Kedong Ranch House Naivasha

Situated on a hill between Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot, Kedong Ranch House is a peaceful getaway nestled within the vast 80,000-acre Kedong Private Ranch on the Rift Valley floor. Blending old-world colonial “ranch” charm with modern conveniences, this historic lodge was originally built by Martha Gellhorn, the former wife of legendary American writer Ernest Hemingway, who used it as a shelter during his East African hunting adventures.

Surrounded by wildlife and livestock alike in an unfenced wilderness, Kedong Ranch House offers magical, sweeping views of Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot, the Suswa Hills, and Hell’s Gate National Park. Whether you are a honeymooner seeking a serene retreat, a business executive looking for a quiet getaway, or an adventurer eager to explore the Rift Valley, this lodge truly is a home away from home.

Location & Accessibility

The lodge is conveniently built in the wild, sitting on the southern side of Lake Naivasha and bordering Hell’s Gate National Park to the West, offering rich, unfenced wildlife viewing directly from the property.

By Road

✓ Travel Time: A highly scenic 2-hour drive from Kenya’s capital
✓ Distance from Nairobi: Approximately 80 km northwest of Nairobi
✓ The Route: Take the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway (A104) and branch off towards Naivasha town, typically proceeding along the Moi South Lake Road to the Kedong Ranch entrance
✓ Local Proximity: The property straddles the slopes of Mount Longonot and is situated about 13 km from Lake Naivasha. Hell’s Gate National Park is 15 km away, while the main town of Naivasha is approximately 26 km away

By Air

✓ Transfers: After a short flight, guests take a scenic transfer to the lodge. The nearest major domestic hub, Wilson Airport, is 79 km from the property by air coordinates
✓ Scheduled & Charter Flights: The lodge is highly accessible via a brief 25-minute flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport (WIL) to local Naivasha airstrips (such as the Naivasha or Loldia airstrips)

Accommodation

The colonial-style ranch house offers 20 spacious, clean, and cozy rooms that accommodate up to 40 guests at double occupancy. All units seamlessly blend old-world ranch aesthetics with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay in the wild.

The Signature Rooms (‘Kinangop’ & ‘Ol Karia’)

Designed for comfort and shared relaxation, offering magical views of the surrounding landscapes.

✓ Layout: Twin-bedded rooms featuring a shared dining and sitting room situated between them, making them perfect for families or close friends

‘The Happy Valley’ Honeymoon Suite

Situated adjacent to the main rooms, this suite is perfectly tailored for romance and privacy.

✓ Layout: An intimate, elegantly furnished suite ideal for honeymooners seeking a peaceful, private getaway in the wild

Standard En Suite Rooms

✓ Views: Every unit features a private terrace offering breathtaking mountain views
✓ Comfort: Spacious, clean, and cozy rooms featuring a seating area to relax after a day of adventure
✓ Bathrooms: Private en-suite bathrooms equipped with a shower and complimentary free toiletries

Room Features & Amenities

✓ Flat-screen TVs in the seating areas
✓ Daily housekeeping and friendly hospitality
✓ Private terraces with sweeping views of Mount Longonot and the Suswa Hills

Dining & Culinary Experience

Set in a serene, private environment, the lodge prides itself on serving good food that complements the rugged beauty of the surrounding wilderness.

The On-Site Restaurant

Guests can enjoy hearty meals prepared with care, available on Bed & Breakfast (B&B), Half Board, or Full Board meal plans.

✓ Packed Lunches: Available upon prior request for guests heading out on full-day excursions or mountain hikes
✓ Bush Dining: Experience the magic of the wild with specially arranged bush breakfasts, bush lunches, and outdoor barbecues

Lounge & Common Areas

✓ Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi is readily available in the lounge, bar, and dining areas to keep you connected while in the bush
✓ The Bar: Sip on your favorite drink while watching the animals, such as giraffes, zebras, and antelopes, gather at the nearby watering hole
✓ Future Additions: Please note that a heated swimming pool and a children’s petting zoo (housing rabbits, geese, turkeys, hens, and doves) are currently under construction to enhance future stays

Experiences & Activities

Kedong Ranch & Naivasha offer tranquil relaxation as well as pure adventure for the bold and daring.

