In a fast-growing continent, rich in natural resources, Kenya stands out as one of Africa’s most vibrant economies with an annual GDP growth rate of well over five per cent. In addition to tea, coffee and horticultural exports, tourism is one of the nation’s largest income generators, accounting for 12 per cent of GDP. Kenya welcomes well over 1 million foreign visitors a year and is on course to reach 2 million in the near future. The Kenyan government’s ambitious Vision 2030 development programme for the nation envisages an annual growth rate of about 10 per cent for the coming years. Key infrastructural projects such as a new seaport, expanded airports, a greatly enhanced national and commuter rail network are among the many schemes designed to make Kenya the commercial and business capital of Africa.
LOCATION Naivasha is an attractive small town just over an hour’s drive from Nairobi and about 80 km north-west of the Kenyan capital. The town is the centre of Kenya’s important horticultural and floricultural industries and overlooks Lake Naivasha, one of the largest of the Great Rift Valley lakes. The Aberdare Hills Golf Resort is being built just outside this lakeside town.
Climate Set almost on the equator and about 1,900 metres above sea level, Naivasha enjoys one of the world’s most agreeable climates – especially for playing golf. Neither too hot nor too cold, daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 26°C depending on the time of the year. There is an average of 5.3 hours of sunshine each day and an annual rainfall of about 700 mm, with April and May accounting for a third of all rainfall.
SOUT H SUDA N
ETHIOPIA
K ENYA
UGANDA
SOMALIA
NAKURU
KISUMU NAIVASHA
ABERDA R E HILLS
GARISSA
NAIROBI
TANZANIA
INDIAN OCEAN MOMBASA
TO SEE AND DO First and foremost there is Lake Naivasha, one of the Great Rift Valley lakes and part of a newly created Unesco World Heritage Site. The lake is home to pods of hippo, but also a playground for those who enjoy boating and fishing. Many camps and lodges are dotted around the shore of the lake. The predator-free Hell’s Gate National Park is less than an hour’s drive from Aberdare Hills Golf Resort and offers the best mountain biking terrain in Kenya. The Aberdares are also a perfect and safe spot for biking. Within the resort area, and in addition to golf, there will be facilities for tennis, cycling and walking and opportunities to enjoy fine dining.
people By tradition, the land around Naivasha has been settled and grazed by the iconic and pastoralist Maasai tribe. Today, Naivasha has become a growing and cosmopolitan town as people from across Kenya have moved to the area to work in the horticultural sector.
The vision Aberdare Hills Golf Resort will be East Africa’s premier golf resort, setting exacting new standards in course design and construction.
The concept Developed by the UK company Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG), the world’s leading designers of upmarket and luxury destinations, Aberdare Hills will rank as one of Africa’s most prestigious and exclusive properties.
The Master Plan The Master Plan for this exciting project includes the luxury residential Aberdare Hills Golf Resort. This north parcel will include an 18-hole championship golf course, clubhouse and hotel. Its residential areas will be made up of three ‘town house’ villages in and around the golf course.
Natural features The site chosen for the Aberdare Hills Golf Resort is on a high plateau with views over Lake Naivasha. The resort includes the Malewa River on its northwest boundary and dry gorges and ravines. These natural features have been incorporated into the design of the golf course. The site ranges in altitude from 1,920 metres at its lowest point to 2,125 metres at its highest, embracing an extremely varied topography with the Aberdares on the eastern boundary.
Sustainability The Aberdare Hills Golf Resort will incorporate sustainability into all aspects of its development, including: • Construction: The protection of existing vegetation and soils. The balancing of cut and fill. The removal and sustainable disposal of all pollutants. The use of local building materials and labour. • Water: The reduced use of water by using water-saving equipment, the planting of drought-tolerant materials, the recycling of grey water and reuse for irrigation. • Energy: The use where possible of renewable energy generated by solar power for hot water and lighting. The use of energy-saving equipment. • Biodiversity: The conservation of existing natural habitats and flora/fauna; plus the enhancement of the area with reforestation schemes involving native species. • Transport: The use and encouragement of pollution-free transport methods such as electric golf carts and bicycles.
Plots and properties About half the land is open space which includes the golf course and public open space. Residential areas will occupy about 25 per cent of the land, with the remainder shared between the hotel, the golf club and roads. The types of residence include a variety of three and four-bedroom villas and town houses, though the majority will be three-bedroom villas. Aberdare Hills Golf Resort is offering plots of varying sizes (see opposite page). A variety of villa types and sizes are located around the golf course in individual neighbourhoods, some fronting the golf course but all with views of the course. In addition, pockets of open space between plots make the residential areas attractive places to live. Villas on the elevated eastern boundary have good views across the golf course below. Purchasers of plots will be free – within certain parameters set out by the developers – to design and build their own houses.
