Kenya’s Top 10 Luxury Lodges

Set high on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara enjoys one of the best locations in the Maasai Mara. Located on the Oloololo Escarpment, this luxury property boasts uninterrupted panoramic views over the Mara plains – there’s a chance you could spot the Big Five from the lodge itself! Defined by understated elegance and exceptional attention to detail, Angama is split into two intimate camps, ensuring a sense of privacy and personalised service.

Beyond game drives in both the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the more exclusive wildlife-rich Mara Triangle, Angama offers a range of activities: guided walks, Maasai village visits, and romantic picnics on the very kopje where Out of Africa was filmed. There’s also a fully equipped gym and a lovely swimming pool.

Lengishu is a beautiful, exclusive-use, private property that can house up to 12 adults in six stunning suites. Located in the heart of the Borana Conservancy, this is a great place for horseriding safaris, with two sets of stables! Being on horseback is a unique way to get up close to the wildlife, as the animals are more trusting of horses than of a 4×4. All riding levels can be accommodated. The game here is good, featuring lion, cheetah, elephant, zebra, and black rhino. The elegant décor of this property, the fine dining, and the views out over the Lewa region, make this a superb choice for luxury group bookings.

Once the private home of the founder of sports brand Puma, Segera is one of Laikipia’s most luxurious properties. Offering a blend of holistic luxury and exceptional service, Segera is a luxury wildlife retreat for those looking for a high-end safari experience. A totally private ranch, Segera is a residence offering unique activities, such as star bed stays and helicopter flights in which guests can circle the peaks of Mount Kenya and get a bird’s-eye view of the flamingo-filled lakes along the Great Rift Valley. There’s a delightful art focus too, which is rare in safari lodges. This is a satellite showcase of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, displaying pieces from the Zeitz collection. You can also spend time in between safari activities wandering the property’s sculpture garden, admiring works crafted from stone, bronze, and steel.

Ol Donyo Lodge is a legendary property set along the Chyulu Hills, amid 110,000 hectares of private, Maasai-owned land. Its location between Tsavo and Amboseli national parks makes this an area of great biodiversity. Enjoy sensational views from camp of the vast savanna and impressive Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, the perfect safari backdrop! Part of the Great Plains Conservation portfolio, Ol Donyo is exceptionally well run, offering authentic luxury with an impressive list of activities. Alongside the usual game driving and guided walks, you can night drive, horse ride, mountain bike, make trips into Amboseli National Park, and enjoy scenic helicopter flights. As well as the eight classic suites, there’s a two-bedroom family suite, and a Young Explorers programme is available too.

This wonderful property is located in the far north of Kenya, in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. It’s a wild, remote location that’s home to rare species, such as the aardwolf, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, and occasionally leopard. The local Samburu guides will dazzle you with their knowledge, and there are some unique activities to enjoy, including the incredible ‘singing wells’, where tribesmen sing to summon their cattle as they draw water! Sarara is a beautiful camp, set on a hillside with breathtaking views over the plains. Namunyak Conservancy is an exciting place, with its treasure trove of rare and often uncatalogued species living here. It’s perfect for an off-the-beaten-track safari experience. Also, don’t miss the chance to spend a night out under the stars in one of Sarara’s star-beds.

Governors’ Il Moran is another legendary camp, one of the first to set up in this area. Located on a bend of the Mara River, it’s a prime spot for witnessing the Great Migration as the wildebeest cross from the Serengeti in the dry season, looking for fresh grasslands. Crocodiles lie in wait, and the vast herds cross in a shimmering charge through the perilous waters. The camp has some of the most spacious tented accommodation anywhere on safari. This area has excellent year-round game, though it really comes into its own from July through October, when you’ll have the best seat in the house for the wildebeest migration.

Mara Nyika offers understated luxury from Great Plains Conservation, a world-class outfit with a portfolio of tremendous camps! Although it’s perhaps not as ‘showy’ as some other properties on this list, you know you’re in fine hands as soon as you arrive here. The guiding is excellent, and this is an intimate, well-priced honeymoon destination, with lots of lovely touches and sweeping views over the Mara plains. If a hot air balloon safari is on your safari wish list, then this is a good place to do it. Experiencing sunrise over the Mara in a hot air balloon is an unforgettable touch to include during your stay. With the Big Five on your doorstep, stylish décor that infuses old and modern Africa, Mara Nyika is a memorable luxury Kenyan stay.

Alex Walker’s Serian camps, which operate on both the Tanzanian and Kenyan sides of the Mara River, are pioneers of high-end mobile camping, with fantastic safari guides. Serian offers a luxurious and authentic experience in prime locations for game viewing! Ngare Serian is located in the Mara North Conservancy, on the banks of the Mara River in a private walking concession. With just four luxury tents, which are only accessible by footbridge over a river, this is a superb camp offering seclusion and privacy. Serian Ngare is one of the few places to provide a private vehicle as standard, and offers great activities such as fishing and night drives. For a truly memorable stay, spend a night under the stars in ‘The Nest’, Ngare Serian’s treehouse, situated a short meander from the camp.

If waking up to uninterrupted views of Laikipia’s endless plains from your bed sounds like a fabulous way to start the day, add Elewana’s Loisaba Lodo Springs to your must-visit list in Kenya. Located in the Loisaba Conservancy and set on a hilltop, the camp has eight tented rooms. Each is understated yet luxurious, with a dedicated host throughout your stay. Lodo Springs boasts a unique set of activities, including game drives, bush walks, horse riding, mountain biking, and even camel trekking! Every excursion is a chance to experience the game-rich area, home to the Big Five as well as smaller predators like cheetah, jackal, wild dog, and hyena.

This lodge is owned by the Dyer family. Their love and knowledge of the area will really shine through during your stay at Borana, making this a luxurious yet authentic experience. The suites are set on a hillside and have scenic views. The style is described as ‘elegant English country house meets Africa’, and there are eight cottages, all beautifully appointed and with different room configurations depending on your group. Borana is one of our top lodges for a horse-riding safari – ride through the rolling hills on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau and enjoy the unique dynamic of the horses and resident wildlife.