Kenya is one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations, home to legendary wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage. From the vast plains of the Masai Mara to the elephant strongholds of Amboseli and the untamed wilderness of Samburu, this East African gem offers a diverse range of safari experiences. One of the most important decisions when planning your adventure is choosing where to stay, and that’s where our expert selection of Kenya Safari Lodges comes in.
Whether you’re searching for front-row seats to the Great Migration, eco-conscious luxury in remote conservancies, or family-friendly hideaways with educational experiences, Kenya’s lodges and camps deliver it all. We’ve handpicked the best safari lodges in Kenya, each offering something unique, from prolific wildlife encounters to breathtaking views and deep-rooted community and conservation connections. These properties aren’t just places to rest your head; they’re an integral part of your safari story.
In this guide, we reveal our best Kenya safari lodges and camps, carefully curated for 2025 based on expert insight and on-the-ground experience. Each one is a standout in its own right, representing the very best that Kenya has to offer. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller returning for more, these safari lodges promise adventure, sustainable travel, and an extraordinary journey into the heart of the wild.
Perched on a quiet bend of the Mara River, this tented camp sits within earshot of snorting hippos and the thunder of the Great Migration’s river crossings. Its position on the reserve’s western boundary means game drives can dive straight into predator territory at dawn, often reaching a crossing point before the crowds arrive. Candle-lit dinners on the deck and naturalist-led star-talks round off each wild-filled day.
Days begin with coffee delivered to your canvas veranda and end beside a crackling fire, swapping sightings with guides who grew up in neighbouring communities. Low-impact solar power, reverse-osmosis drinking water and locally sourced produce makes sure that your stay is as gentle on the ecosystem as it is thrilling for you. Photographers love the golden light that bathes the riverine forest, while birders tick off kingfishers, bee-eaters and African fish-eagles without leaving camp.
Named after the famed “Out of Africa” author, Karen Blixen Camp occupies a shaded stretch of the Mara River in the community-run Mara North Conservancy. Canvas suites gaze across the water to the Oloololo Escarpment, and elephants often join you at lunch, splashing in the shallows below. Because the conservancy limits vehicle numbers, you can enjoy uncrowded sightings of big cats and nomadic herds on both day and night drives.
The camp’s Danish founders pioneered a carbon-neutral model that funds local schools and ranger salaries, so your stay directly supports the community whose land you are exploring. When you’re not on game drives, practise yoga on the river deck, visit the on-site beading cooperative or drift over the plains in a hot-air balloon. Guiding standards are superb, with many Maasai guides trained to a silver-rating level.
If you want a front-row seat to the “Greatest Show on Earth”, Entim is the place. Its exclusive tented suites sit almost flush with the Mara River, so you can watch wildebeest hurdling crocodile-filled channels while still in your slippers. The camp lies in the reserve’s very heart, giving guides a choice of multiple crossing points within minutes.
After the herds move on, the river remains a predator magnet, and photographic hides allow low-level shots of lion, hyena and fish-eagle action. Interiors balance classic safari style with modern comforts (think brass basins and Wi-Fi), and the chef’s kitchen produces restaurant-quality fare despite the remote location. Night drives in the neighbouring conservancy extend the adventure after dark.
Saruni Mara is a boutique lodge that features a select number of themed cottages, hidden in a forested valley. Each cottage is individually decorated, from the Literary Room stacked with African classics to the Observatory with its private stargazing deck. The seclusion means elephants, bushbuck and even leopards often wander through the lawn at night.
Saruni’s guiding philosophy centres on the Maasai culture, pairing every guest with a Maasai guide-and-tracker team who interpret the land through traditional knowledge. After a day photographing cheetahs on the open plains, return for a massage at the Maasai-inspired Well-Being Space, followed by communal dining hosted by the charismatic owner-managers. Conservation fees support the conservancy’s anti-poaching efforts and local schools.
Set within 150 acres of lush grassland on the southern shores of Lake Naivasha, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge is a peaceful retreat that blends natural beauty with comfort and convenience. Towering acacia trees, colourful gardens, and resident giraffe, zebra, and waterbuck create a serene safari atmosphere right on the lodge’s expansive grounds. The architecture is inspired by traditional African rondavels, with spacious, sunken lounges and large bay windows that frame sweeping lake views, and fiery Rift Valley sunsets.
