Olepangi Farm lies on the equator and in the foothills of Mt Kenya. On the farm's northern boundary are cottages which look out onto the stunning 36,000-acre Ole Naishu Ranch, a working cattle ranch full of wildlife. This is the home of the Lucy family, long-term residents of Kenya. Our accommodation emphasises comfort, stunning views and creating a true African experience. The Lucy’s have spent a good portion of their lives traveling the world in obscure places, collecting indigenous textiles, quirky antique furniture and beautiful objects d’art. There are four double and one twin cottages all en suite and all decorated in antique four-poster beds from the British Raj, fine Persian carpets and comfy chairs designed to encourage relaxation and reflection. Go for a walk or a ride, kick up your feet, read a book, relax, enjoy the great food and get ready for roasted marshmallows under the African sky.
Images
Rooms
Facilities
View of Mt Kenya from the farmCredit: David Beach
Aerial view of the farmCredit: Elizabeth Loker
View of the Party HouseCredit: Elizabeth Loker
From the living room of the party houseCredit: Elizabeth Loker
The living room in the Party HouseCredit: Elizabeth Loker
Relax with the sublime long views to Ole NaishuCredit: Elizabeth Loker
A beautiful double room decorated with antique Heriz and Caucasian carpets and featuring a 7 foot wide British Raj bed made in India and dating from about 1840. It would have been used by a senior officer of the British military. It features stunningly carved bare-breasted angels in the head board. Cheeky!
Perfect for families, the Burton and Speke Cottages are joined and are decorated with fine antique carpets collected over many years and beautiful Bombay Beds popular with the British Raj. Made of teak and more than 150 years old. Burton Cottage is a double and Speke cottage is a twin.
A stunning twin bed room decorated with an antique Persian carpet and two beautiful 5 feet wide British Raj beds which would have been used by junior British military officers.
The centrepiece to Olepangi Farm . . . position as if it is "hanging" over the river below, it features it's own living/ dining room space downstairs and double ensuite bedroom upstairs with a beautiful outdoor balcony with long views north and dramatic views over the valley. Also decorated with antique furniture and fine antique Persian carpets. The Round House also features it's own private outdoor bathroom with a "loo with a view" and outdoor shower perfect for a hot shower under the stars. With it's own dining table, it's the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two or intimate family dinner.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Barbeque Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Library, Malaria Free, Mobile Connectivity, Restaurant, Secure Parking, TV Room
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Detached Private Bathroom, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fireplace, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Satellite / Cable Television, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Verandah
Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Babysitting Service
Your Stay
3 Nights
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Speke's Camp | Masai Mara
Speke’s Camp is a small and hosted camp located in a private area of the Maasai Mara on the border of the Reserve; the camp enjoys fabulous access to some of the best gaming areas in the Mara including Rhino Ridge, Musiara Swamp and Paradise Plains.
The eight traditional safari tents with en-suite bathrooms are situated alongside the Olare Orok River under the shade of majestic indigenous trees. Game drives are with first-rate Maasai guides into the National Park and can include bush breakfasts and sundowners.
Speke's charm lies in the fact this is a simple-comfortable traditional safari camp, hosted with all the necessities, yet within an affordable price-bracket.
Images
Rooms
Units
Facilities
Stories round the camp fireCredit: Neil Thomas
Beautiful 'double' tents Credit: Neil Thomas
Relaxing in the mess
A view from above!Credit: Philp Briggs/Kellie Ryan
Exclusive vehicle useCredit: Philp Briggs/Kellie Ryan
Settle into camp lifeCredit: Philp Briggs/Kellie Ryan
Our Tents
Speke's has seven traditional safari tents with double, twin or triple bed arrangements, a wardrobe and trunk. All have gorgeous verandas facing across the seasonal Olare Orak River below or the across into the surrounding wilderness.
All tents are en-suite with traditional bucket showers (hot water) and flushing toilets. The bathrooms are also equipped with eco-friendly toiletries from Cinnabar Green.
Helpful room stewards are on had to help with any request you have.
A Family Pod is available for families, this consists of two tents close together than the other tents.
Traditional safari tents with double or twin bed arrangements, wardrobe and trunk.
En-suite with traditional bucket showers (hot water) and flushing toilets. The bathrooms are also equipped with eco-friendly toiletries.
1 family tent with 1 double bed and nearby tents with 2 beds for children, wardrobe, writing table and trunk.
