When it comes to wildlife safaris, few countries can compare to Kenya. From the spectacular Masai Mara which hosts the world-famous Great Wildebeest Migration, to Amboseli where Africa's largest elephants roam beneath stunning views of Africa's tallest mountain, to the breath-taking lakes of the Great Rift Valley with their incredible birdlife, to the numerous parks and conservancies that host the renowned Big Five, to the rich marine wildlife along the coastline, Kenya has no shortage of wildlife spectacles for visitors and locals alike to marvel at.
Additionally, the country has extremely varied and dramatic landscapes as well as an incredible diversity of cultures.
You can go on a wild adventure to explore Kenya's natural wonders while also enjoying lavish comfort and opulence by staying at the various world-class luxury safari lodges and camps across the country.
In addition to the luxury experience you will get at these facilities, however, you will also be contributing to conservation, sustainability, and local community livelihoods.
How Staying At Luxury Safari Lodges Contributes To Conservation, Sustainability, And Local Community Empowerment
The best 5-star safari lodges in Kenya are dedicated to wildlife conservation, environmental sustainability, and uplifting the local communities. They are built in a way that blends right into the landscape and has as little of an environmental footprint as possible.
They also contribute financially and in other ways to wildlife research and conservation projects in the areas they are based, and some run their own conservation projects as well.
They also support the local people through direct employment at the lodges and camps as well as running a wide range of community-empowerment programs that improve the quality of life of entire communities.
By staying at these lodges and camps, therefore, you are making a financial contribution to these worthy initiatives. Some lodges also offer visitors a chance to engage in hands-on participation in these projects, such as going on an anti-poaching patrol with rangers, joining a wildlife research team as they conduct their fieldwork, or visiting a local community education program.
The Best Luxury Safari Lodges In Kenya
Here is our pick of 10 of the best luxury safari lodges in Kenya. There are many more amazing luxury lodges so this list is definitely not exhaustive, but it gives you a taste of what to expect from the best luxury safari accommodations that Kenya has to offer.
1. Soroi Lion's Bluff Lodge - Lumo Conservancy, Tsavo
This beautiful lodge is located in the community-owned Lumo Wildlife Conservancy, which is part of a wildlife migration corridor that links Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks.
Situated on a ridge that rises high above the the plains, the Soroi Lion's Bluff Lodge offers breathtaking views of the vast savanna below. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise and spot various animals below as you have your breakfast or embark on an early morning game drive.
Sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and a wide range of Africa's other iconic wildlife are common at Lumo Conservancy and you are bound to have a great time on your game drives.
Apart from regular game drives, other special activities you can do while at Soroi Lion's Bluff include night game drives, guided bush walks, cultural visits, bush breakfasts, sundowners, an excursion to climb the nearby Taita Hills, and cultural visits to the local villages.
There is also a photographic hide where you can take intimate close-up photos of wildlife as they come to drink at a waterhole.
If you are keen on exploring the Tsavo area, definitely consider a stay at Soroi Lion's Bluff Lodge.
2. Elewana Elsa's Kopje - Meru National Park
This award-winning boutique lodge sits in the 870 km² (340 sq mi) Meru National Park, which is located along the mighty Tana River - Kenya's longest river - and has a higher diversity of wildlife species than most other parks in East Africa. Meru also hosts all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant).
Meru NP is one of Kenya's wildest national parks due to is remoteness. It is much less visited than most of Kenya's other parks as it is quite off the beaten track and is not on the main tourism circuits, giving visitors a sense of exclusivity and true wilderness immersion.
The lodge is located above the site of the legendary George Adamson’s original camp where he raised and released orphan lions (made famous by the 1960s film 'Born Free').
Each cottage comes with a large bedroom, open sitting room, veranda and spacious bathroom, each with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
Elewana Elsa's Kopje has won the Good Safari Guide’s ‘Best Safari Property in Africa’ award, and is widely renowned as one of Africa's most elegant lodges.
This lodge is also credited with saving Meru National Park from de-gazettement and conversion into rice plantations, as the park was making almost no tourism income before the lodge was built. A stay at Elewana Elsa's Kopje therefore supports the conservation of this amazing national park.
3. Angama Mara - Mara Triangle
Angama is an exceptionally beautiful safari lodge in the Mara Triangle, a privately managed conservancy in the Masai Mara (bordering the main Masai Mara National Reserve to the west).
The lodge is perched 1,000 feet above the plains on the Oloololo Escarpment that forms the Mara's western boundary and enjoys better views of the vast plains below than almost all other lodges in the Mara.
