Kenya

The Sarova Panafric occupies mature gardens on Kenyatta Avenue in central Nairobi, a short distance from the city centre and long established as a base for both business travellers and safari guests in transit.

The setting is unusually green for a city hotel, with a pool set among the gardens, and its central position gives straightforward access to the National Museum, the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre in Langata.

Alfajiri Villas comprises three individually styled private villas on Diani Beach, taken on an exclusive-use basis with their own staff, chef and pools.

The villas differ in character, from clifftop positions with sweeping ocean views to direct beachfront. The format suits families or groups who want the coast entirely to themselves.

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa is a large beachfront property on Kenya’s south coast, offering a full range of resort facilities including several restaurants, a substantial spa and a dive centre.

The scale and breadth of amenities make it a practical choice for families and groups wanting a self-contained beach stay with organised activities on site.

Almanara Luxury Resort occupies a stretch of Diani Beach on Kenya’s south coast, comprising a small number of private villas set directly behind the sand.

Each villa comes with its own butler and cook, giving the property the character of a private house rather than a hotel. Diani’s reef-protected water is calm and shallow for much of the tide.

The Emakoko is a small owner-run lodge built into a river valley within Nairobi National Park, offering genuine safari immediately outside Africa’s only capital with a national park on its doorstep.

Rooms overlook the Mbagathi River and the park beyond, and game drives depart directly from the lodge. Its proximity to both airports makes it unusually practical for first or last nights.

Hemingways Nairobi is an all-suite hotel in the Karen suburb, its white colonial-plantation architecture looking out towards the Ngong Hills.

Each suite includes butler service, and the hotel serves as a refined base for Nairobi’s museums, the Giraffe Centre and the elephant orphanage, as well as a comfortable transit point between international and domestic safari flights.

Giraffe Manor is a 1930s ivy-clad manor house on the edge of Nairobi, set in twelve acres of private land within a larger indigenous forest, and home to a herd of endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.

The giraffes visit the manor morning and evening, pushing their heads through the upstairs windows and breakfast-room doors in search of treats. Guest numbers are deliberately limited and the property books far in advance.

Rutundu Log Cabins sit at around 3,100 metres on the northern moorland of Mount Kenya, beside Lake Rutundu, comprising two hand-built timber cabins with no electricity.

Lighting is by lantern and warmth by log fire. The appeal is simple: absolute isolation on high moorland, with trout fishing on two nearby lakes and open walking in every direction.

Serena Mountain Lodge is built on stilts within Mount Kenya National Park, overlooking a forest waterhole and salt lick that draws elephant, buffalo and forest species after dark.

Rooms face the waterhole directly, and a ground-level hide allows closer viewing. The montane forest setting is cool and damp, offering a wholly different experience from Kenya’s savanna lodges.

The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club occupies manicured grounds on the equator at the foot of Mount Kenya, founded in the late 1950s and long associated with visiting film stars and dignitaries.

The setting combines formal gardens and mountain views with an animal orphanage on the property. Facilities are unusually extensive for the region, including golf, horse riding and a heated pool.

Sasaab sits above the Ewaso Nyiro River in the community-owned Westgate Conservancy, north of Samburu, its Moorish-influenced architecture combining open arches with Swahili detailing.

Each of the nine rooms has a private plunge pool and open frontage. Activities extend beyond game drives to camel trekking, guided walks and visits to the Samburu communities that own the conservancy.

Elephant Bedroom Camp sits on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River inside Samburu National Reserve, beneath doum palms and acacia, with elephants regularly moving through the camp itself.

Twelve tents each have a private plunge pool and open frontage onto the river. The reserve’s riverine strip is the lifeline of this arid region, drawing consistent wildlife traffic through the dry season.

Saruni Samburu is built into a rocky outcrop within the Kalama Conservancy, north of Samburu National Reserve, with villas open on one side to a vast panorama of arid northern Kenya.

The conservancy is community-owned, and the lodge works closely with Samburu families in its operation. The region’s dry-country wildlife includes several species found nowhere else in Kenya.

Enashipai Resort & Spa occupies landscaped grounds on the shore of Lake Naivasha, combining a substantial spa, several restaurants and extensive gardens.