En-suite with traditional bucket showers (hot water) and flushing toilets. The bathrooms are also equipped with eco-friendly toiletries
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Meal on Request, Private Vehicle Available
Room Facilities
Dressing Gowns, En-Suite, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Pure Cotton Linen, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Services
Airport Shuttle (Complimentary), Room Service
Your Stay
2 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Soroi Lions Bluff Lodge | Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary
Lions Bluff is a striking lodge located on the top of a bluff that overlooks amazing views of the plains of the LUMO sanctuary and Mt Kilimanjaro beyond them. Iain Leckie, his wife Helen and their family had been camping on LUMO sanctuary for many years and fell in love with its great expanse of open land and the beauty that it holds. They wanted to become more involved in the community and the protection of the sanctuary itself so when the opportunity arose to take over this little community lodge they jumped at it. There are only 12 semi-tented bandas at Lions Bluff which are all beautifully created, each with a fantastic view over the plains below. Each room is en-suite with either a double or twin beds, and one family unit. The lodge is called Lions Bluff for a reason – the area is home to a pride of lions that can be frequently seen alongside the other big five that roam the savannahs beneath the lodge. Ideal for everyone looking to stay in the Tsavo West area or looking for a safari near the beach. Truly the best lodge here.
Main Lounge and Dining AreaMain Lounge and Dining Area
Infinity PoolInfinity Pool
Magnificent viewsMagnificent views
Private SundownerSundowner
Bush BreakfastBush Breakfast
Infinity Pool
Equipped With:
King-size bed with duck-down feather duvets
En-suite bathroom
Indoor & outdoor shower
Bespoke organic soaps and care products
Hair dryer
Mini Fridge
Tea & Coffee making facilities
Filtered Water station
Writers Desk
Panoramic outside deck with seating
Equipped With:
King-size bed
Separate room with an additional 2 single beds
En-suite bathroom
Indoor & outdoor shower
Bespoke organic soaps and care products
Hair dryer
Mini Fridge
Tea & Coffee making facilities
Filtered Water station
Writers Desk
Panoramic outside deck with seating
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Secure Parking, Spa
Enjoy a full or half day discovering the different animals and plants of the Tsavo West eco-system in the company of your guide and tracker, who will be sure to follow the route that offers the best wildlife viewing. With warm temperatures during the afternoon, the animals are most active in the early morning; we, therefore, suggest you get an early start with a mid-morning picnic breakfast on the LUMO plains. Head back to the lodge for lunch and a siesta, or continue your day game spotting after a traditional bush lunch under a tree.
Alternatively, discover various nocturnal species on a night game drive after stopping for a sundowner to enjoy the stunning sunset with your drink of choice in hand. You can also head out for your night game drive after dinner with warm Shukas (Maasai blankets). This is the exclusive domain of hunters such as lions and leopards and the only time you may catch a glimpse of such elusive nocturnal creatures as aardvark and Lumo's melanistic serval cat.
Your vehicle will also be equipped with a powerful hand-held lamp, which can be used to sweep the bush for sightings. Children over 5 years old are welcome and enjoy this exciting glimpse of what happens when they are usually in bed.
Discover the flora and fauna of the LUMO sanctuary while on foot. Nature walks around the lodge are especially interesting to children, guided by a ranger and our resident Taita naturalist, meander around Lions Bluff and discover tracks and signs of the bush. Learn which roots and leaves are edible, which are used by the local people to treat tummy aches or put spells on your enemies. Examine spider nests, collect quartz rock, or leaves to make a refreshing tea. Identify birds by their call and watch them in the bush.
With over 1,070 species of birds, Kenya has the second-highest country bird list in Africa, while the area around Tsavo West boasts 600 recorded species. Ranging from giant herons to tiny sunbirds, the diversity of African bird life is startling in its color and vibrancy. Additionally, the Lions Bluff area boasts a number of endemic species, such as the globally threatened Taita Thrush, Taita White-eye, Taita Apalis, Abbott's starling, and the Southern Banded Snake Eagle.
For the amateur and serious ornithologist alike, we offer a range of half or full-day outings that can be custom-tailored to the interests of your ornithological party. The services of a professional ranger and up-to-date bird checklists are included, and picnics, bush lunches, camp suppers, and sundowners can be scheduled to suit your needs.
As part of our extensive eco-interface, we offer cultural visits to local villages.
