Best of Kenya

The Elsa’s Kopje guides know their backyard intimately. All the guides are Bronze, Silver and Gold level KPSGA certified.

Meru’s rich wildlife diversity includes rare species specific to Northern Kenya, such as Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, as well as an abundance of common game. An 84km2 sanctuary at the heart of the park is home to some 70+ Black and White Rhino.

Game drives are included in a Game Package.

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy a slower pace. Talk a walk up to the very top of Mughwango Hill, enjoying a 360 degree view from snow-capped Mt Kenya in the west to the vast Meru plains to the east.

Bush walks are included in a Game Package.

Alongside a freshly brewed coffee, drink in the sights and sounds of the African bush over a full breakfast, served with a view over the plains or along the Tana river.

Bush breakfasts are included in a Game Package.

“Sundowners” are an old tradition after a day of safari: stop and watch the spectacular sunset with, traditionally, a gin and tonic in hand.

Sundowners and drinks are included in a Game Package.

Take your rod, afternoon tipple with some canapés and a good book, and settle on the palm lined banks of one of Meru’s many rivers. The fishing is fun, with plentiful catfish, tilapia and barbell.

Fishing is included in a Game Package.

Elsa’s Kopje works with closely with the local community, and there are ways that you can get involved. For example, visit the Ura Gate Primary School that is supported by Elsa's Kopje.

School visit included in Game Package accommodation but guests are encouraged to donate towards ongoing projects, or purchase school books and supplies.

Elsa's Kopje has one of the most memorable spa's of any lodge, with a breathtaking view from the massage table. Gushing reviews and regular bookings of second and third massages during a stay are testament to this lavish indulgence to the senses.

Massages can be booked during your stay and are at an additional cost.

From the cool waters infinity pool perched on the side of the hill, the views are indeed infinite! The pool has bar service.

The Private House has its own private swimming pool.

With the whole of the eastern half of the Conservancy to itself, and with strict limits on tourism numbers with the Conservancy, guests can enjoy an almost private game viewing experience. Although a vast area, the Conservancy is fenced, (fencing of wildlife areas is very unusual in Kenya), specifically to protect the rhino. The game driving is outstanding with plentiful rhino, elephant, buffalo, the rare Grevy's zebra and resident predators, to a backdrop of beautiful views of snow-capped Mt. Kenya.

Elewana Lewa Safari Camp’s walking guides are trained wildlife rangers from the Conservancy. Apart from their knowledge on rhino conservation, they are also knowledgeable about the tracks and botany. Most walks leave from camp.

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems.

Elewana Lewa Safari Camp offers horse rides – you can get very close to plains game as they see you as one of their own! Horse riding is for experienced riders only, as although it is a gentle walk on very well behaved horses, you are in the wild, and need to be able to bring a situation under control when horses are spooked. Horse riding is subject to availability and there is an additional charge. Riders will be requested to fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their competency.

Elewana Lewa Safari Camp also offers camel rides – less elegant than horseriding, but suitable for those without riding skills, the camels are led by Samburu handlers and it is picturesque experience. Camel riding is subject to availability and there is an additional charge. There are only three riding camels available.

Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colours, and the gentle breeze.

Bush breakfasts are a chance to enjoy a full breakfast, al fresco, in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife.

“Sundowners” are a safari tradition after a day of safari: stop and watch the spectacular sunset with, traditionally, a gin and tonic in hand!

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy borders the Samburu community conservancies of Tassia and Il Ngwesi in the arid lowlands of the north, and many of the staff at Elewana Lewa Safari Camp come from this area. Elewana Lewa Safari Camp offers visits to neighbouring local Samburu homesteads. The Samburu live in semi-permanent huts known as Manyattas and it is the role of the wife to construct the hut from cattle dung and grass. The families will show you round their home for a fee (payable separately, ask reception for details), and will want to take the opportunity to sell their traditional handicrafts.

A visit to the local school is also possible and you may choose to help support it by buying books or other needed items.

The lush Ngare Ndare forest borders the Lewa Consevancy, and is wonderful for a day trip of exploring. Swim in crystal clear mountain springs, walk along a canopy bridge above high above the forest floor, and enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch in the shade of a dense and beautiful forest.

Enjoy the cool waters in the heat of the day!

Within the lush green gardens, the giraffe design pool has bar service and board games as well as table tennis.

There are sunbeds and a shaded lounge area, perfect for reading and relaxing during the day.

Mara Expedition Camp’s two specially designed Land Cruisers are totally open-sided (a rarity in the Mara) and offer 300-degree views which provide ideal opportunities for photography. Under the guidance of our top guides, each vehicle comes fully equipped with a stocked fridge and photography tools.

Mara Expedition Camp has two professional camera sets, each with a camera body and lenses. These are available on a complimentary basis to guests on a first-come-first-serve basis. Photos will be downloaded to a USB drive on guest’s departure. A limited number of high-quality binoculars are also available for guest’s complimentary use during their stay.

Hot-air ballooning over the Masai Mara is available at an additional cost, and is a truly stunning way to experience the landscape and an unforgettable sunrise.