Plot sizes Plot type Size in sq m Units Plot A
4,000
36
Plot B
2,000
45
Plot C
1,000
69
Plot D
500
66
Total
216
The golf course Designed by David Jones, the par-72 course at the Aberdare Hills Golf Resort will be Kenya’s finest and, with holes carefully laid out to challenge golfers of all standards. The course will be constructed to exacting international and USGA standards with a driving range, practice facilities and tuition available. Set in a dramatic and varied environment with no effort spared in terms of its construction, this course is expected to offer players one of the great experiences of golf. David Jones is renowned for creating courses that blend effortlessly with their natural environment and Aberdare Hills is no exception. No large trees will be removed during construction and the natural contours of the site will be kept. At the same time, the developers will undertake a substantial planting of indigenous trees to further enhance the character of the course and surrounding residential areas. Careful use of natural features means that holes will cross and run alongside deep ravines, through natural bush and beside the Malewa River, while new streams and interconnected lakes and waterfalls will be added.
Hole by hole 1. Par 4. 380 metres
7. Par 4. 372 metres
A gentle opening shot will take players to a generous fairway with a second shot framed between huge euphorbia, a familiar and beautiful feature across the entire course.
A slightly ‘blind’ tee shot on this right-toleft dog-leg. A stream crosses the fairway just short of the green before spilling into a strategically placed lake on the left.
2. Par 4. 408 metres
A gentle climbing and quite long par four and well bunkered all the way to the green.
A truly beautiful par four towards the distant hills through natural low bush, full of aloes and wild flowers. This hole will feature majestic homes all along the left side between fairway and rugged cliffs.
3. Par 3. 151 metres A lovely short downhill hole – the first of four. Even from the championship tee isn’t too tough at this altitude, but it’s the last gentle hole for a while, so players should get ready to be tested.
4. Par 4. 367 metres
8. Par 4. 414 metres
9. Par 5. 520 metres This magnificent par five finishes the front nine and has water all the way. A stream winds its way down the left on the tee shot and across the fairway and then down the right, making it difficult to carve a five out of this hole. A generous lay-up area, framed by bunkers, fronts the green, which nestles beside a lake on the right.
10. Par 4. 411 metres
This one is not for hookers. With a gorge all the way down the left side to catch errant drives, this fairway and lovely green setting leave no room for error. It is dramatic and demanding, with an approach once more framed by a euphorbia grove.
A smooth start to the second nine on a long, slightly downhill par four. David Jones has created a generous landing area, but one with lakes on the right side that need to be avoided. The stream crosses the fairway, but some way short of what is an open green.
5. Par 5. 508 metres
11. Par 3. 187 metres
From championship distance, this hole demands a long carry across the canyon, but as the tees go forward the challenge is less daunting. From the tee, there is plenty of room to the right and also for the second shot. Once again, a dramatic setting on the edge of the gorge requires great accuracy on the approach.
Another downhill hole, but through rocky outcrops with bunkers strategically placed at distances all the way along the fairway. The views are superb, but should not detract from the concentration needed on this hole.
6. Par 3. 152 metres This amazing short hole is expected to gain a reputation as one of the most testing and spectacular in Africa – and it’s all carry. At 152 metres for the pros, down to just 110 metres for the ladies, it’s straight across the ravine to a green surrounded by euphorbia.
12. Par 5. 522 metres David Jones describes this hole as a truly spectacular par five, with the huge Malewa gorge located close to the fairway all along the left side. The tee shot needs to be arrow-straight to find the fairway between the river and the rocky hills to the right. A sensible lay-up shot or a bold risk-versusreward second shot becomes the choice here to a green set on a shoulder in the most dramatic of settings.
13. Par 4. 373 metres From tees ‘on the edge’, this left-to-right dog-leg borders the river valley all the way to another delightful green setting with amazing views of Malewa.
14. Par 3. 176 metres A long and wide set of tees to give every golfer a magnificent backdrop to this tough par three where the green sits in a broad rocky bowl.
15. Par 4. 339 metres A slightly uphill tee shot to a fairway framed by tall acacias. A short approach into a green bowl with impressive trees left and right.
16. Par 4. 396 metres Another slightly uphill and well bunkered par four towards the cliffs. A tricky, severely contoured green lies at the end of a generous approach.
17. Par 5. 504 metres A generous tee shot to a broad inviting fairway with wonderful views, followed by a long and testing second shot framed by bunkers backed by magnificent tall trees.
18. Par 4. 362 metres A suitable finishing hole for this wonderful course. The 18th is quite short for a finishing hole, but trouble lurks everywhere. The stream cascades all the way down the right side of the fairway, and must be crossed with the approach to find the green tucked between deep bunkers on the left and the lake on the right.
The clubhouse As with any golf course, the clubhouse will be the main social hub for both residents and players and will be located in a prime position overlooking both the ninth and 18th greens. The clubhouse will feature a small bistro-style café serving light meals and snacks, a members’ bar and a comfortable residents’ lounge. A multipurpose function room will be available for meetings. There will be a small shop to supply basic food and household items.
The hotel Located on a bluff above the clubhouse, a five-star hotel will be built enjoying fabulous views of the golf course, Lake Naivasha and the Rift Valley mountains. The 120-room property will include conference, ballroom and spa facilities with rooms arranged in small clusters set either in landscaped gardens or around intimate courtyards.
PO B ox 46235-00100, Nairob i Tel: +254 (0) 717 705975 • Fax: +254 (0)20 434 85 7 0 Email: info@aberdarehills.com www.aberdarehills.com