The Best Views in Kenya

Kenya is one of the most famous countries in Africa. It’s filled with history, an intricate web of cultures, the best coffee I’ve tasted, and some of the continent’s best game viewing… but let’s not forget the views, oh the views! From mountainous landscapes to never-ending plains, here are some of my favourites:

Satao Elerai sits on its own private conservancy just outside Amboseli National Park. The camp itself is simple but lovely. Although it’s situated a 45-minute bumpy drive to and from the national park, the camp makes up for this by offering something that others don’t – the most unparalleled views of Kilimanjaro. Choose one of the tents rather than the suites, keep your fingers crossed for a clear morning, then wait for views so close to the mountain that you can see her contours.

Bedroom outlook

Saruni Samburu is located within the private Kalama Conservancy towards the north-east of Samburu National Reserve. Samburu is an area renowned for its impressive herds of elephants, which is rather apt considering it is also home to the Save The Elephants research centre.

Veranda at Saruni Samburu

The majority of camps here are found within the national reserve itself, along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river – the lifeblood of the park. Saruni, however, is on another plain entirely. The private conservancy doesn’t have the same numbers of game as the main reserve (it’s still very good), but what you will experience here is a view that’ll knock your socks off. The luxury lodge is situated on an enormous rocky outcrop. Although the drive up feels as though it’s leading nowhere, the views when you arrive, overlooking the conservancy and without another human in sight, will leave you feeling as though you’re standing on the edge of the world.

The Lewa-Borana Landscape

The Borana area is made up of 32,000 acres of conservation land. In recent years this area has dropped its fences with neighbouring Lewa in order to offer the many local rhinos free passage between the two regions, thus creating the Lewa–Borana Landscape. The landscape here is pretty typical of what you find around the foothills of Mt Kenya – rolling hills and mountains to the south and arid landscape to the north. Borana Lodge is a beautiful property featuring cosy cottages carved into the hillside. You don’t get the huge vista views here, but instead you get the dramatic, stormy-looking hills.

No piece on Kenya would be complete without a mention of the Maasai Mara. Like all of the reserves and parks I’ve already mentioned, the Mara is full of incredible properties – from the simple and authentic bush camps to some super 5-star luxury lodges – but when it comes to the view there are two clear winners…

Cottar’s is located to the very far south-east of the Mara. The site contains both the Cottar’s 1920s camp and a private house, the latter being perched in the middle of a hill. The views from every single room stretch out to Kenya’s border with Tanzania and beyond into the Serengeti. Every room apart from one (the children’s room) has its own private outside seating area, with the most superb views exquisitely framed by the rolling hills of the Cottar’s Conservancy.

Bush Villa

This first prize has to be shared with Angama Mara, a 5-star deluxe lodge to the west of the park. It’s spectacularly positioned on top of the Ololoolo Escarpment, which is created by the great Rift Valley. From all the way up here, the views over the Mara’s plains are vast. From such a height you feel as though you are flying with the birds, and you can almost see the curvature of the Earth.

Angama Mara

If you are interested in a safari to Kenya, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts here. Alternatively, if you’d like some more inspiration, just take a look at our selection of blogs and favourite destinations below: