The lodge

Today, let me tell you about my future place of work an residence. In 1907, when Tanzania didn't exist yet, a German woman rode several hundred kilometres from the coast on an ox wagon to start a farm at the foot of the mount Meru. Her name was Margarete Trappe (no relation to the Von Trapps) and her spirit still inhabits the hearts of many to this day. Researching her, I have come across many a nostalgic account of Mrs Trappe and her 4 children. interestingly, I have not found much about her husband. I've read hints that he was not the greatest person, but that's it. Oh well, I'll just have to read the book about the farm to find out. Anyway, Margarete was a strong woman. She and her husband built a horse and cattle farm with their own hands and she became the only female professional hunter in Africa. She had such a perfect aim that she could shoot a hole through the middle of a coin, without fault, every time. She brought her children up to love and respect animals, and many of her descendants still live in the area today. Margarete was apparently very close to the Masai and they nicknamed her mother of the Masai. After the first world war, Germans were evicted from Tanzania and their properties were confiscated. Margarete and her children fled to South Africa but were soon to return under British citizenship. She bought back the 5000 acre property and started again. Margarete died in 1957 and rumour has it that elephants gathered around her house to mourn her.

In the early 60's, Margarete's son Rolf Trappe leased out the Momella farm to Paramount pictures for the filming of the film Hatari!. During filming, Hardy Kruger fell in love with the place and bought the farm which he owned for 13 years (some sources say he ought it before making the film). The farm was transformed into a lodge called the OlDonyo Orok lodge which ran until 2002. The buildings were bought up by the current owners who personally renovated them to turn them into a boutique hotel with 9 gorgeous rooms. The garden has no fence or wire around it so wild animals are free to come and go and staff live just a short walk through the bush from the lodge.