A hillside lodge in the Chyulu Hills facing Kilimanjaro, with horseback safaris, rooftop star beds and a sunken hide at the waterhole.
ol Donyo Lodge sits on the Mbirikani Ranch in the Chyulu Hills, between Tsavo and Amboseli, on land owned by the Maasai. The view is south across the plains to Kilimanjaro, and on a clear morning the mountain fills the horizon from your plunge pool. It is a good first or last stop on a Kenya safari: quieter than the Mara, and with more ways to spend the day.
The range of activities is the draw. You can drive, walk, ride, cycle or take a helicopter, and night drives are possible on the ranch. Intermediate and experienced riders can canter across the plains past giraffe and zebra. The two hides at the waterhole in front of the lodge, one of them sunken to elephant-foot level, are the place to spend a hot afternoon with a camera while big-tusked bulls come in to drink.
Every suite has a rooftop star bed, and sleeping out under the Kenyan sky with lions calling is the night people remember. The lodge suits active couples and families with older children who ride. It is not a big-cat-a-minute destination like the Mara; wildlife here is less dense, and the pleasure is in the variety of ways to see it.
A suite with an indoor lounge, covered and open verandas, a private swimming pool facing Kilimanjaro, indoor and outdoor showers and a rooftop star bed.
The two-bedroom family suite, with the same private pool and verandas and room for parents and children to spread out.
All meals and drinks are included, premium spirits and champagne among them. Lunch can be taken in the sunken hide at the waterhole, where elephants come to drink a few metres away, and evenings end at the fire deck under the stars.
Spa treatments are offered in the lodge spa or in your suite. Each suite has its own swimming pool, and the waterhole hides are a quiet place to spend a slow afternoon.
Families are welcome, with a Young Explorers programme that adapts activities to each child. Horse riding has a minimum age of 12 and a riding parent must accompany children aged 12 to 15.
| Accommodation | Eight deluxe suites and one two-bedroom family suite |
|---|---|
| Setting | Chyulu Hills, between Tsavo and Amboseli |
| Getting there | Scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson to the Chyulu airstrip, then a road transfer |
| Activities | Game drives, night drives, walks, horse riding, cycling, helicopter flights |
| Riding | Intermediate and experienced riders, minimum age 12, weight limit 95kg |
| Included | Meals, drinks, scheduled activities including riding, star bed night |
Chyulu Hills, Mbirikani Ranch, Kenya
A few of the things we plan for guests in Kenya.
From about July to October, wildebeest and zebra mass on the banks of the Mara River and plunge across past waiting crocodiles. Crossings are unpredictable, so give yourself at least four nights and a guide who will wait patiently. Camps in the north of the reserve or in Mara North are well placed.
The conservancies are leased from Maasai landowners, so your stay supports local families directly. Vehicle numbers are capped, and guides can go off-road to follow lions, leopards and cheetahs. Walking with Maasai guides and night drives are included in many camps. They are good all year, not just in migration season.
Laikipia is a high plateau of private ranches and conservancies north of Mount Kenya. Lewa and Ol Pejeta protect black and white rhinos, and Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth. Horse riding, camel walks and fly camping are all possible, which makes it a good choice for families.
Five nights in a private conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara, then a short hop to the Indian Ocean for five nights on Zanzibar's quieter north-east coast. A night in Nairobi on arrival breaks the long flight.
A safari for people who would rather walk than sit in a vehicle. Three nights on a camel-supported walking safari in Laikipia, three in Samburu country for the northern species, and two on the Laikipia Plateau to finish.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
