In the Great Rift Valley lies Kenya's Best Kept Secret "Chui Lodge". Whilst sipping cocktails by the warmth of a campfire and watching the sun setting behind the distant hills,  June Zwager envisaged the concept of Chui Lodge. The lodge, set in the privately owned Oserian Wildlife Game Sanctuary, is an exclusive and exquisite paradise, nestled in a grove of Euphorbia trees, overlooking a waterhole with the dramatic Mau Escarpment as a backdrop. This setting epitomises the Masai translation of the word Oserian as being a "place of peace".

Chui is crafted from simple bush stone, local Acacia, Leleshwa and Olive woods with a beautiful twisted Marula roof. All the textiles in the Lodge are original batik artworks done on site, whose warm shades enhance the earthy colors of the ochre enriched walls. Magical bark cloth lampshades bathe the African antiques and fascinating carvings on the pillars in subtle light.

The five individual and well-spaced cottages are built in the same fashion as the main building. Each room is uniquely designed with en-suite bathrooms and a delightful veranda with its own view. The marble basin tops, roaring log fires, artistically decorated windows and magnificent four poster olive wood King sized beds ensure the essential touch of luxury. With only five rooms available, guests can expect to receive excellent service from staff and attention to detail like no other place ever visited.

A short walk from the main building is the delightful swimming pool with great views of the waterhole and the Escarpment. Outstanding professionally trained chefs deliver an exquisite array of cuisine to suit all tastes. the emphasis is on diverse multi-culture cuisine, which is made possible with an extensive kitchen and a Tapinyaki hot-plate.

Guests at Chui Lodge experience their own private and exclusive game drives and walks with our experienced guides through the plethora of wildlife that live within the security of the 20,000 acres of the Sanctuary surroundings and along miles of unspoilt lake front. This too, is teeming with game and is an Ornithologist's delight with the numerous species of birds that inhabit the Sanctuary.

Chui Lodge also offers other activities such as sundowners under a sky bursting with stars, Champagne breakfasts / lunches by the lake, bush picnics deep within the sanctuary, boating trips on Lake Naivasha, climbing, swimming, bird watching, trips to the neighbouring attractions such as bordering Hell's Gate National Park, visits to the world-renowned Elsamere Conservation Centre and horticultural visits to the famous neighbouring Oserian Farm; the largest flower farm in the world.

This environmentally conscious flower farm, employing the highest of ethical trading standards, is also owned by the Zwager family and is, alongside Chui Lodge and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Oserian Group. The farm grows and exports a wide selection of local flowers, such as Roses and Lisianthus (to name but a few), to the international flower markets. Guests can expect to see the colourful and busy grading hall as well as the latest geothermal heated rose project.

Exclusive Game Drives and Walks within the 20,000 acres of the Sanctuary with our experienced guides.

This too is teeming with game and is an Ornithologists Delight with 300 bird species.

Other activities available at Chui Lodge include:-

• Sundowners
• Bush Breakfasts/Lunches.
• Drives in bordering Hell's Gate National Park.
• Visits to the world renowned Elsamere Conservation Centre.
• Boating trips on Lake Naivasha.
• Horticultural visits.

The worldwide interest and much-documented 100-year history of Oserian has concentrated mainly on its diversity, exclusivity & commitment to innovative and natural conservation strategies, especially by the Zwager family.

The Zwager family had always wanted to give something back to Africa. In 1996 they were given the opportunity to do so and developed a wildlife sanctuary from an area previously farmed for cattle and wheat.

Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the shores of Lake Oloidien (meaning "salty watter" in Masai); the Crater Lake that was once part of the expansive Lake Naivasha, bordered by the Rift's Mau Escarpment and Hells Gate National Park, and is reached easily by car from Nairobi on one and a half hours & by plane in twenty minutes.

The fauna & flora and sheer beauty of this position is plentiful and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary safely captures the area, allowing for a free passage of game from Hell's Gate through to the lakefront. Once settled in the splendorous luxury of Chui Lodge, the Sanctuary becomes exclusively yours to explore and enjoy.

Visitors can participate in the Sanctuary's conservation needs, allowing a 'hands on experience' with the game. All profits generated from tourism to the Sanctuary are dedicated to the conservation of this area, the wildlife it supports and the sustainability of surrounding folk. The Sanctuary has, for example, utilised these profits to reintroduce several endangered species, such as White Rhino, Grevy Zebra, Beisa Oryx, greater Kudu (all trans-located from Northern Kenya) and Cheetah, which are now thriving and reproducing. Recently the Sanctuary had its first baby Rhino "Oserian".

Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary is visited by 300 identified bird species and is home to 45 different mammals. Leopard are a regular sighting and Buffalo, Topi, Oribi, Hippopotamus, Dik-Dik, Spotted Hyena, Serval Cat, Caracal, Aardvark, most of the plains game and many more facinating creatures are present for your viewing, free from any other vehicles or safari buses. Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary offers guests the chance to interact with Tiva the Cheetah, who is used to human contact but lives a normal life and makes his own kills.

Chui Lodge and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary offer a tailored service & product, which ultimately seeks to exclusively endow the client with the beauty, peace and tranquillity of Africa. Why not visit Chui Lodge and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary to experience these unique qualities, like Danny De Vito, Jim Carey and numerous other have done before you.

"Dear June & Hans, Few people have dreams. Very few pwople make them come true. Only a handful allow others to share such creative joy - you do. Thank you."

"Excellent food, knowledgeable and courteous staff. Superb accommodation and we saw a leopard too. Fantastic!"

"We are so sad we did not discover Chui Lodge sooner - this is one of the best hotel stays we have ever had anywhere in the world. Thank you for a wonderful experience."

© La Pieve Ltd /  Choices Wild Ltd, 2005. All Rights Reserved.