Our visitors are invited to enter a typical ethnic home, watch a dance display, or beading and handicrafts being done. You will have the opportunity to see how the farmers manage diverse crops such as dry land beans, and Aloe Vera plants, and pastoral activity, such as cattle and goat maintenance. Often they will also be invited to purchase locally-made items- much more authentic than those available in the usual gift shops.
If you are ready to go further you can be driven to Wundanyi, about an hour and a half from Lions Bluff, to explore the skull caves. The caves are collapsing but the skulls remain; the youngest dates back to the 1920s. Nearby one can visit the small waterfalls and enjoy the beautiful landscape dubbed 'Little Switzerland' because of its stunning hilly terrain and breathtaking views.
Drive an extra half hour to reach Ngang'ao forest, an untouched rainforest where one can be guided through thick, dripping vegetation in the hope of seeing rare birds and butterflies which only exist here.
Awake with the African Sunrise and take a drive in our 4x4 vehicle to an area where it is safe to walk in the wilderness. Accompanied by Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary’s skilled rangers, walk amongst the tracks, signs, flora, and fauna of this protected area. This is a gentle ramble, suitable for all ages for those with an enquiring mind about the world around them. Allow our rangers to enjoy showing you the environment in which they grew up, and their intimate knowledge of the insects, birds, tracks, and signs. Learn which bushes are used to cure tummy aches, which store water underground and how to light a fire without using matches. Our vehicle will follow you at a discreet distance so that, should you tire, you can simply return to the lodge. Children over 12 years of age are welcome.
Ideally, a bush walk or an early morning game drive culminates in the best meal of the day being enhanced by being served under a tree, enjoying one of our many stunning views within the Sanctuary. Fresh fruit, juice, tea, and coffee and a cooked breakfast to your requirements will be freshly prepared under a nearby tree, while you relax and soak up the atmosphere of the bush through which you have just meandered.
Climb the beautiful Taita Hills. Drive through lush, mountainous Taita where the climate is perfect and the views stunning over what is known to the locals as ‘ little Switzerland’. The highest, Vuria (2,300 meters above sea level), is easily identified by the mobile phone mast on top. It is possible to drive to this point. Eyale is lower and can only be climbed on foot. About 45 minutes of steep walking from where you leave your vehicle, to where the view is panoramic. The vegetation is montane forest and here you can spot the rare Taita Apalis, the Ross Turacos, the Cabanis Greenbul, Syke monkeys among other mammals. A packed picnic meal is provided on request.
Mzima Springs are a series of four natural springs in Tsavo National Park, that produces an incredible 250 million litres of fresh water a day. The source of the spring rises in the Chyulu Hills and provides the bulk of Mombasa’s fresh water. The springs are resident to hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a wide variety of birdlife. There’s an underwater viewing chamber, where you can see the fish, in the clear waters. ‘Shetani’ means ‘devil’ in Kiswahili. The flows were formed a few hundred years ago. The local people believe that it was the devil himself emerging from the earth. This vast expanse of folded black lava spreads for 50 kilometers across the savannah near the Chyulu Hills. The last major eruption here is believed to have taken place around 200 years ago. Nearby are the Shetani Caves, which are also the result of volcanic activity. Picnic lunch included. Park fees are payable direct and not included.
A great deal of the World War 1 war fought, won and lost by the European super powers and their allies in our backyard. Lions Bluff is situated close to the strategic arena in the East African campaign of World War 1. All that remains of this bitter and bloody campaign are the gravestones of soldiers in the Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Maktau and Voi together with the detritus of war on the remains of nearby hilltop forts and camps. The tour includes a visit to the Taita Museum, a walk and sundowners at the battlefield area where you can enjoy a drink listening to the WW1 stories narrated by our guides and rangers that have been trained by great historians.
As a professional photographer and an avid safari traveler, the quest for the perfect shot is never-ending. Our Photographic Hide offers an optimal photographic experience through meticulous design. Elevated slightly above ground level, the Hide provides a unique vantage point, putting photographers at eye level with their subjects. This perspective creates intimate and powerful images that immerse the viewer in the animals' world. The viewing slots allow a 180-degree panoramic view of the watering hole and the surrounding landscape. In addition, the Hide is equipped with comfortable seating and ample space for tripods and other equipment, ensuring photographers can focus on capturing the perfect shot.
Your Stay
2 Nights
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Fast Facts
5 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 12
Special Interests: Adventure, Battlefields, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Gourmet, Hiking, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife