Kenya has many attractions and one of them is the rich history of its settlers. In all these stories from the life and times of these henchmen, one story is worth telling and retelling as many times as possible. It’s the Happy Valley getaway in the Aberdare region. There is talk of the Happy Valley Set. The Happy Valley set was a group of privileged British settlers who lived in the Wanjohi Valley, near the Aberdare Ranges, in the colony of Kenya. They were the ones who dedicated the economic policies in Kenya and most of the time in their favor. But what makes these happy valley people famous is their notorious lifestyle of drug use and promiscuous sexual encounters.
Group activities from the Happy Valley set have been featured in books and movies around the world. They include; ‘White Mischief; ‘Earl of Enroll’, ‘Child of Happy Valley’, ‘Sallyport Papers’ Wanjohi Valley, the heart of the happy valley complex, is close to Aberdare National Park, to the east of the Great Rift Valley. One of the prominent brands in that set is Delamere Estates, originally owned by the quirky Lord Delamere, it’s the farm that nearly swallowed the town of Naivasha. Some members of the Happy Valley group lived in the Gilgil region, just a few kilometers from the city of Naivasha.
History of the Happy Valley
In the early 20th century, the Kinangop Plateau (after the construction of the railway) served as the site of “Happy Valley”; a community of settlers that included many titled aristocrats who were expelled from their native England and came to settle in the colony of Kenya. They were given loans to buy land on very easy terms. They built stone brick houses on the plateau and raised sheep and cows on their vast farms, while having fun and fornicating. The parties were celebrated in rotation from house to house. Particularly in “Clouds”; immortalized in numerous books and even in a Hollywood movie.
Happy Valley Tour
Visitors to Kenya are welcome to take a tour of this happy region. The tour takes you to the Kinangop Plateau in The Happy Valley. They circumnavigate around Kipipiri visiting the houses of Happy Valley residents. The tour begins at a restaurant in Nairobi, The Lord Enroll Restaurant, with morning tea, after which you are taken by bus and driven to the first house. The Guide will begin with an eccentric account of the life of the Happy Valley set. Noteworthy are the houses of Alice De Janze, which is now a local school: Happy Valley School. You will also see Patricia Bowle’s house which now belongs to the Catholic Church. You will drive along the Aberdare forest and on the elephant corridor to Kipipiri; you will enjoy magnificent views all around you. The tour skirts around Kipipiri to finish at Clouds, where the murder of Lord Errol is discussed over a drink in the dining room after a visit to Idina’s infamous bath. The tour guide explains all the current conspiracy theories about who killed Lord Errol, the history of the Delamere family, and the 3rd Baron’s involvement in Happy Valley.
The guide also talks about other historical facts and stories about Karen’ Blixen’s meetings in Happy Valley, the Muthaiga Club and the history of the English in Kenya, as well as what is currently happening in and around the Kinangop Plateau. After the tour, the visitor returns to Naivasha to enjoy a sumptuous three-course lunch and free time around the lake and river. After the visitors return to Nairobi arriving in the late afternoon.
Anyone interested in the history of Kenya and perhaps anyone who has read or seen the above books and movies will demonstrate a need to visit this eminent “Happy Valley”.
