Luxury Kenya: Stylish and Sustainable Safari
Wildlife, culture and conservation at some of our favourite properties
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Every trip helps support Conservation
Every detail taken care of
Itinerary highlights
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See the elusive black rhino in its natural habitat
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Star-gaze the most spectacular night skies in the world
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Enjoy sundowners in the Maasai Mara
What's included
-
Luxury accommodation throughout
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All internal flights and transfers
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All park and conservation fees
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Full support from your Travel Designer and Concierge before, during and after your trip
At a glance
Experience the wonderfully varied landscapes, rich culture and iconic wildlife of Kenya on this luxury nine-night safari, staying at some of the country’s most beautifully stylish yet sustainable lodges.
Begin with a stay in Nairobi. Stay at your pick of hotel, or choose the iconic Giraffe Manor. It might look more like a Scottish country house than something you would expect to find in Africa, but the graceful giraffes poking their heads through the windows for a feed at breakfast will remind you where you are.
From here, fly north to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Enjoy activities including horse riding, walking, mountain-biking, night and day game drives and fishing.
Next up is the Samburu region before ending with three nights in the Maasai Mara. There are few better places to be between June and September when the legendary migration of wildebeest pass through, and this region sees incredibly prolific wildlife year-round.
Example trip itinerary
Nairobi
Transfer
Meet and greet at Nairobi airport
Transfer
Private transfer to your hotel in Nairobi
Accommodation in Nairobi
- 10 Luxury Manor Bedrooms
- Library
- Wireless Internet Access
Originally build in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor is ideally located in south west Nairobi, just 20 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Situated in one of Nairobi’s most beautiful suburbs, this beautiful Manor House is located on 140 acres of pristine sanctuary land. Perfect for a quick stopover in the capital city, with an extra quirkiness to add to the convenience. What’s more, each guest’s stay directly benefits projects in some of the city’s poorest areas.
This lovely Manor is home to eight endangered Rothschild giraffes that make daily visits to the house and politely ask guests for snacks! This up-close experience is remarkably enchanting and a great way to begin or finish your safari in Kenya. The opportunity to visit a handful of local attractions such as the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Nyumbani Children’s Orphanage and the Karen Blixen museum (among others) are also available and a great way to explore Nairobi in more detail.
The style of this boutique hotel is modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge with a modern touch. The main Manor house has just six en-suite luxury bedrooms, each with its own character and very tastefully decorated. Four brand new luxury bedrooms have just opened in the garden manor and allow for a different view of these pretty grounds.
Each room is very comfortable, with subtle warm colours that give a very homely feel. Grand, four poster beds and large windows give an airy quality that allows you to simply relax and enjoy your time in Nairobi without the hustle and bustle of city life.
Giraffe Manor is well known for the excellent cuisine offered, with meals taken in the wood panelled dining room overlooking the gardens. Breakfast is the most important part of your experience here, as this is when the Giraffe are their most inquisitive!
- 45 Rooms
- Outdoor pool
- Health club & steam room
- Restaurant
- Bar & lounge
- Wi-Fi
- Terraces
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.
Breakfast with the giraffes
The most fascinating thing about Giraffe Manor is its herd of resident Rothschild giraffe who may visit while you're having breakfast. Sometimes they even poke their long necks into the windows in the hope of getting a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. This will be a truly memorable experience to begin your Kenyan adventure.
Transfer
Private transfer from Nairobi hotel to Wilson airport
Flight
Light aircraft flight from Nairobi Wilson airport to Nanyuki airport
Transfer
Transfer to your lodge in Lewa
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Accommodation in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
- Five luxury cottages
- Lounge and bar
- WiFi access at lodge
- Hairdryer
- Spa services available on request
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.
- 12 safari tents
- Family house with two rooms
- Swimming pool
- Safari guides are Silver and Bronze level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and they also receive training directly from the Conservancy to the “Lewa Standard”.
Mount Kenya lies just to the south of Lewa Safari Camp and the Lewa Wilderness Conservancy itself contains abundant game. Black rhino are a strong reason for visiting this camp, which can be found wandering around in isolation and are thrilling to behold.
The camp has 12 safari tents, each with a thatched roof and private verandah to enjoy your gin and tonic. The main boma has a cracking fireplace to warm up on the chilly evenings and during the heat of the midday sun you could make the most of the swimming pool in the pretty gardens of the lodge.
