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 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!
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.
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.
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Lewa House - Lewa Downs
Our View
This is a perfect retreat for any large group or family and offers utter seclusion in what is, after all, a relatively small wildlife conservancy. The cottages all feature good sized rooms with en-suite bathrooms and have good sized windows through which to gaze in the morning. With the indigenous trees casting shadows on the manicured gardens and the park on your doorstep this is a perfect place from which to explore for a few days.
Our Rating:
Cost: $950
Lewa Wilderness Trails - Lewa Downs
Our View
Lewa Wilderness is probably our pick of the lodges in the Lewa Conservancy as it combines a whole spread of both activities and privacy. Each of the cottages is very spacious and gives you the feeling of total privacy while not feeling cut off from the lodge itself. As an actual home, the communal areas feel welcoming and comfortable with the swimming pool area and bar being particular favourites! The conservancy itself offers a wide spread, catering to pretty much any taste with walks with rhino, horse riding and some truly fantastic safari with the opportunity to view some of Africa’s rarest animals. It is true that the conservancy is a fenced in area, but, in comparison with most of Kenya’s other major safari areas, this region and camp are definitely in the running.
Our Rating:
Cost: $947
Little Governors - Masai Mara Reserve
Little Governors – what can I say. I loved it there. Service was excellent and I loved the hot water bottles in my bed at night. So many animals and our guides were amazing. We so enjoyed the balloon ride and have excellent pictures.- J Cole
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $753
Loisaba - Laikipia
Our View
Located on a sheer escarpment that overlooks the Laikipia, it is impossible not to have your breath taken away by the views! This truly is to experience the African sky at its largest. The lodge itself is set on a private cattle ranch that now features wandering oryx and the occasional elephant....but the idea of coming here is to unwind and take in that view. Again, a great accompaniment to the nearby Mara, and with activities such as horse riding, helicopter rides, tennis, a full spa and plenty more, you can be as energised as you like.
Our Rating:
Cost: $740
Manda Bay - Lamu
Our View
Manda Bay is definitely up there with the best (but also the most expensive) of the luxury beach properties on the Kenya Coast. Set a mere 20 minute boat ride from Lamu Island, the lodge is set on the west side of Manda Island which gives it a protected outlook onto the inner waterways that run between the islands. This is both a blessing and a drawback in our book.The blessing is that it does not suffer from the trade winds that can blow fairly heavily up and down the coast, and it gives the lodge access to one of the best water skiing areas I have seen! The drawback is that, where Kiwayu has idyllic white sand for the beach, Manda have more of a yellow sand beach…but this is not much of a drawback. The communal area is one of our favourites of any lodge.
Our Rating:
Cost: $310
Mara Plains - Greater Mara
This is probably the best camp I have ever stayed at! The rooms were drop dead gorgeous with great views of wildlife from the comfort of your own bed! The game was spectacular with great sightings of lion and cheetah and thousands of wildebeest. A truly amazing camp!- J. Roberts
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,930
Msambweni Beach House - Indian Ocean Mainland
Our View
Msambweni House is a relatively new addition to the Kenya coast and is definitely a welcome one! The house itself has a great feel to it with all of the rooms having an open and fresh feel to them. The stretch of beach that they are located on is far enough away from the infamous Diani that it is not impacted by the large numbers of lodges up there and so makes for a great and enjoyable beach stay. The food is also a huge selling point with fresh fish (surprisingly!) being a speciality. This is a great option….subject to availability.Our Rating:
Cost: $387
Naibor - Masai Mara Reserve
Naibor camp was just everything wonderful that we could have wanted. Great, great staff....great game drives with great guide....the current camp director is a young man who will be here this year....his name is Ivan and he had a young intern named Troy working there at the time. As is their custom we had dinner together every night. They were lots of fun and very helpful. There was only one other family in the camp and they chose to eat as a family. Really they did not leave a stone unturned to be meet any need we had and they have a wonderful, beautiful place to do it in. We were very pleased...thank you for reccommending Nairbor.- B Summitt
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $890
Ngong House - Nairobi
Our View
Each of the rooms at Ngong House have been beautifully constructed and looked after over the years the house has been open. As with the other hotels in the area, this is a great place to relax for a couple of nights while exploring the sights in and around Nairobi. Great rooms and fantastic service, it does however lack from having no pool.
Our Rating:
Cost: $547
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