The property is larger and more resort-oriented than the region’s safari lodges, making it a practical choice for families and groups seeking full hotel facilities within reach of the Rift Valley parks.

Chui Lodge sits within a private wildlife conservancy in the hills above Lake Naivasha, its stone cottages furnished with handcrafted olive-wood interiors.

The surrounding conservancy protects acacia woodland and grassland supporting leopard, giraffe and plains game, with guided walks and night drives permitted as on private land.

Loldia House is a colonial-era farmhouse on the western shore of Lake Naivasha, built by Italian prisoners of war and still part of a working farm estate.

Rooms are spread between the main house and garden cottages, with mature gardens running down towards the lake. The atmosphere is that of a private country home rather than a hotel.

The Cliff Nakuru occupies an escarpment position overlooking Lake Nakuru National Park, its glass-fronted tented suites angled to take in the lake and the flamingo flocks along its shore.

The design is deliberately contemporary, with private plunge pools and floor-to-ceiling glazing, marking a departure from the classic safari lodge idiom found elsewhere around the lake.

Tortilis Camp sits on a hillside in a private conservancy bordering Amboseli National Park, with an uninterrupted outlook towards Mount Kilimanjaro rising across the Tanzanian border.

Tented rooms are spread beneath umbrella acacia for privacy, and the camp holds long-standing eco-certification. Its private conservancy status permits walking safaris and night drives not allowed inside the national park.

Perched inside Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Nakuru Lodge offers panoramic views of the lake, surrounding acacia woodland, and abundant wildlife. The lodge is an ideal base for exploring one of Kenya’s premier national parks, renowned for its rhino conservation, diverse birdlife, and scenic landscapes. Comfortable accommodation, warm hospitality, and easy access to game drives make it suitable for couples, families, and safari enthusiasts.

Located in the heart of Amboseli National Park, Ol Tukai Lodge is one of East Africa’s most iconic safari lodges, offering guests an extraordinary combination of luxury, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. The lodge is famous for its uninterrupted views of Mount Kilimanjaro and its exceptional elephant viewing experiences.

Surrounded by open plains, acacia forests, and Amboseli’s famous wetlands, Ol Tukai Lodge provides an authentic safari atmosphere where guests can relax in comfort while experiencing some of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife encounters. The lodge’s location allows visitors to witness large elephant herds, diverse birdlife, and incredible sunsets with Africa’s highest mountain as a backdrop.

Nestled on a scenic hillside within Lake Nakuru National Park, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge offers an unforgettable safari experience surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. Overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Nakuru, the lodge combines elegant chalet-style accommodation, warm Kenyan hospitality, and exceptional service in one of Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife destinations.

Designed to complement its natural surroundings, the lodge provides easy access to thrilling game drives, remarkable birdwatching opportunities, and encounters with both black and white rhinos. Whether you’re relaxing beside the heated swimming pool, enjoying panoramic views from your private veranda, or exploring the park’s diverse ecosystems, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge promises an authentic and memorable safari escape. The lodge offers chalet-style cottages and suites overlooking the lake and surrounding gardens, along with amenities including a heated pool, wellness spa, and family-friendly facilities.

Located in the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Zebra Plains Mara Camp offers an authentic luxury safari experience surrounded by vast savannahs, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking African landscapes. Designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, the camp combines elegant canvas tents, warm Kenyan hospitality, and exceptional game-viewing opportunities for an unforgettable stay.

Whether you’re witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration, tracking the Big Five, or simply relaxing around the camp after an exciting day in the bush, Zebra Plains Mara Camp provides the perfect balance of adventure, comfort, and tranquility. It is an excellent choice for honeymooners, families, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts seeking an immersive safari experience.

Set along the banks of the Talek River at the edge of the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, Basecamp Masai Mara offers an authentic and sustainable safari experience surrounded by nature, wildlife, and the rich culture of the Maasai people.

The camp combines traditional safari charm with responsible tourism practices, providing comfortable accommodation while maintaining a strong connection with the surrounding environment. Guests can enjoy spectacular wildlife encounters, including the Great Migration, big cat sightings, and unforgettable views of the Mara’s endless grasslands.

Basecamp Masai Mara is known for its commitment to conservation, community empowerment, and eco-friendly hospitality, making it an ideal choice for travellers seeking a meaningful safari experience.