Introducing Kenya

Overlooking Nairobi National Park, Ololo Lodge is a welcoming hideaway in the African bush on the banks of the Mbagathi River, where guests are made to feel instantly at home. A beautifully restored colonial farmhouse lies at the centre of the lodge, where guests are invited to unwind with a glass of wine as they drink in the views. The 13 suites are spacious and luxuriously furnished, from the airy Terrace Room with its marble bathroom and private terrace, to the safari-style tented cottages. Or you could climb the spiral staircase to The Tower Room which boasts breath-taking views out over the park towards the Ngong Hills. Run by an Australian family, Ololo Lodge is all about relaxing and enjoying the comforts of home away from home. At The Kitchen at Ololo, home-style meals are simple and fresh, using seasonal produce from the lodge’s own gardens. The menu changes daily and guests can dine out on the vine-covered terrace or in the garden under the acacias. Keep a look out for lion, giraffe, leopard, rhino, hippo, zebra and buck on a personalised or group game drive in Nairobi National Park, or add a little extra magic with a visit to the nearby Elephant Orphanage or the Giraffe Centre.

Set between the Ngong Hills and Jamhuri Park, the Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel far removed from the bustle of the capital. Expect excellent service and delicious food in this all-inclusive establishment. Choose from one of 45 lofty rooms furnished in a classic style; vaulted ceilings and balconies are complemented by exposed timber, cotton drapes and neutral tones. The two, 240 square metre themed-suites improve upon this with well-appointed living rooms, study and dining areas, opening to large terraces. All rooms have views either of the rolling hotel lawns or the Ngong hills in the distance. Dining at The Brasserie, you can enjoy a contemporary European menu boasting some of the best steak in Kenya and a relaxed ambiance. Head to The Dining Room for a more formal atmosphere and modern cuisine of local providence.

Located deep within the bio-diverse Lewa Conservancy, the hilltop Lewa House is perfectly placed to experience some of the best safaris in Kenya. The main house is the focal area of the lodge, where you’ll dine family style with your hosts Calum and Sophie on the long wooden table in the evenings and share stories of the day’s adventures. During the heat of the day take a dip in the large swimming pool overlooking a waterhole. Strung out along the hillside around the central lodge are seven separate cottages all with great views from the private verandas. Home to some of the best game viewing in East Africa, the Lewa Conservancy is a great choice for those looking for a comprehensive “Big Five” safari experience. Travel out from the house by foot, car, camel and vintage bi-plane to make the most of this richly rewarding area.

Saruni Mara is an intimate lodge nestled in a secluded valley in the heart of the Mara North Conservancy, which borders the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. With just five cottages, one family suite and a private villa, it is markedly smaller and more personal feelling than anything else in the area. Each of the expansive cottage have a classic safari feel, individually themed with colonial antiques, and all with stunning views to be enjoyed from bed, outdoor shower and veranda. Nyati House is an exclusive-use home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge, dining room and kitchen, as well as a private safari vehicle and guide. The main areas of Saruni Mara comprise of the magnificent lounge where guests enjoy a sumptuous blend of African and European cuisine, well-stocked library, a fire to sit around the fire and chat over the days game viewings and a wellbeing space. Experience the pristine wilderness day and night game drives, walking safari’s, experience wonderful bush dinners and see Kenya through the eyes of your local Maasai guides who have lived on this land for centuries. There’s also the chance to visit local villages, conservation projects and learn Maasai skills at the warrior academy.

This is one of Kenya’s ultimate safari experiences for authentic tented luxury. Positioned on the banks of the Njageteck River in the Olare Orok Conservancy for extra seclusion, the nearby Ngoyanai springs provide permanent water, drawing in large numbers of animals to the area around camp. This camp is also particularly known for its resident lion pride. In the arena of the Maasai Mara, a stay here provides the equivalent of VIP seats and service for one of the best wildlife spectacles in the African bush. Five incredibly inviting tents sit open to the bushveld scenery and wildlife sights of the nearby hippo pool. Appointed with warm high-quality linens and antique furnishings the tents also include modern comforts and en suite (outside) bathrooms with 24-hour hot running water.

Alex Walker has been guiding and organizing expert safaris throughout East Africa for over 25 years and this camp was the first of many, hence, ‘The Original’. Serian, meaning ‘peaceful, calm, serene’ in the Maasai language, perfectly captures the essence of this camp, perched on the edge of Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy There are five vast marquees atop beautiful hardwood decking, including one family suite. Each is unique and all are furnished with elegant simplicity and homely touches. Beautiful bush bathrooms offer views over the river valley from the bathtub, with an airy feeling blending the divide between indoors and out. The thatched mess area and its stunning view sit at the camp’s heart. Here you’ll enjoy wonderful dishes created with ingredients from the manager’s own organic garden, and get cosy around the fire as the night cools. Of course, the main focus is the safari experience and each group has their own custom safari vehicle with a dedicated guide and spotter, giving you the freedom to spend your drives seeking out what you want and more flexibility with times. On night drives, spot animals with red-filtered bulbs before watching active predators on the hunt through special infrared cameras, meaning you are essentially invisible. Walking here is also a speciality, and you can head out with a guide in to a private no-vehicle zone where you are likely to have close encounters with elephant, buffalo, hippo as well as more rare species like Chandler’s mountain reedbuck, klipspringer and oribi.

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.

Right on the Mara River in the heart of the reserve, Governors’ Il Moran Camp has just ten very spacious safari tents, upping the the exclusivity and privacy compared to other camps on the Mara.