| The Mount Kenya safari clubs, with its blend of | | | | accommodation. a whole host of sporting options are |
| romance, history and scenery has become a Kenyan | | | | available and there are conference facilities shops and |
| tradition. Built right at the equator on a ridge facing | | | | galleries hotel vehicles are even necessary to |
| Mt Kenya the site is truly magnificent-well worth a | | | | transport you from your cottage or villa to the main |
| visit just for the view alone. The grand main building | | | | hotel . the fine and popularity of the club has meant |
| gleam white against the green sweep of surrounding | | | | expanding the accommodation and services to cope |
| lawns and there are dramatic views of the foothill | | | | with the influx of tourist who visit |
| forest rising to the peaks of Mt Kenya | | | | The hotel maintains a tradition of upscale elegance. |
| The original building was designed as a dream home | | | | There is a dress code for dinner there is live music |
| by Rhoda Prudhomme for her husband. As a wealthy | | | | for dancing and children must eat separately .the |
| New York matron of 50 Rhoda fell in love with the | | | | manicured gardens encourage sedate strolls. There is |
| young French aviator who took her big game hunting | | | | a sense of formality harking back to an earlier era a |
| on her safari in Kenya .she gave up all to marry and | | | | hint of snobbery and pretension. The Mount Kenya |
| live with him in Njoro among the Happy valley set of | | | | safaris club operates a s a both a club and a hotel. |
| the 1930s. The land had been owned by a Mrs. | | | | Although anyone can stay here there are also paid-up |
| Wheelers who agreed to sell it to them as "only | | | | club members who get special attention |
| lovers would live there." The Prudhommes called the | | | | It is the setting of the Mt Kenya safari club which is |
| house they built Mawingu, Swahili for the clouds | | | | also special so memorable. the view is spectacular. |
| cloaking the slopes of Mt Kenya | | | | You look across sweeping lawns past the idyllic |
| The houses with its many guest rooms become an | | | | swimming pool to the dark evergreens of the foothill |
| inn in 1948 when it was purchased by Abraham block. | | | | forests and further up to the clouds and peaks of Mt |
| In 1959 William Holden and two friends rested there | | | | Kenya. Moving back and forth across the lawns is an |
| during a shooting safari. They fell in love with the | | | | amazing parade of enormous birds: marabous, |
| place, bought it and turned it into one of the most | | | | peacocks, and cranes |
| unusual and exclusive clubs in the world the Mt Kenya | | | | There is a varied selection of things to do here. You |
| safari club. Sir Winston Churchill was a founding | | | | can browse through the excellent art galley ride |
| member as were Lord Louis Mountbatten Robert | | | | horses though the forests laze by the pool have a |
| Ruark U.S president Lyndon Johnson, Conrad Hilton, | | | | massage play a round of golf, visit the boutiques, |
| Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and more during the last 40 | | | | shop for books or curios, and wander through the |
| years the club's guest book has been signed by | | | | aviary the list is goes on and on. |
| many famous of the world. It is now a "leading hotel | | | | The accommodation at the Mt Kenya safari club |
| of the world" | | | | covers a wide range of styles locations and prices. |
| The Sense of history remains strong in the main | | | | you can have quite a different experience here |
| building and the original William Holden cottages. There | | | | depending on which room you get. For example you |
| is an odd mix of colonial Kenya and the glitz and | | | | can be social and feel steeped in history if you stay |
| glamor of the Hollywood set. In the Trophy lounge | | | | in one of the rooms or suites in the main building. On |
| are big leather seats and the walls sport antlers and | | | | the other hand if you want a more private |
| mounted heads- the room oozes "hunting' and | | | | experience you can opt for one of the lavishly |
| "gentleman." In the nearby Mountain View lounge | | | | appointed newer cottages tucked down by the river. |
| zebra skins space with glossy photos of film stars. It | | | | You can be in a rather functional room with small |
| is not hard to imagine these rooms peopled with film | | | | windows or you can luxuriate in front of massive |
| and celebrities of earlier days. | | | | stone fireplace in a grand cottage with stunning |
| Today the Mount Kenya safari club is a large and | | | | views of the mountain. The options are wide varied |
| complex organization .the grounds of over a hundred | | | | and confusing. |
| acres contain a wide and diverse range of | | | | |