Included / On-Site Activities

✓ Guest Services: Laundry service available to all guests, and access to the lounge and bar areas overlooking the watering hole
✓ Wildlife Viewing: The 80,000-acre unfenced ranch is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Guests can spot eland, giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, warthog, hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox, and the nocturnal African springhare right from the property

Optional Safari & Adventure Activities

✓ Lake Excursions: Boat rides on nearby Lake Naivasha to see hippos and prolific birdlife
✓ Game Drives: Day and night game drives across the vast, wildlife-rich plains of the private wilderness
✓ Horseback Riding: Experience a thrilling horse ride through the vast grasslands and bushes lying between the volcanic hills
✓ Hiking & Climbing: Conquer the Rift Valley with mountain climbing and hiking trails (Mt. Longonot is just a 15-minute drive away), plus guided nature walks

Nearby Parks & Excursions

✓ Hell’s Gate National Park (15 km): Famous for its towering cliffs, Obsidian Caves, and the Ol Njorowa Gorge
✓ Surrounding Sanctuaries: Easy access to Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, Elsamere Nature Reserve, Hippo Point, and Kilimandege Sanctuary
✓ Regional Day Trips: Excursions can be arranged to Lake Nakuru National Park, Aberdare National Park, the Olkaria Hot Springs and Volcano, and the Mt. Suswa caves

Highlights of Kedong Ranch House Naivasha

✓ Historic Legacy: Originally built by Martha Gellhorn and famously used as a hunting shelter by literary legend Ernest Hemingway
✓ Exclusive Wilderness: Set within 80,000 acres of unfenced, private ranch land, guaranteeing intimate and uncrowded wildlife viewing
✓ Versatile Adventure: Offers everything from tranquil bird watching and boat rides to high-adrenaline mountain climbing and horseback safaris
✓ Intimate Scale: With only 20 rooms accommodating 40 guests, it ensures a highly personalized, quiet, and exclusive “home away from home” experience
✓ Unmatched Scenery: Sweeping, panoramic views covering Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot, the Suswa Hills, and the dramatic landscapes of Hell’s Gate

2026 Kedong Ranch House Naivasha Non-Resident Accommodation Rates

Notes

* Check-in 12pm
* Check out 10am
* Kids  – Ages 0-13 years
* Children – 0-3 Years Complimentary
* Family cottage  – Maximum 5 persons
* Children in own room  – 75% of the adult rate
* Children sharing with an adults – 25% of the adult rate
* Extra bed/tripple  –  Additional  5,000 Kenya Shillings
* Rate checkout charges  – 25% discount on the room rate

Meals

* Breakfast – 2,500 Kenya Shillings
* Lunch buffet – 3,000 Kenya Shillings
* Dinner buffet – 3,000 Kenya Shillings

Activities

* Horse Riding – 2,500 Kenya Shillings per horse
* Game Drive – 8,000 Kenya Shillings (per car for 2 hours)
* Nature walks (Guided by a Masaai – 1,000 Kenya Shillings
* Boat Riding -7,000 Kenya Shillings per boat maximum 7 guests
* Night Game Drive – 10,000 Kenya Shillings (per vehicle from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm)
* Hippo & Flamingo watch small lake – 3,000 Kenya Shillings per person for 3 hours
* Sundowner – 2,000 Kenya Shillings per person (includes: beer, a glass of wine, and soft drinks)

2026 Kedong Ranch House Naivasha Resident Accommodation Rates

Notes

* Check-in 12 pm
* Check out 10 am
* Children  – Ages 0-13 years
* Children – 0-3 Years Complimentary
* Family cottage  – Maximum 5 persons
* Children in own room  – 75% of the adult rate
* Children sharing with an adult – 25% of the adult rate
* Extra bed/triple –  Additional  5,000 Kenya Shillings
* Rate checkout charges:25% discount on the room rate