Each of the spacious suites features a private deck, where you can sip your morning coffee as you watch the sun rise over the seemingly endless savanna.
There is also an infinity pool where you can relax and cool off during the midday heat as you enjoy the beautiful vistas. During the Great Migration, you can also enjoy watching the huge wildebeest and zebra herds below as they fan out across the plains.
Angama Mara is the perfect base camp from which to explore the incredible Masai Mara. It is also ideal for those who love photography and want to capture stunning images of not just the majestic wildlife but the beautiful landscapes of the Mara as well. It's like a small slice of heaven that combines 5-star luxury with the enchanting wild beauty of the natural world.
4. Sasaab Camp - Samburu
Located in the heart of northern Kenya's wild and expansive Samburu landscape, Sasaab is a unique lodge that blends Moroccan and Swahili styles in its architecture and decor.
There are 11 canvas-sided rooms, each over 100m² (1076 sq ft) with an enormous bathroom, a private plunge pool, and breath-taking views across the Laikipia Plateau toward the jagged peaks of Mount Kenya.
The 11 rooms are comprised of different kinds of suits to choose from including double-tent rooms, riverside family suites, and poolside family suites.
The canvas walls with mosquito netting doors and windows mean most of sides can be opened up if you wish, allowing for uninhibited views and a cooling breeze. The lodge also features a main swimming pool, built on the hillside overlooking the river, as well as a lap pool located at the gym.
It is positioned above the Ewaso Nyiro River, the region's primary water source, which allows you to watch herds or elephants and other wildlife from the comfort of your room as they come down to drink. Sundowners at Sasaab are also mesmerizingly beautiful.
Sasaab offers the ultimate Samburu adventure safari experience. Not only will you go on thrilling game drives in search of magnificent wildlife such as African wild dog, cheetah, lion, leopard, elephant, rich birdlife, and the "Northern Kenya Special Five" (Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich)...
But you will also have the chance to do a variety of immersive experiences for a deeper connection with the Samburu culture, people, and landscape. These include camel-back safaris, walking safaris, and cultural visits to the local Samburu community.
As a guest at Sasaab Camp, you'll also have the option of going on an exhilarating helicopter safari where you will get to see many of northern Kenya's natural wonders from the air (as well as land at some spots).
These include the rugged escarpments of the Great Rift Valley, the Suguta Valley (one of the hottest places on earth and sometimes nicknamed "The Valley of Death"), vast desolate deserts with enormous sand dunes, a crystal clear crocodile-filled oasis in the middle of the desert, the flamingo-lined Lake Logipi, the enormous Lake Turkana (also known as 'the Jade Sea' - the world's largest permanent desert lake), as well as volcanic craters and lava flows.
This thrilling adventure is a photographer's dream as very few photographers have captured these landscapes.
5. Sarova Shaba Game Lodge - Shaba National Reserve
Situated in a shady grove of trees along the Ewaso Nyiro River, an oasis in the otherwise dry Shaba National Reserve, Sarova Shaba offers the perfect serene and luxurious base camp from which to explore the remote wilderness of Shaba.
Shaba National Reserve, in northern Kenya's Isiolo County, borders the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. This complex of reserves is part of a much larger wildlife-rich semi-arid savanna ecosystem centered on the Ewaso Nyiro River.
It is a beautiful wilderness area that provides you the chance to see several unique animals that are not present in most of Kenya's other parks and reserves, including the so-called "Northern Kenya Special Five" (Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich).
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is renowned not only for its beautiful design and location but also for its very friendly staff and exceptionally delicious food, which receives a lot of praise from many of the lodge's guests.
There are 85 rustic & spacious rooms all facing the banks of the beautiful Ewaso Nyiro River. The lodge also offers deeply relaxing massage services.
6. Giraffe Manor - Nairobi
This elegant hotel in Nairobi is not just a luxurious retreat tucked away from the busy city but it also borders the Giraffe Centre, a sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. The giraffes from the Centre can freely walk in and out of Giraffe Manor and offer guests at the hotel a chance to closely interact with them.
Guests are able to feed the giraffes, including from the hotel windows at breakfast, and admire their beautiful coat patterns from up close.
It is the perfect place to begin your Kenyan safari adventure before heading out into the more remote, wilder areas of the country. You can equally choose it as the last stop on your safari, for a final unique wildlife interaction experience, before heading back home.
7. Elewana Tortilis Camp - Kitirua Conservancy, Amboseli
Elewana Tortilis Camp provides the perfect luxury accommodation for a few days spent in Amboseli, watching its majestic elephants and wide range of other wildlife.