The 62,000 acre conservancy has a strong management programme for the protection of these creatures which helps them thrive in an historically harsh environment. A stay here has a strong educational theme to it, where you can gain a real understanding of the work the Lewa Wilderness Trust are doing to keep the conservancy running. You will also be directly contributing toward the community and a walk through the archaeological site nearby takes you back in time to a time when pre-historic man roamed these lands.
- 20 Luxury Suites
- Swimming Pool
- Wireless Internet Access
Ideally situated right by the famous Grumeti River in the Lobo area of the northern Serengeti, this camp gives you the opportunity to see some fantastic action played out in the natural world. When the migration has continued on their way, the resident animals remain behind and with the river to sustain them they roam the land in great numbers.
The camp has 20 extremely spacious suites, all with a modern colonial decor of dark woods and fine detail making them warm and homely. Each tent has a private 180º decking which allows for some magnificent views of the surrounding Serengeti landscape.
If you fancy getting involved in the vibe of the camp when you aren’t out witnessing nature’s splendours, you can relax in the extremely comfortable split level lounge or for those who want a nice refreshing dip in the midday heat you can make full use of their lovely swimming pool.
If you are intent on seeing the mighty migration, they are present in June/July and return again at the end of October and into November. The Grumeti River is home to huge pods of hippos and crocodiles who are often found basking in the sun when the banks are visible and the water also attracts some great water fowl.
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Days on safari in the Lewa Conservancy
Take in Kenya’s stunning Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and some of Africa’s best rhino safaris. Your time here will be spent enjoying day and night game drives to spot the varying wildlife, horse riding, camel trekking, bush walks as well as archaeological site excursions and lectures on the history of conservancy, which this catchment is known for.
Horse Riding
Riding on horseback through the bush, accompanied by an experienced guide, will give you an unparalleled opportunity to explore the wilderness in its most natural form, without the sound of a car engine or the sight of a road. Many game species allow horses to approach very close, so you may ride next to animals such as giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck, eland, ostrich and baboons. Combined with the stunning scenery and varied terrain, this is a riding experience not to be missed. Your horse will be be matched to you based on your level of confidence, whether an amateur or experienced rider.
Bush walks
Head out on foot with a guide to discover the secrets and beauty of Lewa's wilderness. Keep your eyes out for larger animals as well as some of the smaller species that call the bush home.
Transfer
Transfer from Lewa lodge to Nanyuki airport
Flight
Chartered light aircraft flight to Sasaab airstrip
Samburu
Accommodation in Samburu
- Nine luxurious villas
- Family villa with two bedrooms and pool
- SpaSaab, a purpose-built treatment haven
- WiFi
If you want an exclusive and luxurious escape combined with a Samburu bush experience, Sasaab Lodge is a wonderful place to stay. 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.
- Six luxury villas
- Samburu wellbeing space for spa and massage
High up on a perch on top of the Kalama Mountains with spectacular all round views of Northern Kenya, sits Saruni Samburu. This design lodge is extremely unique and offers an exclusive game experience with 95,000 hectares of wildlife conservancy to traverse and hunt out the game. Leopards can sometimes be seen visiting the waterholes near the lodge, and the landscape attracts huge amount of plains game followed by the stealthy predators.
The very stylish Saruni Samburu comprises six luxury villas and is a magnificent place to experience both game and culture on the cusp of the Samburu ecosystem. The rooms are all on open decking with magical views spanning the horizon and are decorated to the highest of standards. The lodge is actually based 7km north of the National Park and guests can either visit the park or the national reserve or enjoy Kalama game viewing on the doorstep. The exclusivity that this lodge can afford is extremely attractive and makes it very special indeed.
Besides the private game experiences, you could spend a few days learning the survival skills of Samburu warriors and go back to the hunter gatherer ways that these ancient people still live by. You can learn to track animals and trace your way back home across the stunning plains. Each of the guides are trained to the highest professional guiding standards and provide you with true insight into some of nature’s wonders. Saruni Samburu is a two hour drive from Saruni Rhino where you can track black rhino on foot for the ultimate adventure.
Three nights in Samburu
Enjoy the stunning wildlife and captivating cultural encounters with the local Samburu tribes in the Samburu region. Take bush walks in between your daily safari game drives (some at night), visits to the local Samburu villages, camel-back riding, evenings of sundowners, gourmet food and campfire stories, and all in the serene and sumptuous luxury of your lodge.
Samburu village visit
Visit one of the neighbouring villages to gain an insight into the culture of the Samburu people and how they survive in this harsh environment. A humbling and inspiring experience.
