Naivasha

I am in Naivasha..what I'm doing here is of no consequence to this post. I am in what I would call God's gift to nature.. The Great Rift Valley Lodge and Gold Course.
Getting here was a rather scary and tiring experience. It took a two hour drive from the capital city of Nairobi to find this gem that's situated in the middle of nowhere. For those of you more familiar with the topographical nature of Kenya should know that this area is basically in an escarpment/rift valley.
So driving at the edge of a cliff for a full hour has the effect of upsetting your stomach and balance for that matter that by the time we got to the end of my journey-I needed a whiff of smelling salts!!
The drive to the Great Rift Valley Lodge yielded no clue as to the nature of the place which was to be my home for a week. However, two minutes into the majestic gates brought on an air of wonderment and excitement.
The architects of this place have tried to merge development and the wilderness into one and have done a great job!!!
The reception stands right at the centre of the resort with very friendly staff who stand at your beck and call.  The accommodation is divided into three- hotel rooms, cottages and villas. To get to any of these you have to use a bus-weird you might say but the villas are located as far away as 3kms from the reception. They have utmost respect for privacy. This place is better planned than a housing estate, you get the feeling that one of the main reasons this place was built was to give guests a sense of peace, and relaxation from the hustle and bustle of the daily struggles of life.
The architecture of the houses rivals those of the rich moguls that rule the business world. If asked to describe it, I would say, simple but magnificent. You are not bombarded with bold colours or overbearing and out of this world interior designs- you are simply drawn in by the obviously skilled craftmanship and excellent finishing. The houses are sully furnished with fridges, microwaves, washing machines, toasters, kettles, cookers- name it. This place is a home away from home.

Majority of the structures are double storied to give the guests a good view of the lake Naivasha and the surrounding wilderness and escarpment. They have beautifully manicured compounds with barbeque stands, benches that make you want to throw an outdoors party and invite all the neighbours. Each house is hidden from prying eyes by a plethora of different species of plant life that make a rainbow of colours of nature. You realise as you look around that this is no coincidence-the trees, flowers and shrubs are largely left to grow freely, only a bit of pruning here and there to maintain their beauty is what is done.

As you take a walk around the lodge which is by no means an easy feat (the lodge covers over more than a 100 acres) you feel at one with nature.  I have not had the opportunity to "bump" into any wild animals but I feel like a basic creature-at one with creation, the air is fresh-untainted by the pollution of the big cities. The deep appreciation that I feel makes me thank God for the things that I take for granted every day.

There are a large number of bird species here. They seem undisturbed by the human presence around them. The freedom with which they strut, fly and belt out their songs makes me envious. They are in paradise and they are not afraid to show it. Makes me think about the Bible verse that's basically questions why Man worries yet God takes care of the birds in the sky. 


I'm grateful for this experience- my senses have been rejuvenated. This opportunity to see yet another expression of God's mighty handiwork has not been wasted. I look forward to yet another chance to be at one with nature as I have been this week!!!