Tortilis Camp is named after the flat-topped umbrella thorn tree (Acacia tortilis) and is located on a hill adorned by a beautiful Acacia tortilis woodland, in a private conservancy bordering Amboseli National Park.
The tents are very spacious, with king or twin beds and elegant bathrooms en suite. There is a main lounge, bar, and dining area, all exquisitely-built with natural materials and thatched roofs.
The Private House and Family Tent are located slightly separate to the main camp, up on the hill where they share a pool. Tortilis Camp is a gold-rated eco-lodge and is 100% solar-powered.
Amboseli is best known for its large herds of elephants as well as having some of the biggest elephants in Africa - the so-called "Super Tuskers" with tusks so long that they almost touch the ground as the elephant walks.
One particular bull nicknamed "Craig" is regarded as the biggest elephant in Africa. Amboseli also provides the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain and the world's tallest free-standing mountain.
This combination of the world's largest land animals and world's tallest free-standing mountain makes for incredible photographic opportunities.
8. Segera Retreat - Laikipia
Nestled within the beautiful Laikipia Plateau of central Kenya, Segera Retreat offers a blend of luxury and eco-consciousness. Its lavish villas, boasting private gardens and sun terraces, provide a tranquil escape into nature.
Beyond opulent accommodations, Segera is a hub for conservation initiatives and community involvement, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the region's rich biodiversity while simultaneously contributing to its conservation.
At Segera, guests delve into a world of sustainable safari experiences. Embark on expert-led bush walks, wander through lush botanical gardens, and go on exhilarating game drives to encounter Africa's iconic wildlife. This retreat goes beyond traditional tourism, fostering a deeper connection to the environment while supporting local communities as well.
Committed to preserving the natural splendor of Laikipia, Segera Retreat epitomizes environmental stewardship. By prioritizing sustainability and biodiversity, it offers guests a chance to engage with nature responsibly, ensuring a memorable and impactful safari experience.
9. Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp - Olderkesi Conservancy, Masai Mara
Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp invites you to relive the experiences of early European explorers in East Africa while also enjoying modern luxuries and comforts that they did not have.
It combines the charm of a classic, vintage safari experience reminiscent of the early safari era of the 1920s with modern luxury. This unique, nostalgic safari experience is what makes Cottar's truly stand out among Kenya's luxury safari lodges.
The camp is located in the Olderkesi Conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve on the Tanzanian border. The area offers an abundance of wildlife, as is typical of the Masai Mara overall, but with guaranteed privacy and exclusivity.
Renowned for its expert guides, Cottar's promises exhilarating game drives and immersive bush walks, allowing you to enjoy the Mara's amazing wildlife in a deeply enriching way.
Moreover, the camp's commitment to environmental conservation and community empowerment is truly admirable. It allows guests to experience the magic of a bygone era while also being in alignment with modern conservation ethos. A stay at Cottar's is an experience that you are unlikely to forget any time soon.
10. ol Donyo Lodge - Chyulu Hills
Run by Great Plains Conservation, ol Donyo Lodge is not just a beautiful luxury safari camp in the heart of the scenic Chyulu Hills, it is part and parcel of a greater mission to promote sustainable conservation tourism.
Great Plains Conservation runs conservation projects in various African countries that aim to integrate commerce, communities, and wildlife in a sustainable way for the long-term benefit of Africa's ecosystems and its people. A stay at ol Donyo Lodge provides a direct financial contribution to this mission.
ol Donyo Lodge is located in the 111,000-hectare private Mbirikani Group Ranch owned by local Maasai community landowners in the heart of the Chyulu Hills - a 100-kilometer long series of hills in southern Kenya, lying between Amboseli to the west, Tsavo to the east, and Mount Kilimanjaro to the south.
These hills were formed from the volcanic eruptions of Mount Kilimanjaro over 360,000 years ago. They are one of Kenya's hidden gems as they are not visited by many people.
The lodge has 8 luxurious deluxe suites and one 2-bedroomed family suite. In-room spa treatments are also available, offering extra comfort on your private retreat in this beautiful corner of southern Kenya's wilderness.
There is also a sunken photography hide that offers guests the opportunity to photograph wild animals as they come to drink at a waterhole. Guests can even stay in the hide overnight if they wish to photograph nocturnal wildlife.
Apart from amazing game drives and photography at the hide, other activities you can enjoy at ol Donyo Lodge include horseback safaris, guided walking safaris, mountain bike safaris, and bush breakfasts.
These activities allow you to explore the Chyulu Hills in unique and exhilarating ways before returning to Relais and Châteaux quality meals served at the lodge for dinner.
A safari in Kenya can be a truly memorable adventure if planned well.
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