This bewitching East African country is known for its diverse landscape, incredible wildlife, and a growing suite of boutique luxury hotels. Here is our guide to Kenya’s most fabulous stays.
Kenya is easily one of Africa’s most captivating and diverse countries and features savannahs of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, frosty peaks at Mount Kenya, Laikipia, home of the black rhinos, and Sibiloi National Park, called the “cradle of humankind.” Kenya is synonymous with the African safari and where people come to see the great migration and the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo). With many luxury boutique hotels spread throughout, the best way to travel Africa is via an outfitter. If you’re looking for bespoke luxury, Micato, a family-run safari outfitter for more than 50 years, intimately knows Kenya, the lodges, and any connection you may need. They’ll then pair you with a knowledgeable safari guide and bush plane transportation between lodges. Micato routinely hosts former presidents, celebrities, and billionaires, but the company’s specialty lies in its highly tailored, hands-on service with special surprises along the way.
“Whether Micato guests prefer the name brand or the boutique, Micato always ensures a private, intimate experience with insider access and custom-tailored activities throughout,” says Dennis Pinto, managing director at Micato.
No matter how you organize your travel, be sure these areas and luxury boutique hotels, each with a unique personality, are on your list to visit.
Nairobi
Where to Stay: Hemingways Nairobi & Giraffe Manor
| Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 12 • Airport: Jomo Kenyatta Intl. Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Spa • Free WiFi • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Located in Karen, a leafy suburb on the outskirts of Nairobi named after “Out of Africa” author Karen Blixen, Hemingways Nairobi delights with its elegant rooms and resort amenities. The colonial-style hotel is named after author Ernest Hemingway, who extensively traveled the country in the 1930s and 1950s. The secluded five-star property has plush rooms and private terraces overlooking the Ngong Hills and is the perfect place to rest your head before or after a safari.
Founders of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville, turned their stately manor into a giraffe wildlife sanctuary. At Giraffe Manor, guests eat breakfast as giraffes pop their long necks through the edifice’s dining room windows, greeting them with a warm hello (and wanting a snack to nibble on too, perhaps).
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Tsavo West National Park
Where to Stay: Finch Hattons
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 17 • Airport: Jomo Kenyatta Intl. Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Spa • Fitness Center • 2 Bars & Restaurants |
Luxury tented camp Finch Hattons in the bush of Tsavo West National Park pairs old-world luxury with modern comforts. A pioneer of the modern safari, the camp has exceptional gourmet cuisine, a lovely spa, and a relaxing pool. All 17 luxury tented suites have a private deck—many of which overlook hippo-filled watering holes—and feature deep soaking tubs and outdoor showers. By morning, your safari guides will whisk you to a bush breakfast followed by a game drive, and by afternoon, you’ll be enjoying an outdoor massage. We recommend a (very pampered) hike through the Chyulu Hills cloud forest.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Where to Stay: Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 7 • Airport: Wilson Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Spa • Free WiFi • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Located on the Olderkesi Conservancy bordering Maasai Mara National Park, Cottar’s harkens back to a bygone era of safari with its individualized safari experiences and incredible conservation efforts. It is one of just 10 accredited Global Ecosphere Retreats in the World and has some of the highest sustainability standards focusing on community development, cultural stewardship, commerce, and conservation. There are 11 canvas tents, communal dining tents, a boutique, and a 12-person Bush Villa built with indigenous, eco-friendly materials for those who seek additional privacy and comfort. Micato can help organize a discussion with a local tribesman from Maasai Mara.
Great Rift Valley
Where to Stay: Angama Mara
| Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 30 • Airport: Kenyatta International Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Free breakfast • Free WiFi • 2 Bars & Restaurants |
Perched on an escarpment overlooking the Mara Triangle, Angama Mara offers a more modern flair to the traditional safari-style camps. There are glass-fronted tents, a swish Italian-esque design, and contemporary furnishings with pops of Maasai fabrics. There are 180-degree savannah views and gobsmacking sunsets every night, plus you’re never too far (10 minutes) from some of Africa’s best wildlife. There’s a library, gym, boutique, infinity pool, and butler service to tend to your every need.
Laikipia
Where to Stay: Ol Jogi
| Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 13 • Airport: Nanyuki Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Fitness Center • Spa • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
One of the most famous private estates in all of Africa, Ol Jogi is an exclusive-use 11-bedroom villa that has been custom-designed over decades. In addition to a resort-like pool, spa, hammam, gym, and hidden underground wine cellar, the most spectacular feature of Ol Jogi is the wildlife that roams just feet from the open-air living pavilion by day and night. Fronted by a watering hole, Ol Jogi welcomes herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and more so you can indulge in the gourmet cuisine while also getting a taste of wildlife. There’s even an underground viewing tunnel to get up close and personal with the animals. To make it even more private, Ol Jogi is surrounded by a 58,000 conservancy with a unique emphasis on endangered rhinos. Allow Micato to arrange a helicopter tour into Ol Jogi, where you’ll land in front of the house with giraffes looming in the distance.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Where to Stay: Mahali Mzuri
| Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 12 • Airport: Olare Airstrip Airport | Amenities: • Outdoor/infinity pool • Library • Spa • 3 Bars & Restaurants |
Sir Richard Branson’s 12-tented safari camp Mahali Mzuri, which means ‘beautiful place’ in Swahili, is one of just four camps in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy meaning game drives here are private, personal, and never jam-packed with safari vehicles. There’s an old-world tented safari vibe with a modern, colorful aesthetic and a front-row view of a plethora of wildlife. There’s a spa, heated outdoor pool, and attentive staff always ready to bring you your favorite cocktail or snack. Micato can arrange a private dinner under the African stars.
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