Sasaab Samburu Warrior Dance
Take a leisurely stroll down the river to an open sandy bank where Samburu warriors and girls will dance and sing. Dressed in traditional beads and brightly coloured fabrics, the serenading, dancing and singing builds as the sun sets. A goat will also be sacrificed and its blood drunk by the warriors, but you can opt not to experience this part of the ceremony. Immersed in the evening, enjoy sundowners and gather around a fire on the beach as it comes to a close.
Transfer
Transfer to Samburu airstrip from your camp in the Samburu area
Flight
Light aircraft flight from Samburu to the Maasai Mara
Transfer
Transfer to your camp in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara
Accommodation in Maasai Mara
- 11 tents including two family tents and two honeymoon tents
Location is everything at Sala’s Camp. Nestled in the Maasai Mara National Park, but in a very remote southern-central corner of it on the tranquil banks of the Sand River, Sala’s boasts the most private of safari experiences within the reserve’s borders. The camp works in close conjunction with various wildlife projects in the area, so you can be sure your visit is making a difference.
The camp features 11 tents including two family tents and two honeymoon tents. All feature private plunge pools and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, running water and flushing loos.
Sala’s enjoys wonderful views across the northern Tanzanian corridor and Serengeti National Park, and it is one of the first camps in the Mara to witness the Great Migration. Your daily game drives are personalised to guests, depending on what you would most like to see, and the Mara River for the famed river crossings is only a 25-minute drive away.
The food is impossibly sophisticated for your surrounds, all in all holding true to the camp’s philosophy of combining tradition with elegance. Sala’s is also a wonderful camp for families. All children receive a welcome pack with games, paint sets and quizzes about the wildlife and the camp and kids can play in the shallow Sand River under the watchful eye of a Maasai askari.
- Ten Spacious Safari Tents
- Bar
- Curio Shop
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.
The camp itself is hidden deep in the forest and attracts a few foraging warthogs who nuzzle for grubs in the neatly kept lawn. Each of the tents have their own veranda where you can sit and relax, listening to the grunt of the hippos and watching the odd stalking crocodile slip through the water. The tents are all primly decorated and are extremely comfortable, with beds that you can easily fall into after a nice long day enjoying the rich variety of game in the area.
The bar is an enticing spot for those ice cold midday beers, as too is the boma area after the sun sets. Three game drives a day will maximise your game experience and if you feel like a wander, a knowledgeable guide can take you on a very interesting game walk to try and spot the ‘small five’ after you have ticked off the big ones!
Three nights in the Maasai Mara
Spend your time exploring the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve with morning and afternoon games drives. During the Migration season you'll also be on the look out for the famous river crossings. The exact activities available will depend on your lodge and our travel designers will help pick the one that suits you best.
Hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara
You might opt to add an early morning hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara to your stay in the region. It's a memorable way to really appreciate its scale and gain a unique bird's-eye view of the game below. Note that this is an extra, scheduled, shared activity and is weather dependent.
Transfer
Transfer from your lodge to the airstrip in the Mara
Flight
Light aircraft flight from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi Wilson airport
Transfer
Private transfer to Nairobi International
We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.
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Luxury Kenya: Stylish and Sustainable Safari
How we work
Experience the wonderfully varied landscapes, rich culture and iconic wildlife of Kenya on this luxury nine-night safari, staying at some of the country’s most beautifully stylish yet sustainable lodges. Begin with a stay in Nairobi. Stay at your pick of hotel, or choose the iconic Giraffe Manor. It might look more like a Scottish country house than something you would expect to find in Africa, but the graceful giraffes poking their heads through the windows for a feed at breakfast will remind you where you are. From here, fly north to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Enjoy activities including horse riding, walking, mountain-biking, night and day game drives and fishing. Next up is the Samburu region before ending with three nights in the Maasai Mara. There are few better places to be between June and September when the legendary migration of wildebeest pass through, and this region sees incredibly prolific wildlife year-round.
| Whats included?
|
Days 1-2 |
Nairobi |
|
Flights & transfers
Meet and greet at Nairobi airport |
|
| Private transfer to your hotel in Nairobi | |
|
Accommodation in Nairobi
•
Giraffe Manor - $$$$$
Originally build in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor is ideally located in south west Nairobi, just 20...