The Naboisho Women's Group cultural experience is supported by the Great Plains Foundation, enabling the group to purchase raw materials in bulk including a tailor hired to work on leather products. Available to guests staying at Great Plains Conservation camps all profits from the sale of their wares are ploughed back into the women's business training to ensure this group is self-sustainable. Items available for purchase include, but are not limited to, beaded & leather products, coasters, bracelets, necklaces, belts, dog collars, earrings, and decorated dawa sticks for example.

Mara Expedition Camp offers guests a guided bicycle experience to exercise after their morning safari drives. The riding takes place on open plains and the landing strip.

Besides just exercising, riding among plain game, gazelles, topis, impalas, and warthogs is also fun.

These bicycles are available upon request, and a safari vehicle is always on standby during the riding activity.

Strong populations of wildlife find their habitat in and around the ol Donyo Lodge environs. While the "Big Five" are here - rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo - they are often elusive; however, cheetah, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, and giraffe make for frequent viewing. Guests are able to track wildlife by open safari vehicles, as well as by foot, or horseback (described below). The best times to be out are from first light for the morning drive, and from 4-4:30 pm for the afternoon drives. These are the times when most of the action is likely to happen. Night drives give you the opportunity to discover a range of unusual and nocturnal animals and view the breathtaking African stars. These drives commence after dinner service at approximately 9:30 pm. Please remember that the vehicles are open and it can be quite chilly in the early mornings and evenings, so take very warm clothing with you on your drives. There are also shukha (blankets) and lined ponchos provided in the vehicles if you get cold while out.

With 275,000 acres of open plains and the dramatic, ancient volcanic soil Chyulu Hills to explore at ol Donyo Lodge this vast region provides a truly unique riding experience. Riding is available all year round at no additional cost.

RIDE OPTIONS
INTERMEDIATE AND ABOVE
For Intermediate riders and above we offer 2 to 4 hour rides exploring the concession. Enjoy exhilarating medium to fast-paced canters and encounters with our famous big Tuskers.
For this riding option, you need to be riding fit, confident and competent, ride with an independent seat and be able to control an easy horse at all paces over uneven terrain.
PLAINS RIDE
Novice riders can enjoy a gentle 60/90 minute ride exploring the open plains.
All riders will need to have a short assessment in our arena prior to setting out to ensure all guests riding out can control their horses and are comfortable at a short trot. If riders do not have the required experience they will be offered a lesson in the arena instead. Plains riders will be given some instruction, a minimum requirement is a short trot.

Another huge benefit of staying outside national parks is that here we are allowed to appreciate the stunning landscape around us on foot, peacefully without the noise of engines. The Chyulu Hills were designed for walking and hiking. We highly recommend this unforgettable experience. Our resident tracker will accompany you and your guide and will carry a firearm. Your guide and the lodge managers will be able to suggest different walks depending on fitness and your interests, such as birding, spelunking, or exploring the plains. Each is a voyage of discovery unveiling secrets of the bush, wildlife movements, medicinal plants and uniquely adapted flora and fauna. Wear good walking shoes, a hat and camouflage-coloured clothing so as not to alarm the wildlife, and take binoculars. Your guide will have water for you.

This is a good opportunity to exercise but also another way of viewing the landscape and wildlife in the area. We recommend cycling during the cooler hours of the day, either in the early morning or late afternoon. Cycling usually takes place on the plains heading toward the kopje or el Mau.

Just below the lodge’s main area is our famous ‘log-pile’ hide named as such because of its elaborate and impressive interwoven construction. A short walk with a cool drink in hand, and you’ve arrived at a secret shaded spot from which to view the many mammals that come in for a drink. This is a tremendous experience, especially during the midday siesta.

Our proximity to Amboseli National Park gives the opportunity for full-day excursions to the park. Guests depart the lodge after breakfast for a leisurely drive across the plains and through small villages. We usually arrive at the park in the mid-morning and depart in the mid-afternoon (with a picnic lunch and a full selection of drinks). We have selected this time of day as it coincides with the time when the guests from the other nearby larger lodges are on siesta, and vehicle density is at its lowest. This is also the time when the elephant and plains game congregate around the waterways and marshes in high density. This excursion can only be guaranteed in advance, please book it at the time of reservation and is subject to additional cost.

ol Donyo Lodge is the ultimate family safari destination. The Young Explorers program is designed to enhance both a child's and a family’s overall safari, weaving themes of conservation and culture into each fun activity with the intention of giving children tangible examples and moments to bring back to their peer group. The future of conservation is, after all, in the hands of these young ambassadors.

We offer a full range of activities from bush survival skills including making sling shots, bows and arrows and creating fire using traditional Maasai techniques, to watercolor painting and so much more.

FITNESS

- Yoga mat, and light weights available in each suite;

- Stationary exercise bikes:

- Guests can enjoy a run/walk on the airstrip.

A Bell 505 helicopter is available, and guests can enjoy 180-degree views with a choice of aerial scenic tours. These include viewing the Chyulu Hills, Amboseli, and Mount Kilimanjaro from the air. In addition to the scenic tours, guests can also visit Amboseli to explore this area with a Great Plains guide and safari drive as well as reserve helicopter transfers from Nairobi to our Mara-based safari camps or Nairobi and ol Donyo Lodge .