Uniquely situated on the shoreline of sapphire-blue Lake Elmenteita where hundreds of thousands of birds congregate, the small and exclusive Lake Elmenteita Luxury Camp is opening in June 2011. This area of breathtaking beauty, also home to many rare species of animals, is less than two hours’ drive from Nairobi. Evocatively styled to echo the area’s rich history, the camp blends aristocratic elegance with modern luxury and will offer cuisine and service of fittingly high standards. <br /><br /> The nomadic Maasai had passed through the area for centuries and the name Elmenteita derives from the Maasai Ol muteita for “place of dust”. Then in 1897 one of the first pioneers arrived, after walking over 1,000 km south from Berbera on the coast of Somalia. This was the third Baron Delamere, who dedicated his foresight and fortune to pioneering farming methods in the Rift Valley. He moved to Elmenteita in 1906, where he further experimented with sheep and cattle ranching, advised and assisted by the Maasai - with whom he had a great rapport. He named his farm Soysambu, Maasai for “striated rock” - Sambu is also a cow colour.