A Perfect Escape :: Your Treehouse in Africa
“From there, to the South-West, I saw the Ngong Hills.
The noble wave of the mountain rose above the surrounding flat land, all air blue.”
Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen)
Luxurious treehouse… it’s not an oxymoron when the “treehouse�? in question is the incredible Ngong House. Here, in the heart of Karen Blixen country, where the famed writer penned her novel, Out of Africa, you’ll be as captivated as she was by the dramatic landscape and breathtaking sunsets.
Built by Paul Verleysen, a Belgian who moved to Africa in 1970, Ngong House is now run by his son Christoff. The five two-story treehouses are furnished with four poster beds, crisp linens and a fully stocked bar. Standing 15-feet off the ground, the wooden structures afford an uninterrupted view of the Ngong Hills.
Bedrooms are upstairs and the lower level features a comfortable sitting area centered around a fireplace, and a dining area. Crafted by local artists, each house has been thoughtfully designed to incorporate comfort, elegance and convenience.
Ngong House is known for its fine cuisine prepared with local ingredients — game meat, fresh lake fish, seafood flown in from the Indian Ocean–all accompanied by a variety of fresh vegetables. Their Kenyan chefs have been trained by visiting chefs from Belgium, including a pastry chef who spent a year there coaching the staff. Lunch is served in the garden under one of the many indigenous trees. Dinner is served in a half-open thatched rondavel with a huge fireplace or can be enjoyed in the privacy of your treehouse.
From here, you are just a short trip from many of Kenya’s popular attractions including Nairobi National Park, Karen Blixen Museum, wonderful golf courses and the exciting market in downtown Nairobi. Nature walks abound, and the Giraffe Center, home of the endangered Rothchild Giraffe, is a pleasant a twenty-minute walk from Ngong House.