A Home Away From Home: Serena Mountain Lodge

Hello! 😀 Have you ever been to a place that made you feel one with nature? That’s the exact feeling I had, when we recently visited Serena Mountain Lodge!

Situated at the heart of Mount Kenya National Park, Serena Mountain Lodge is the ultimate escape for anyone looking to experience Mother Nature at her best… 🙂

 

About a week ago, on a perfect Monday Morning, we took a leisurely drive to Serena Mountain Lodge…  I was in the comical company of fellow travel lovers, Njooro of Saffir, Janet Maina and Anthony Mugendi.

Admittedly, the prospect of escaping to Serena Mountain Lodge on a Monday, and away from the hectic Nairobi life was exhilarating to say the least…. 🙂

 

 

Nature’s Blissful Haven: Serena Mountain Lodge

The air felt cool and crisp as we drove farther into the mountainous country, past Karatina, in Nyeri County.

Effortlessly, both my heart and mind grew calmer on that thickly-forested route to Serena Mountain Lodge… 🙂

 

Walking into the Lodge, is sort of like going through a wood and gravel maze. It’s such an enthralling experience, because you have no idea what to expect… 🙂

 

At the end of the Maze, we were gently accosted by a beautiful, greenly painted, all-wooden structure that houses Serena Mountain Lodge.

I knew then that I wanted to stay… and stay for a while. 🙂

 

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks ~ John Muir

 

A Home Away From Home

The Hotel Manager, Amos and his team gave us a wholehearted welcome, with a refreshing juice to reboot! 🙂

I noticed immediately, that there’s something special about Serena Mountain Lodge… With its warm ambiance and vintage furniture, it feels more like a family home, than a hotel…

 

You are tempted to find a blanket and curl up on one of the sofas, while taking in the riveting view of animals at the Watering Hole. That homely feeling is replicated in every part of the Lodge.

 

 

They have 41 rooms, with a range of options to choose from: Standard, Double and Twin rooms.

I loved how each of the rooms are fitted with either large windows or private balconies that afford breathtaking views of the waterhole.

 

The entire hotel is actually designed around the waterhole where you can spot Wildlife like Elephants, Warthogs and Water-bucks coming over for a drink… They organize wake-up calls for guests who wish to see animals that come by at night.I found this quite unique and considerate.

Fun Fact: The entirety of Serena Mountain Lodge is a tree-house. Established in 1970 as a Tree Hotel, it also served as a hunting spot in the early 1970s.

 

The Start of a Memorable Dining Experience

We’d arrived right on time for lunch, giving us a fantastic introduction into what would be a splendid dining experience throughout our entire stay…

 

On Janet’s confident recommendation, I went for the Fish fillet, with a side of vegetables… I usually shy off from fish fillet in restaurants, because they almost always taste bland.

But, I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful it was, plus the vegetables were well-sautéed, which is rare… I would certainly recommend you to try it when you visit!

 

 

A Forest Walk Back In Time…

We had a short time to relax and settle in, before we left for a Forest Walk. Since there was quite a number of guests going for the walk, they split us into two groups.

Our guide Benson, immediately caught our attention with his animated manner of speaking… I could tell that it was going to be a fun experience! 😀

He gave us a Safety Brief, after which we started out at the Education centre… Here, they have a number of artifacts that relate to the Mount Kenya region and its inhabitants…

 

Being Kenyan, I would not have imagined that there’s still so much to learn about my country’s History! Yet, Benson dropped so many fun facts that he had us listening at the ‘edge of our seats!’ 😀

Did You Know? Mau Mau is an acronym that was coined from the Swahili phrase: ‘Mzungu Arudi Ulaya, Mwafrika Apate Uhuru.’ Interesting, right? 😀

 

We then ventured into the forest, with Benson pointing out interesting aspects of plant and animal life…

His love and passion for his job shines through, in how he makes everything come to life! Moreover, he’s equipped with a funny story at every turn! 😀

 

What really piqued my interest was the Mugumo Tree! Also known as the Strangler Fig, the Mugumo tree is considered an ancient, sacred tree among the Kikuyu people, of Kenya.

Honestly, I didn’t known the backstory as to why it’s considered sacred…

Did You Know? The Mugumo Tree grows downwards? Yes, in a bewildering act of nature, the Mugumo tree germinates atop the fork of other trees… And the more it grows, it strangles the host tree killing it completely.

Hence, for the Kikuyu this fascinating tree was believed to be a dwelling for the ‘spirits’.

 

To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles ~Mary Davis

 

 

Refreshing Turn Of Events!

As we neared the end of our walk, we came to a clearing in the forest, where a lovely surprise awaited us…

By this time, we’d walked for about an hour and our lunch meal had worn off… So sipping on hot tea and cake, while seated on a log was certainly welcome! 😀

 

For some, it was hot Coffee or Tea with a shot of Brandy, also known as a Hot Toddy. Njooro and Mugendi seemed to like it quite well…

 

I appreciate Serena Mountain Lodge for this thoughtful surprise, as it made for a nice break to rest, chat and laugh before we walked on to the Lodge. 🙂

I must admit though, being deep in the forest was a little scary for me… Blame it on those movies where the last guy in line gets grabbed, and disappears into the bushes suddenly like POOF!

Thankfully, the group was good-natured about it, making it a fun adventure… 😀

>>This Forest Walk is best experienced with your group of friends or family, as you’ll have lots to learn and talk about afterward… Even so, it’s still a wonderful opportunity to bond with the other guests at the Lodge.

>>Serena Mountain Lodge is the perfect escape if you’re looking to connect with self and nature, or to bond with your loved ones… 🙂

>>Want more on our trip?? Look out for Part 2 of This Post: ‘5 Ways To Experience Serena Mountain Lodge’ Coming Soon!

 

Travel Tips:

• P.S. There’s an ongoing Discount Offer of 10% Off per person, for Group bookings of 5+ people made by 15th October, 2018.
• You can redeem your booking until Jan 2019.
• Download the offline Google Map, to navigate your way to the Lodge, as connectivity may be low on the road…
• The roads are in good condition, all the way up to the Lodge, making it excellent to visit with your car.
• Pack warm clothing as the temperatures can go as low as 12 Degrees Celsius
• Carry Binoculars or a camera with a good zoom lens to catch shots of Mount Kenya from Serena Mountain Lodge.
• Mount Kenya National Park Entrance fees>>Citizens: Adults Kes. 300 and 215 for kids (aged 3 to 17 years); Residents: Adults Kes. 1,030 and Kes. 515 for kids; Non-Residents: Adults USD 43 and USD 26 for kids.
  

 

My sincere thanks to Serena Mountain Lodge for their excellent hospitality, and for creating a place where Nature and culture is at the heart of every experience…  🙂

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Thank you for reading my friends, I hope you’ve enjoyed the read!

I would love to hear from you! Have you been to Serena Mountain Lodge… Or are you looking to go in the near future? Leave your comments, questions and/or feedback down below, and I’ll be sure to respond… 😀

 

<<Stay Inspired Always>>