Maasai Mara, Kenya

Ol Seki Hemingways

Luxury camp overlooking the Ngama Hills

Bedouin style accommodation in a secluded setting

Ol Seki Hemingways is located in the heart of the Naboisho Conservancy which borders the world-famous Maasai Mara. The camp consists of nine luxurious tents scattered across the rocky escarpment, offering incredible views out over the Ngama Hills. Each stylish tent has been designed to offer secluded privacy and spacious accommodation. Neutral tones intermingle with the Bedouin style tents, whilst locally sourced fabrics and furniture, a large comfy bed, and a writing desk add further comfort. There are six domed Nina tents and two expansive family suites titled Simba and Chui.

The Nina tents feature high domed ceilings and six opening panels on three sides, meaning you can enjoy the sunrise from the comfort of your double bed.. Out front you’ll find a large deck where you can relax, eat, drink, and stargaze.

The Simba and the Chui tents are both suites, with the former connecting two enormous double bedrooms and their en-suites to a kitchen, dining room, and living area. There is also a fully-stocked bar. If you desire a butler or complete privacy, the Simba suite can provide both ends of the luxury spectrum. The Chui tent features two large en-suite twin bedrooms with a stone boardwalk separating them from a large central living space that houses a private kitchen, lounge and dining room. This is the perfect suite for families or friends travelling together.

With a view of the acacia scrub behind your table, the dining area will reinvigorate your senses, whether you sit inside the modern establishment or on the outside terrace. Dining can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways: with a completely mobile kitchen, meals can be had on the grassy plain of the conservancy one evening, or eaten by lantern light as you gaze across the Ngama Hills the next. Private dining on the decks is also available. 

On the main deck guests can congregate around the campfire and enjoy a sundowner while exchanging stories from the day. There is also a library with comfy leather chairs and a selection of safari literature. Guests can also enjoy access to an inviting swimming pool, allowing you a chance to cool off while absorbing the stunning natural surroundings. Alongside game drives you can enjoy a picnic in the reserve for lunch, meet the local Maasai herdsmen, or soar above the plains in a hot air balloon.

Highlights

Game drives

Meet the local Maasai herdsmen

Birdwatching

Horse riding

Dining under the stars

Nine tents in total

Two family suites

Private bathrooms with hot showers

Butlers can be included with the Simba suite

Multiple environments to enjoy dinner in

Swimming pool

Library on the main deck

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Places to combine Ol Seki Hemingsways with

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Solio Private Reserve

Solio Lodge
The only property nestled within a 19,000 acre private wildlife sanctuary and surrounded by the 45,000 acres of the wider Solio Ranch, Solio Lodge’s location is idyllic, with sweeping views across the plains towards Mount Kenya, and when it comes to spotting rhino, you’re in prime position. This is largely due to the fact that it’s the most successful private rhinoceros breeding reserve in Kenya. The lodge features five glass-fronted cottages made from stone and thatch, each with an open fireplace and a large patio, ideal for armchair game viewing and private meals. One of the cottages has two en-suite bedrooms, making it ideal for families. There is a communal mess area where guests can relax with a glass of wine and a good book, and look out across the Solio Reserve. The grounds are home to a kitchen garden where vegetables and herbs are harvested and used in the lodge’s sophisticated menu. Of course, the big draw in Solio is the opportunity to see black and white rhino. The breeding programme here is one of the most successful of its kind and being able to witness these conservation efforts in person is a wonderful experience. As well as rhino, the reserve is home to giraffes, impalas, zebras, buffalos as well as larger predators such as lions and leopards. As well as morning and afternoon game drives, guests can enjoy horse riding, cycling, visits to the local communities and coffee farm or go trout fishing in nearby Aberdere National Park.
Positive Impact
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Samburu

Sasaab Lodge
Located on the edge of the Ewaso River in a pristine wilderness within the Westgate Community Conservancy, the lodge boasts some fantastic views and is perfectly located to give you some amazing game sightings. If you want to get involved in activities, there is a huge variety of things to get involved with but otherwise, ‘Spa Saab’ will look after you in calming treatment rooms and it even offers yoga. What’s more, Sasaab is involved in many projects with the local Samburu tribe and runs many sustainability initiatives. Each of the nine distinctive open-walled rooms are furnished with a Moroccan flair with simple but elegant trimmings. They are extremely spacious (over 100sqm each) with west facing verandas and their own private plunge pools overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River. You’re higher up and closer to the Sahara here, so it can get very warm, but the lodge has been built to provide respite from the heat. The open tented rooms are airy and your plunge pool is just a short stroll from your bed. The family unit is ideal for two couples travelling together as well as families. This luxurious suite is spacious, featuring one en-suite double room and one en-suite twin room with a communal lounge and private plunge pool. The main dining area is reminiscent of a souk and is great for a lazy afternoon watching the game frequent the river below. The lodge has a strong relationship with the hundreds of families that live on and own the conservancy and they are very proud to give guests to the lodge a special insight into their daily lives. These cultural experiences are non intrusive and if you’re lucky, they might even invite you to see a genuine traditional ceremony in the village. Trips to the local Samburu markets take place twice a week and are not to be missed.

Mara Conservancies

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp is located within a beautiful community-owned concession close to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and the Kenyan border, a timeless setting with incredible views over the game covered plains that surround it. Adding an extra layer to this camp is the fact that is closely involved with local community and conservation efforts, meaning that your stay is benefitting many. The camp itself, colonial in style with dark woods, swathes of canvas and antique pieces, is made up of ten tents, spaced out to ensure privacy. Of the ten, four are family suites with their own living rooms and fireplaces and there also a unique honeymoon suite. All have en-suite showers and safari baths and showers can be set up in the savannah for unforgettable ablutions. Two main mess tents sit at the heart of Cottar’s with areas for fine dining, drinking, reading and relaxing. There’s also a swimming pool and spa. The Cottar family have decades of experience here and they count the highest number of Gold (the highest professional level) Safari Guides within one camp in Kenya, each chosen for their unique skillset and personalities, meaning a safari here, whether on foot or game drives, is always a fantastic. Cultural interaction with the local Maasai community, with whom the Cottars have worked in partnership with for years, is authentic and not at all touristy. The award-winning camp also has some of the highest ecotourism ratings going.