Luxury Kenya – something which is easily achievable! There are some truly beautiful lodges that have been recently built in Kenya. Top marks go to Ol Donyo Wuas, which is truly beautiful in the most wonderful location, facing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ol Lentille with AfricanExplorations.com

The other place is Ol Lentille located between Laikipia and the Matthews range on the Ol Lentille group ranch. The lodge sits high on a rock boulder filled kopje at 6000 feet. Therefore it is always cool in the mornings and late afternoons but the swimming pool lies in full sun and always a lovely warm area. All funds support educational bursaries for local children and students. The lodges décor is chic safari with a mix of elegant masks, teak, hordes of fireplaces, rare wooden furniture, soft sofas in neutral colours, grasses and hessian matting. The unique design and architecture makes use of the light and was designed with eco-responsible elements in mind as they gather rainwater for the reservoirs. All plants are indigenous. The lodge was built with the dignified purpose of making communities work for themselves. Certainly of all the Lodge projects started in Kenya, Ol Lentille is by far the most luxurious.

Shompole with AfricanExplorations.com

Shompole is another of our favourites. With the lodge, a two bedroomed villa and a private villa/house called 360 – situated in Magadi in the Great Rift valley. The game viewing is extraordinary here and the cool, white exteriors and interiors shield one from the harsh midday sun. Each room is built on three levels, starting with a cool pool at the bottom, with views over the plains, then an enormous bathroom with great views and then on top, is your bedroom, completely open fronted, with a large verandah and day bed, where you can flop onto and read, as well as a driftwood dining area on your deck. Romance doesn’t get better than this!

It is very easy these days to have a luxury Safari in Kenya, as there are just so many lodges and beautifully appointed tented camps to choose from. As any African afficionado knows, tents have moved on a long way in the last twenty years! Forget about pup tents, (unless one is flycamping), and any negative thoughts on boy scout camping should be banished! No, we are talking about lovely, spacious, sexy tents (yes, they can be!), as large as most apartments, with 360 degree views should one wish, persian rugs scattered on the floor and big cushions. Fantastic views and some with their own plunge pool! The most gorgeous tent I recently stayed in was at Sasaab, in Kenya. Sadly I was on my own, but this was somewhere to be shared with your partner – it was romance and bliss personified!

Luxury Kenya Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

The tents are set in the bush and one watches pairs of dik diks pronking through the trees. During the day, the tent is open fronted and open to the side, where the plunge pool is situated, overlooking the river. The front has equal views over the river with a couple of sun loungers placed on the grass. In the bedroom is a large sitting area with lots of cushions and bird and mammal books for perusing. There is even a yoga mat and plenty of places to practice yoga! There is a large bathroom with sliding tented doors with an inside shower and twin basin unit.  You also have your dedicated room steward.  If you feel like having more of a workout in a proper swimming pool,  then one can walk up to a mezzanine area outside with lots of large chairs and cushions  for relaxing and having a glass of wine, overlooking the swimming pool. There is also a spa.  Apart from game viewing in Samburu National Park, which is superb and excellent for elephant specifically (as well as having five different species which only occur north of the equator), they also offer camel walking and riding,  as well as walks, visits to the local community and the school. There are so many other lovely properties – in Lake Naivasha, we have a folly, which one takes over – and one can go for walks, visit Lake Nakuru  and take a boat around the lake whilst birdwatching.

Luxury Kenya safari with AfricanExplorations.com

There are umpteen gorgeous houses in Laikipia where one can stay – my favourite being a homestead which has been decorated by an Argentinian interior decorator – called the Italian cottage. Here one can ride, track wild dog, game view and walk and the wildlife is superb. Or perhaps take a private cottage in Laikipia with infinite views across the escarpment. On the coast, in Lamu, take a private villa – complete with your own skipper and boat for the day! Dine on lobster, crab and fresh fish each night! At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, there is a gorgeous lodge called Ol Donyo Wuas. This is the perfect place to acclimatise to Africa – sleep outside in your sala for a night or two, beneath the stars! They have elephants with the largest tusks here.  Go for wonderful walks, horse ride, have lovely picnic lunches and breakfasts laid out for you on a walk – the opportunities are endless, as are the views, luxury safari Kenya at its best!

Luxury Safari Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com