•
Hemingways Nairobi - $$$$$
Set between the Ngong Hills and Jamhuri Park, the Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel far...
|
|
| Breakfast with the giraffes The most fascinating thing about Giraffe Manor is its herd of resident Rothschild giraffe who may visit while you're having breakfast. Sometimes they even poke their long necks into the windows in the hope of getting a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. This will be a truly memorable experience to begin your Kenyan adventure. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer from Nairobi hotel to Wilson airport |
|
| Light aircraft flight from Nairobi Wilson airport to Nanyuki airport | |
| Transfer to your lodge in Lewa | |
Days 2-4 |
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy |
|
Accommodation in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
•
Solio Lodge - $$$$$
The only property nestled within a 19,000 acre private wildlife sanctuary and surrounded by...
•
Lewa Safari Camp - $$$$$
Mount Kenya lies just to the south of Lewa Safari Camp and the Lewa Wilderness Conservancy...
•
Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp - $$$$$
Ideally situated right by the famous Grumeti River in the Lobo area of the northern Serengeti,...
|
|
| Days on safari in the Lewa Conservancy Take in Kenya’s stunning Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and some of Africa’s best rhino safaris. Your time here will be spent enjoying day and night game drives to spot the varying wildlife, horse riding, camel trekking, bush walks as well as archaeological site excursions and lectures on the history of conservancy, which this catchment is known for. |
|
| Horse Riding Riding on horseback through the bush, accompanied by an experienced guide, will give you an unparalleled opportunity to explore the wilderness in its most natural form, without the sound of a car engine or the sight of a road. Many game species allow horses to approach very close, so you may ride next to animals such as giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck, eland, ostrich and baboons. Combined with the stunning scenery and varied terrain, this is a riding experience not to be missed. Your horse will be be matched to you based on your level of confidence, whether an amateur or experienced rider. |
|
| Bush walks Head out on foot with a guide to discover the secrets and beauty of Lewa's wilderness. Keep your eyes out for larger animals as well as some of the smaller species that call the bush home. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Transfer from Lewa lodge to Nanyuki airport |
|
| Chartered light aircraft flight to Sasaab airstrip | |
Days 4-7 |
Samburu |
|
Accommodation in Samburu
•
Sasaab Lodge - $$$$$
If you want an exclusive and luxurious escape combined with a Samburu bush experience, Sasaab...
•
Saruni Samburu - $$$$$
High up on a perch on top of the Kalama Mountains with spectacular all round views of Northern...
|
|
| Three nights in Samburu Enjoy the stunning wildlife and captivating cultural encounters with the local Samburu tribes in the Samburu region. Take bush walks in between your daily safari game drives (some at night), visits to the local Samburu villages, camel-back riding, evenings of sundowners, gourmet food and campfire stories, and all in the serene and sumptuous luxury of your lodge. |
|
| Samburu village visit Visit one of the neighbouring villages to gain an insight into the culture of the Samburu people and how they survive in this harsh environment. A humbling and inspiring experience. |
|
| Sasaab Samburu Warrior Dance Take a leisurely stroll down the river to an open sandy bank where Samburu warriors and girls will dance and sing. Dressed in traditional beads and brightly coloured fabrics, the serenading, dancing and singing builds as the sun sets. A goat will also be sacrificed and its blood drunk by the warriors, but you can opt not to experience this part of the ceremony. Immersed in the evening, enjoy sundowners and gather around a fire on the beach as it comes to a close. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Transfer to Samburu airstrip from your camp in the Samburu area |
|
| Light aircraft flight from Samburu to the Maasai Mara | |
| Transfer to your camp in the Maasai Mara | |
Days 7-10 |
Maasai Mara |
|
Accommodation in Maasai Mara
•
Sala’s Camp - $$$$$
Location is everything at Sala’s Camp. Nestled in the Maasai Mara National Park, but in a...
•
Governors’ Il Moran Camp - $$$$$
Right on the Mara River in the heart of the reserve, Governors’ Il Moran Camp has just ten...
|
|
| Three nights in the Maasai Mara Spend your time exploring the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve with morning and afternoon games drives. During the Migration season you'll also be on the look out for the famous river crossings. The exact activities available will depend on your lodge and our travel designers will help pick the one that suits you best. |
|
| Hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara You might opt to add an early morning hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara to your stay in the region. It's a memorable way to really appreciate its scale and gain a unique bird's-eye view of the game below. Note that this is an extra, scheduled, shared activity and is weather dependent. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Transfer from your lodge to the airstrip in the Mara |
|
| Light aircraft flight from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi Wilson airport | |
| Private transfer to Nairobi International |
