Ten UK members choose Kenya to:
- See the big plains, big skies and big animals while staying at luxurious safari lodges
- Relax at exclusive Indian Ocean retreats
- Visit some of the best game parks in the world
From the clear water and white beaches of the Indian Ocean coast, to the fertile hills of the Central Highlands and the rugged terrain of the Northern Province, members visit Kenya for its endless plains, big skies and up-close adventures with large animals. Ten UK Africa expert Gengis Khan gives his insider tips:
LUXURY LODGES
Archaeologists have regarded Kenya as the 'cradle of humanity' since the bones of modern human ancestors were found in the Great Rift Valley. Cotters Camp in the Maasai Mara National Park is a different kind of relic: a stylish remnant from the era of 1920s camping, with canopied verandahs and a tented library.
Members recommend visiting during July and September, when the annual migration of wildebeest to the reserve takes place. Talk to the team about staying at the camp.
Kenya has some of the best game parks in the world and Ten can arrange for you to stay at the most luxurious safari lodges. We can also make sure that you're best placed to view the so-called 'big five‘ animals: lions, African elephants, African buffalos, leopards and rhinoceros.
SAVANNAH SANCTUARY
Just three hours drive from Nairobi, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy has the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya and is currently creating the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. Once owned by Lord Delamere, one of the first British settlers in Kenya, the ranch house is regarded by some of our members as the most luxurious lodge in the country. It has stunning views across the savannah grasslands and riverine forests to the permanent glaciers of Mount Kenya.
On the high slopes of Mount Kenya itself, members particularly like the exclusive Mount Kenya Safari Club, a haunt of royals and film stars. The lawns and ponds of the Club straddle the equator, and the golf course is the only green in the world where you can tee off in the Northern hemisphere and putt in the Southern. Established by the late Hollywood film star William Holden, former guests have included Winston Churchill (supposedly a founding member), Lyndon Johnson and John Travolta. Guests invariably dress for dinner.
RELAX AT THE RANCH
Further north, the Borana Lodge is a working ranch and a wildlife reserve. Members can visit the high altitude rose farm, or spend the night listening to the lions in a bush fly-camp. Nearby, the community-owned Tassia Lodge is run by the local Maasai people, and built ecologically from local stone, wood and mud. The lodge rises out of the rocky bluff of the Mokogodo escarpment, surrounded by fig trees. We can book you into the hammock-strewn tower from where you can spend hours watching the elephants.
Even further north, and for more rugged adventures, talk to us about arranging safaris or camel treks in the volcanic Maralal region of the Northern Province, an area known for its wild, frontier-style atmosphere, international camel derby and the Samburu and Turkana people.
Our members love the Samburu Serena Hotel, with its chalets set among acacia groves on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. All rooms have private verandahs that overlook the river where the crocodiles feed.
INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
After a dusty safari the endless blue waters of the Indian Ocean are compelling. The Lamu Archipelago, a beautiful string of islands lined with coral reefs and fringed by mangrove forests, is popular with members. In Lamu Town, a strong sense of Swahili culture is created by the fishing dhows, smells of spices, street-side carpenters and traditional houses.
On Kiwayu Island, at the northern end of the archipelago, the Kiwayu Safari Village was the first of its kind in barefoot luxury accommodation. The village was where wildlife conservationist George Adamson and his lion Elsa, subject of the film ‘Born Free', once stayed.
It has now gained a reputation as a retreat for the rich and famous. Dolphins and whales are seen regularly off the island's coast, and green turtles lay their eggs on the beach. You can deep-sea fish, snorkel or water-ski, or just relax and dine on lobster, giant crab-claw and fish soup. The village has luxurious thatched bandas that blend into the sand dunes and are open to the sea.
The village is only visited by fishermen and accommodates no more than 36 guests, so ocean peace is guaranteed. Ask Ten UK about reservations.
