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Inside the tree house where Queen spent her honeymoon
The Queen’s suite at Treetops hotel. This is the room where the Queen stayed on her honeymoon in 1952. Photo/Joseph Kanyi
The Treetops has grown from a two bedroomed tree house, built 80 years ago, to 36 rooms without losing its legacy along the way, especially its links to the English Royal Family.
A mixture of ancient and modern building designs, with alternating exotic wood and glass, for its rooms and walkways, the hotel which sits at the foot of the Aberdare forest, is famous for hosting the Queen Elizabeth II, of England.
This is the hotel where Princess Elizabeth II acceded to the throne, in 1952, following the death of King George VI, her father, 60 years ago.
It has just reopened after being closed for six months, for renovations, to coincide with the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations, marking her 60th anniversary on the throne.
Aberdare Safari Hotels, the property’s management company, have capitalised on the relationship the property has with the English Monarch and it’s no wonder that majority of the foreign tourists visiting the facility, have come from the United Kingdom.
Kenya Tourist Board, which is mandated to market the country as a tourist destination, along with the parent tourism ministry have spearheaded promotions in the UK urging visitors to visit the lodge where their monarch ascended to the throne.
A fresh face
Treetops management closed the property for six months to give the famous hotel a fresh face.
The work included reducing the number of rooms from 50 to 36. The rooms were reduced to free up space for fitting basic amenities within each room.
All rooms are now ensuite; previously, guest in some of the rooms had to share bathrooms and toilets, which was seen as an inconvenience on guests’ privacy.
To go with the new amenities and utilisation of the extra space the rooms have now been fitted with bigger comfortable beds, with top-of-the-range linen, replacing the bunker beds that have been there for years.
“We are looking to be more responsive to clients, both local and international, by improving the service delivery and addressing some of the complaints that have been raised,” Elizabeth Nguraru, Aberdare Safari Hotel’s marketing manager, said.
Romance is the theme in the new look Treetops hotel and leading the theme is the Queens bedroom. This is the room Queen Elizabeth spent her honeymoon.
It boasts a King Size bed with golden linen and dimly lit. Kenyans can enjoy the room for Sh33,000 per night while non-residents pay Sh66,400 ($800), which is Sh24,900 ($300) more than the other suites in the property.
Ensuite rooms cost Sh41,500 ($500) for non-residents while the standard room is Sh24,900 ($300), per night. Kenyans pay Sh17,800 for the suites and Sh16,800 for the standard rooms, per night.
New-look restaurant
Dan Kariuki, the properties general manager, says one of the most prominent changes for visitors is the new-look restaurant.
A water hole, which attracts wildlife bringing them within a touching distance to the hotels building, was rehabilitated. This has seen the number of wildlife increased, according to the management.
Mr Kariuki says it had been 30 to 40 years before the water hole had been re-silted, and had recently dried up but now guest can be assured there will be wildlife.
Guests can spot Waterbucks, Buffalos and other grazers from the hotel balcony, or observation lounge, as they enjoy a drink.
Treetops is situated in the Aberdare National Park and offers a spectacular view of Mt Kenya. First built by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, in 1932, it was an actual tree house offering guests a close view of the wildlife. The original structure was burnt down during the Mau Mau uprising and was later rebuild.
Aberdare Safari Hotels acquired the property along with Outspan in 1978.
Guests driving up the hotel, also get the privilege of experiencing the serene atmosphere with lush green bushes on either side of the well paved murram road, with the occasional welcome sight of moneys and other wildlife.
As part of the celebration to commemorate the lodge’s refurbishment and the Queens anniversary a Jubilee Bush, on over 100 hectares of land, will be reforested over a period of time.
The renovations cost over Sh120 million. The managers are counting on the growth of tourists to Kenya and improved comfort will see them recoup their investments.
