A Look At Ngong House

Ever heard of Karen Blixen? Well for those who haven’t, Karen Blixen was a Danish author also known under her pen name Isak Dinesen. She also wrote under the pen names Osceola and Pierre Andrézel. Blixen wrote works both in Danish and in English. She is best known, at least in English, for Out of Africa, her account of living in Kenya, and one of her stories, Babette’s Feast, both of which have been adapted into highly acclaimed, Academy Award-winning motion pictures.

It is in what was originally part of Karen Blixen’s vast coffee estate, and named after the Ngong Hills, which she held so dearly that the Ngong House gets its name.

Within the ten acres are five tree houses and an apartment on ground level close to the pool. The main house is home to the Verleysen family where creature comforts blend easily with stylish furniture and African art. Built entirely from wood the tree houses are on two levels with a bedroom area upstairs and a living area on the lower floor. They are raised 15 feet from the ground to gain an uninterrupted view of the Ngong Hills over unspoiled bush.

Covered with traditional African grass roofs, the rustic exteriors of these charming tree houses belie the elegant interiors. Crafted by local artists - each house has its own unique style and each has been thoughtfully designed to incorporate comfort and convenience.

Large four-poster beds grace the bedroom area, with crisp cotton bed linen and overfilled feather pillows promising a luxurious night’s sleep.

Meals at Ngong House are a feast for the senses. Delicious food served creatively and with grace, fairytale dinners by candlelight next to a roaring fire, and lunches in beautiful gardens surrounded by indigenous trees hosting Kenya’s exotic birdlife.

Ngong House has a reputation of serving refined food prepared with local ingredients: game meat, fresh lake fish, seafood flown in from the Indian Ocean, all prepared with a large variety of fresh vegetables, in tasty yet healthy ways. For those who prefer, Ngong House offers a selection of vegetarian dishes.

Only the freshest Kenyan produce is served: fish fresh from Lake Victoria and the Kenya coast, trout from the Aberdare Mountains, succulent Molo lamb or Kenyan beef, and locally harvested vegetables.

Several visiting chefs from Belgium have specially trained Ngong House’s Kenyan chefs including a pastry chef from Bruges (Belgium) spent a season relaying his techniques. Lunch at Ngong House is served in the garden under one of the many indigenous trees. Dinner is served in a half open thatched rondavel w ith a huge fireplace and plenty of candles, creating a unique dining atmosphere found only at Ngong House.