Serena Mountain Lodge
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.
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.
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.
GETTING THERE
Serena Mountain Lodge is within Mount Kenya National Park about 193 kilometres from Nairobi.
By road: transfers by road from Nairobi take approximately 2 to 3 hours.
FACILITIES
- 41 rooms (all non-smoking)
- Gallery dining room at tree-top level
- Bar with central fireplace and viewing deck
- Guided forest walks
- Trout fishing
- Mountain climbs and treks
- Tree-planting programme
- Gift shop and business centre
- Bush breakfast, Bush lunch and Dinner at the Rooftop
- Massages, facials, pedicures, manicures
- Board games and library of Africana books
- Special dietary needs catered for with advance notification
- Wake up calls to view animals at the waterhole on request
Our rooms and suites
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 cozily-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.
Standard Rooms
All our rooms offer:
• WiFi connectivity
• Room service
• Complimentary mineral water and toiletries
• Bathrobe and slippers
• Valet, laundry, shoe-shine
• Hair dryers
• Safe (at reception)
• Forex, travel and 24-hour on-call medical services…
Family time at Serena Mountain Lodge
Mountain Lodge is located immediately adjacent to its own waterhole which attracts a wide range of game including elephant, silence is imperative. For this reason, we regret that children below the age of seven cannot be accommodated at the lodge. Children over seven years will be most welcome, but we must ask that they respect our request for an atmosphere of quietness within the lodge, and especially in the photo hide and on the viewing deck.
Children's entertainment
The lodge offers a wide selection of board-games and books on Africa and the wilderness. Our professional nature guides also offer nightly talks and video presentations on wildlife. Added to this, we can offer:
- Guided nature walks or bird-spotting in the forest.
- Kikuyu dance displays.
- Visits to the tree nursery where children can ‘Plant a Tree for Africa'.
- Visits to the photo hide by the water hole.
- Wildlife watching at the waterhole.
- We can also arrange for culturally-interactive trips to local villages and/or schools.
