Major Jim Mac Donald arrived in British East Africa (as Kenya was then called) from Canada in the early years of the twentieth century, about 1905/06. At that time the Uganda railway had reached Nakuru, some four hundred miles from Mombasa. That's as far as the Major went. History does not relate why he chose Nakuru to settle, perhaps because that is as far as he could travel by train. Nakuru would have been little more than a rail-head at the time, a camp. Nakuru is a Maa name meaning dust. When Lake Nakuru used to dry up periodically the white soda dust used to be carried by the South East trade winds and deposited where Nakuru stands today. Not the best site for a town. The railway had the daunting challenge of climbing and crossing some massive hills ahead, no small task, and they had to have all the necessary equipment at hand. That's why Nakuru, now Kenya's newest city, stands where it does today.

Major MacDonald acquired a block of land East of Nakuru that he called Prairie Estate. Very close to what is the centre of the city today. Asked why he called the property Prairie, he said the grass treeless plains stretching for miles in every direction reminded him of his home in Canada. He was more of a developer than a farmer, speculating in land, selling off plots before  WW1 stopped his ambitions. He returned to Canada where he re-joined his previous unit and fought courageously through the duration of the war, mostly in France where he was honoured with citations and medals.

While in Canada he met and fell in love with a Canadian nurse, marrying when the war was over and sailing for Mombasa to return to his pre-war ways. On arriving they disembarked and boarded the train for Nairobi, eventually reaching their new home after a long and dusty journey. MacDonald chose a site to build their new home on the side of a small kopje with a beautiful view of Lake Nakuru, planning a large well built structure with foundations to carry a double story. As his wife was a nurse he wanted to build a care home for expectant mothers and their babies to stay close to the Nakuru hospital. Tragically none of this was to be as he lost his young bride suddenly. Saddened and depressed he lost heart in their new building and instead of a double story he put the roof on and it remained a single story from that day to this.

Major MacDonald sold much of his land as real estate between 1920 and 1964. Part of what was left was the three plots now for sale, just under 20 acres, the largest being what is still known by the current owners as Prairie.

During WW2 the local house wives and others used to pack parcels in the big hall of the main house to send to the soldiers on the front. At the time the property was purchased by the current owner's family the main house was a hotel called Prairie Hotel. It had a lounge, bar, snooker room, huge dining room, office, reception hall, kitchens, serving room, several bedrooms with fire places and even a wine cellar. When a full-size swimming pool was put in during the early fifties it was the only one in the Nakuru area at the time. Very popular at weekends among Nakuru residents.

Prairie hotel closed down in the late fifties. In due course it was renamed Lanet Lodge. During the run up to Independence in Kenya there was a large presence of British soldiers stationed in all the bigger towns. Many of the officers came out with their families, and obviously needed accommodation. The property was  approached by the Officer-in-Charge of the Rift Valley and asked if they could accommodate some families. They agreed to his wishes and modified the rooms into small self-contained flats. 

At one time the Lodge had an Australian barman who had  worked for the infamous Al Capone in his youth, or so he said. He was a crack shot and as tough as nails in a scrap. He was more than capable of handling unruly and intoxicated servicemen. The Kenya Regiment used to hold an annual ball for which they hired the big lounge at the Lodge. The room would be beautifully decorated and a live band played the music. 

The main house is now restored much to the condition and plans of the original built by the Major for he and his young bride, but now surrounded by mature gardens and majestic trees throughout the 20 acre site which has become an oasis teaming with birds and home to monkeys, genets and many other wild animals.