level.
Accommodation:
For those guests who value their
sleep as much as the nocturnal entertainment, everyone is allocated a
comfortable bed in either a single or twin room with plentiful shared bathroom
facilities, or on request, suites with its own bathroom. If you wish to do your
game viewing the 'lazy way', the professional hunter can wake you up each time
one of the big five visits the tree house! Make sure you do not miss out an
experience of a lifetime.
The lodge rises straight out of the
ground on stilts. It has 4 decks and a rooftop-viewing platform. There are 50
twin bed rooms, which are neat and cozy and are designed like cabins on board a
ship.
Dinner is imaginatively served at
tables with bench seating. Coffee and liqueurs are served in the comfortable
lounge, which features picture windows and trees growing through the building.
The bar is open every night till midnight.
Mount Kenya's breath taking view is
visible on clear mornings. Treetops have open balconies for viewing and
photography; two photographic hides at ground level at either end of the lodge
allow really close shots of unsuspecting animals. There is an optional buzzer in
every room that alerts the guests if something special were to show up at
night.
ACCOMMODATION
43 Double rooms
5 Triple rooms
2 suites
The rooms are neat and cozy like
cabins onboard a ship, overlooking the waterholes.
RESTAURANT
Meals served at the lodge
are:
Afternoon tea: 15.30hrs –
17.00hrs
Dinner: 19.30hrs – 21.30hrs (one
sitting)
Breakfast and Lunch is served at
Outspan.
BARS
Malkia Bar
Located at the top deck, it is open
from 16.00hrs to 19.30hrs
Main Bar
Open from 15.00hrs to
midnight
