Ajabu house is located on the Gilgil and Malewa delta of Lake Naivasha on Loldia Farm. Loldia Farm has been in the JD Hopcraft family for over 100 years. It started off as a 14,000 acre farm, now just under 6,000 acres, split between four parts of the Hopcraft family.
Initially Ajabu was built by Wildfrid Hopcraft in the early 1930’s, and added to as his family grew with his wife – Mairo and their four children – Heather, Sally, Jill and Rick. Mairo survived Wilfrid by 14 years and lived in the house for 65 years – quite a feat in today’s world.
Wilfrid and Mairo were both second generation Kenyan’s and proud to be. They committed their lives to Kenya, its development and its people mainly through agriculture. Wilfrid and others were the first to start the Kenya Creameries Cooperative (KCC) and Loldia Farm hosted one of the best Fresian herd of cattle in Kenya. Between Wilfrid and Mairo they also were pioneers in tapping water from the steam jets on Mount Eburru (at the back of the farm); trying out pyrethrum for insecticide, barley for the East African Breweries and they ran over 4,000 head of beef cattle on Loldia and other farms in the area. Their pioneering spirit and commitment resulted in a wonderful home for their children and grandchildren and now their great-grandchildren.
