The Top Luxury Safari Lodges in Kenya for a World-Class Experience
Kenya’s luxury safari lodges and tented camps cater to various needs, offering a unique chance to connect with wildlife. Traditional tented camps, with their canvas walls, allow guests to relax to the soothing sounds of nature, creating a special relationship with the environment. Despite the word ‘camp’ suggesting simplicity, these accommodations are among the most luxurious, ensuring a lavish experience in the wilderness. The attentive staff, including guides, chefs, and housekeepers, enhances your safari by sharing local drinks by the campfire and making your stay memorable. We have selected the finest luxury safari lodges to help you find the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience.
Luxury Safari Lodge: Angama Mara, Masai Mara
Angama Mara is a remarkable luxury safari lodge located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, offering breathtaking views of the Masai Mara National Reserve. The lodge features elegant tented suites, private terraces, and outstanding service. Guests have the opportunity to enjoy game drives, hot air balloon rides, cultural activities, and romantic picnics on the kopje where the famous 1985 film Out of Africa was filmed. Additionally, for fitness enthusiasts, the lodge includes a fully equipped gym and a swimming pool.
Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
Giraffe Manor, a key part of the Safari Collection, is one of the most famous luxury safari lodges in Africa. Located in Nairobi, it is a popular place for travelers starting or ending their safaris in Kenya. Guests can feed Rothschild giraffes and enjoy breakfast with them in a beautiful lodge featuring colonial architecture, modern amenities, great service, and fine dining.
Luxury Safari Lodge: Oldonyo Lodge, Chyulu Hills
Ol Donyo Lodge, which offers a range of safari experiences and activities, is located in the Chyulu Hills. With stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the lodge, which is situated on its own private estate, provides guided nature walks, horseback riding, and day and night wildlife drives. Luxurious lodgings with unique star beds, an infinity pool, and thatched roofs are available. The lodge, which emphasizes the value of wildlife conservation, was founded in 1987 by conservationist Richard Bonham and is now run by Great Plains Conservation.
Segera Retreat, Laikipia
Segera Retreat is a luxury safari lodge on the Laikipia Plateau, featuring six villas built from timber and thatch with stunning views of Mount Kenya. Each villa provides privacy for guests, while Segera House and Villa Segera offer even more seclusion. The central area includes the Paddock House, Wine Tower, and renovated stables with a bar and dining room showcasing art. It serves as a peaceful place to relax before or after a safari, with options for helicopter exploration or unwinding.
Mara Plains, Olare Motorogi Conservancy
Situated within the exclusive Olare Motorogi Conservancy adjacent to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Plains provides visitors with the opportunity to embark on game drives either in the main reserve or in the more tranquil Greater Mara Conservancies. This traditional safari establishment boasts exceptional accommodations, expert guiding, and outstanding service, undoubtedly ranking it among the premier camps in Kenya.
Luxury Safari Lodge, Angama Amboseli
Angama Amboseli offers ten guest suites in a quiet nature sanctuary, perfect for escaping the outside world. Guests can see herds of elephants and their young while exploring the lush landscape of Kimana Sanctuary, Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy, near Mount Kilimanjaro. Activities include night drives and early morning Pyjama Safaris with unlimited game watching.
Luxury Safari Lodge, Sarara Samburu
Sarara is an opulent and romantic tented camp located on the brink of the breathtaking Samburu wilderness. Each cozy tent is strategically placed to enhance the spectacular views of the Mathews Range and the nearby waterhole, which draws a diverse array of wildlife throughout the day. The tents are generously sized with high ceilings and feature private terraces equipped with tables and chairs, where morning coffee and tea are delivered to you, allowing for a leisurely awakening while admiring the mountain scenery.
Additionally, there is an outdoor bathroom that provides a magnificent view of the hills from the shower, complemented by an indoor toilet and sink situated at the rear of the tent. Guests can indulge in hearty breakfasts in the communal dining area, enjoy buffet-style lunches beneath the shade of trees, and savor exquisite dinners served on the pool terrace or partake in a romantic dining experience under the starlit sky.
Elewana Lodo Springs, Loisaba Conservancy
Forming part of the Loisaba Conservancy, this exclusive camp is located on a key elephant corridor linking to the Laikipia Plateau. It has eight spacious sites with views of Mount Kenya and dedicated staff. Enjoy guided game drives and walks to see endangered species like wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras, leopards, and cheetahs. Loisaba Lodo Springs shows how to balance ecological health with sustainable livestock practices by local tribes.
Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Mara Triangle
Located on the edge of the Mara Triangle, Kichwa Tembo is an amazing tented camp. It offers a luxurious accommodation with a stunning safari and modern style in addition to an amazing location with plenty of local animals and opportunities to see the Great Migration (from July to October).
Elewana Sand River, Masai Mara
Sand River Masai Mara is located by a river of the same name within the Masai Mara National Reserve, close to Tanzania. This camp has a peaceful and beautiful setting, inspired by the luxurious tented camps of the 1920s, featuring historical decor and furnishings. It is an ideal place for those wanting to enjoy excellent wildlife viewing. The camp has 16 tents divided into two connected campsites, each with its own dining and communal areas, ensuring privacy and exclusivity for guests.
Governor’s IL Moran Camp, Masai Mara
One of the top luxury safari lodges in kenya, this tiny and cosy tented camp is located in a wooded part of the Masai Mara. With its opulent tents scattered along the Mara River, Governor’s Il Moran provides countless chances for top-notch wildlife viewing. For romantics and honeymooners, this lodge is the perfect safari getaway. Depending on the season you are visiting, go on early morning game drives to look for the Big 5 or maybe see the Great Migration.
Tortilis Camp, Amboseli
The Camp features 16 tents that provide a stunning view of the mountain. Each tent, adorned with a makuti roof, includes a main bedroom equipped with either twin or double beds, an en-suite bathroom, and a generous verandah. Additionally, there is a central lounge, bar, and dining area, all beautifully constructed using natural materials and thatched roofs, boasting breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro.
Conclusion:
A luxury safari lodge in Kenya usually provides top-notch facilities, outstanding service, and excellent wildlife viewing experiences. Guests can look forward to spacious, beautifully decorated rooms, fine dining, and activities like game drives, bush walks, and cultural tours. Many lodges are in private conservancies or national parks for exclusive wildlife access. Some offer extra features like spas, pools, and private decks with beautiful views.