Meals

* Breakfast – 2,500 Kenya Shillings
* Lunch buffet – 3,000 Kenya Shillings
* Dinner buffet – 3,000 Kenya Shillings

Activities

* Horse Riding – 2,500 Kenya Shillings per horse
* Game Drive – 8,000 Kenya Shillings (per car for 2 hours)
* Nature walks (Guided by a Masaai – 1,000 Kenya Shillings
* Boat Riding -7,000 Kenya Shillings per boat, maximum 7 guests
* Night Game Drive – 10,000 Kenya Shillings (per vehicle from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm)
* Hippo & Flamingo watch a small lake – 3,000 Kenya Shillings per person for 3 hours
* Sundowner – 2,000 Kenya Shillings per person (includes: beer, a glass of wine, and soft drinks)

✘ Boat Riding: Trips on Lake Naivasha to see hippos and various bird species
✘ Personal Expenses: This includes laundry services or any items of a personal nature
✘ Guided Nature Walks: Educational treks with Maasai guides to track animals and learn about the local flora
✘ Gratuities: Tips for staff, including porters, waiters, and driver-guides, are at your discretion and not in the bill
✘ Horse Riding: A signature activity at Kedong, where you can ride through the plains and get close to wild animals
✘ Transport & Transfers: Transport to and from the ranch, as well as airport transfers, are usually charged separately
✘ Sundowners: Afternoon drinks and snacks served at scenic viewpoints overlooking Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha
✘ Night Game Drives: Unique evening safaris specifically for spotting nocturnal animals like spring hares and bat-eared foxes
✘ Day Game Drives: Guided tours in 4×4 vehicles across the 80,000-acre private conservancy to view wildlife like giraffes, buffalo, and zebras
✘ Park & Entry Fees: If your visit includes trips to nearby parks like Hell’s Gate or Mount Longonot, these fees are typically not included
✘ Drinks & Beverages: Alcoholic and sometimes non-alcoholic drinks (soda, bottled water outside of the provided room stock) are an additional cost

Kedong Ranch House Naivasha is located on 80,000 acres at the Kedong Private Ranch, which straddles the slopes of Mount Longonot and borders Hell’s Gate National Park to the West. Nairobi is a 2-hour drive away or 25 minutes flight away. The nearest airport is Wilson Airport, 79 km from the property.

Conveniently built in the wild, the house served as a shelter for the Legendary American writer Ernest Miller Hemingway during his hunting adventures in East African Parks.

Kedong Ranch House is surrounded by wildlife and livestock alike. Amongst the many species of wildlife that roam freely in the open plains of Naivasha Kedong, Private Wilderness includes eland, giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, Impala, Gazelle, Hartebeest, Warthog, Hyena, Jackal, Bat-Eared Fox, and Spring Hare.

The facility has 20 rooms that can accommodate 40 guests. This peaceful getaway is a home away from home, blending old-world “ranch” with modern conveniences.

The colonial-style ranch house has a variety of rooms, all of which are en suite and feature modern amenities. The lodge offers a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries and a shower. A terrace with mountain views is offered in all units.

Longonot Ranch House ‘Kinangop’ and ‘Ol Karia’ rooms are twin-bedded with dining and sitting rooms in between. ‘The Happy Valley’, a honeymoon suite, is adjacent. The facility has an on-site restaurant and bar where guests can enjoy meals and drinks. Packed lunches are available with prior requests.

Kedong Ranch House Naivasha activities include: horseback riding, boat rides, game drives, bird watching, climbing, hiking, and leisure walks. Excursions can be done in Hell’s Gate National Park, Mt. Longonot National Park, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, Aberdare National Park, and  Mt. Suswa caves.

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com