Perfectly located for exploring the Great Rift Valley, the lodge gives access to Crescent Island for guided walking safaris among giraffes and wildebeest, as well as boat trips to see hippo pods and prolific birdlife. After a day of exploring, relax by one of two swimming pools, enjoy a lakeside sundowner, or watch resident colobus monkeys play in the trees. It’s one of the best safari lodges in Kenya for travelers who want to slow down and enjoy nature at their own pace.
Kenya’s original northern lodge, Samburu Game Lodge sits on ten leafy riverside acres where crocs bask below the Crocodile Bar and flocks of vulturine guinea-fowl patrol the lawns. Its classic thatched rooms stretch along the Ewaso Nyiro, and herds of elephants frequently cross within binocular range.
Age has bestowed character, not complacency: the Vulture View bar stages daily vulture feeds for raw photographic drama, while renovated cottages add air-conditioning and net-canopied beds. Early drives focus on leopards draped in acacia branches; later you can visit a nearby Samburu village or watch reticulated giraffes saunter past the pool.
Once Adnan Khashoggi’s extravagant ranch retreat, Ol Pejeta House has sumptuous suites set in manicured lawns facing Mount Kenya. Staying here grants private access to one of Africa’s most forward-thinking conservancies, home to a pioneering chimpanzee sanctuary.
Days are utterly flexible: track endangered black rhinos with a canine unit, join rangers on a lion monitoring exercise or ride horses among giraffe on open plains. Evenings are Downton-Abbey-meets-Out-of-Africa: cocktails in the drawing room, gourmet dinner by a roaring fire and perhaps moonlit bush babies at the flood-lit waterhole.
Opened in late 2023, Angama Amboseli sits beneath fever trees in Kenya’s first community-owned wildlife corridor, its polished-earth suites angled towards snow-capped Kilimanjaro. The sanctuary shelters rare “super-tusker” elephants whose ivory sweeps the ground, and Angama guests often have them at breakfast.
Design nods to the giants: elephant-dung-washed walls, rattan textures and a photography studio to perfect those Kilimanjaro-backdropped shots. Flexible, unhurried game drives mean you decide when to leave, how long to stay and whether to pop into Amboseli National Park for lunch under an acacia. Every stay supports Big Life Foundation’s anti-poaching patrols and community rangers.
Dramatically perched on a 100-metre cliff, this boutique camp overlooks the pink shimmer of Lake Nakuru’s flamingos. Suites marry European chic, think freestanding baths and espresso machines, with canvas walls that peel back for 180-degree Rift Valley panoramas.
Guides focus on Nakuru’s renowned rhino population (both black and white) and tree-climbing lions, while birders can log 400-plus species in a weekend. Between drives, book a spa treatment, swim laps in the horizon pool or work out in the cliff-edge gym. Being only a two-hour drive from Nairobi, The Cliff is perfect for short getaways or as a stylish book-end to a longer safari.
Finch Hattons is set on 86 lush acres fed by freshwater springs where hippos wallow beneath fig trees and red-dust elephants wander at sunset. Elevated suites showcase brass bathtubs, private decks and uninterrupted views towards Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa.”
Days start with coffee beside a mirror-calm waterhole and end under the stars at the alfresco cinema. In between, track Tsavo’s big cats, hike lava flows, visit Shetani caves or drift over the Chyulu Hills in a morning balloon. Tsavo sees far fewer visitors than the Mara, so encounters feel exclusive and unhurried. The Chyulu Spa, hammam and 60-metre lap pool help ease trail-weary muscles.
Kenya’s safari circuit is wonderfully diverse. Adventurous souls might string together Mara Crossings, and Finch Hattons for a migration odyssey, while first-timers could pair Karen Blixen Camp with The Cliff for contrasting big-game and birding experiences within easy reach of Nairobi. Families who value education and conservation find Ol Pejeta House and Angama Amboseli especially rewarding, whereas honeymooners often choose Saruni Mara or Entim Mara for privacy and unbeatable wildlife proximity. Whatever blend you settle on, these Kenya Safari Lodges set the gold standard for unforgettable, responsible adventures in 2025 and beyond.
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Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Our 6-day fly-in Kenyan wildlife safari package has been tailor-made to show visitors Kenya’s diverse wildlife, as found in the distinct
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This 6-day safari visits three prime Kenyan wildlife destinations. Travel through central northern Kenya with us and experience the warmth and wildlife of East Africa
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This ten day safari gives nature lovers an extended and diverse view of Kenya; its wildlife, its wonderful landscapes and its warm-hearted people. Given the countryâ€
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