Kenya is the original safari destination, and as such there is a fantastic array of lodges catering for every type of traveller, and every budget. Starting from the bottom are the “drive in” cheaper safari lodges. We generally only work with the “fly in” camps, as we believe these offer a much higher quality safari experience. If you visit a “fly in” camp, you use the vehicles and guides from the lodges, and as such your guide is a real expert in the area and is primarily a guide, and only secondly a driver. When people do “driving tours” their guide is usually primarily a “driver” and will not know the specific areas you will be exploring. Also, we believe it is important to get to a destination quickly, so you can enjoy it fully, without having most of your trip being focussed on getting from A -B which can minimise your time at sightings.
Kenya lodges can be separated into a few categories. Across the board Kenya lodges are fairly classic and old school in their style, with an “out of Africa” atmosphere to them all. So you don’t get modern and luxurious, as you do in say Tanzania. Most of the camps in the Masai Mara tend to be tented, replicating the style of safari when it all began. You then get the more rustic yet permanent lodges in the Laikipia area. Then at the top end of luxury in Kenya, you get the authentic brick style permanent lodges, which offer an exceptional and unbeatable experience, if this is your style! It is not a country for the latest cutting edge architecture and all the mod cons, but it is brilliant at taking you back in time to where it all began.

The best tented camps in Kenya


The most basic of the “fly in” lodges are not really that basic, but more a glamping experience with big solid beds, en-suite “safari showers” and all in all, a very comfortable experience. This style of camp is typical for East Africa, and is particularly popular in Tanzania’s Serengeti, as the camps up sticks every few months to follow the Great Migration’s path around the Serengeti. In both Kenya and Tanzania these can get exceptionally luxurious, so there is a huge range of prices for this style of lodging.

The brilliant thing about Kenya is that it is quite a bit cheaper than the slightly more exclusive Serengeti. It has largely based itself on a high volume approach to tourism, which means the rates for even some exceptional lodges is relatively low. Starting at the bottom end of the tented camps is the unbelievable Kichwa Tembo which is only $450 per person per night in a standard tent. Then, you get the more luxurious tented options such as Mara Plains at $1,900 per person per night… Showing you don’t have to be in a permanent structure to get all the luxury in the world!

The best permanent lodges in Kenya


In the Laikipia region, which is made of of “ranches” of sorts, and offer a huge amount of activities because of their private concessions, there are a number of old school permanent safari lodges. Places like Borana have not changed much over the years – perfectly comfortable, rustic yet luxurious in their own charming way, to stay somewhere like this you would be looking at $700 per person per night… Bargain! Especially when you consider riding safaris are also included in the cost. Moving up a notch is the smarter barefoot-luxury option such as Ol Donyo in the Chyulu Hills at around $1,360 per person per night, and up again to the most luxurious options Kenya has to offer is the likes of Angama Mara which is $1,250 per person per night. 
Name Location Cost Our Rating Customer Rating Photo/Video
Alfajiri Villas Indian Ocean Mainland $700 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Amboseli Porini Amboseli $515 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Angama Mara Masai Mara $1,775 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Bateleur Greater Mara $1,400 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Borana Lewa Downs $745 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Cottars Greater Mara $1,277 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Elephant Pepper Greater Mara $794 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Elsas Kopje Mount Meru $749 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Emakoko Nairobi $523 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Giraffe Manor Nairobi $795 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Governors Camp Masai Mara Reserve $710 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Governors Private Camp Masai Mara Reserve $702 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Hemmingways Indian Ocean Mainland $375 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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House of Waine Nairobi $220 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Il Moran Camp Masai Mara Reserve $876 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Joys Samburu $564 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kicheche Mara Greater Mara $745 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kicheche Valley | The Greater Mara Greater Mara $745 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kichwa Tembo Greater Mara $530 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kinondo Kwetu Indian Ocean Mainland $550 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kitich Camp Laikipia $440 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kiwayu Lamu $480 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kizingo Lamu $225 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kizingoni Kabanas Lamu $300 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Kizingoni Villas Lamu $225 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Laragai Laikipia $727 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Lewa House Lewa Downs $950 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Lewa Wilderness Trails Lewa Downs $947 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Little Governors Masai Mara Reserve $753 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Loisaba Laikipia $740 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Macushla House Nairobi $172 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Manda Bay Lamu $310 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Mara Plains Greater Mara $1,930 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Msambweni Beach House Indian Ocean Mainland $387 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Naibor Masai Mara Reserve $890 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ngong House Nairobi $547 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Norfolk Hotel Nairobi $353 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ocean Spa Lodge Indian Ocean Mainland $475 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ol Donyo Chyulu Hills $1,199 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ol lentille Laikipia $850 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ol Malo Lodge Laikipia $950 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ol Seki Greater Mara $660 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Ololo Nairobi $260 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Peponi Lodge Lamu $225 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Rekero Masai Mara Reserve $1,072 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Richards Camp Greater Mara $1,050 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Sabuk Laikipia $602 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Sala's Camp Masai Mara Reserve $1,365 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Sarara Mathews Range $975 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Saruni Greater Mara $936 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Sasaab Samburu $1,078 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Serian Camp Greater Mara $876 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Serian Ngare Greater Mara $1,095 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Serian Nkorombo Greater Mara $970 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Solio Aberdares $1,030 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Spekes Camp Masai Mara Reserve $490 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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The Maji Indian Ocean Mainland $300 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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The Palacina Nairobi $182 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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The Sands at Chale Island Chale Island, Indian Ocean Mainland $250 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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The Sands at Nomad Indian Ocean Mainland $250 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Tortilis Amboseli $700 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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Waterlovers Indian Ocean Mainland $300 rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars rating stars
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