A luxurious safari Lodge in the Chyulu Hills, with sensational views of the savanna across to Mount Kilimanjaro
Lounge, dining area, bar, swimming pool, spa, gym, viewing hides, and safari boutique
Eight deluxe suites and a two-bedroom family suite, each with a star bed, veranda, outdoor shower, and private plunge pool
Game drives, night drives, horse riding, guided walks, mountain biking, Amboseli National Park day trips, helicopter excursions, and the Young Explorers programme
Ol Donyo Lodge offers an excellent base from which to enjoy a diverse range of activities for all ages and interests.
Morning and afternoon game drives take place in customised open-sided Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicles with fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug inverters, and a fridge with drinks and snacks. Each day on safari brings a new adventure with unexpected twists and turns depending on the wildlife sightings. All Big Five are present here – rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo, plus cheetah, Grant’s zebra, Maasai giraffe, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck, bushpig, wildebeest, and many more.
The Chyulu Hills is a beautiful region for walking, with much to explore for those curious to learn about the smaller details often missed from a safari vehicle. Accompanied by an armed guide and tracker, set off on foot into the surrounding landscape and learn about the flora and fauna, including grasses, medicinal plants, birds, and insects. Let your guide know if you’ve any specific interests, and they’ll tailor the walk accordingly. Please note that the minimum age for walking safaris is 10 years.
Cycling on the plains is also a wonderful way to experience the terrain, particularly during the cooler hours of the day, and always accompanied by an experienced guide. Please note that the minimum age for biking is 10.
Ol Donyo Lodge is renowned for its horseback safaris, and whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider, there is a suitable route for everyone. Following a short assessment, traverse parts of this exquisite 275,000-acre terrain from a unique vantage point. Please note that this activity has a minimum age requirement of 12.
Night drives reveal an array of nocturnal species, many rarely seen, and the chance to see a whole other world unfold. You’ll leave Ol Donyo Lodge after dinner at approximately 9:30pm and head out into the starry night, accompanied by your expert guide. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of a porcupine, bush baby, or even an aardvark!
Ol Donyo Lodge’s proximity to Amboseli National Park allows guests to explore with full-day excursions. Departing the lodge after breakfast, you’ll take a leisurely drive across the plains and through small villages, arriving in Amboseli by mid-morning when the elephant and plains game tend to congregate around the waterways and marshes in high density. This excursion must be booked in advance and is subject to an additional cost.
A Bell 505 helicopter offers guests the chance to enjoy 180-degree views with aerial scenic tours, including the Chyulu Hills, Amboseli National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro. We can also reserve transfers from Nairobi. Please note that helicopter excursions incur an additional cost.
The Young Explorers programme is a great way to keep the kids entertained and educated! On arrival, each child receives a Young Explorers pack with an activity book full of interesting information, including animal tracks, Kiswahili vocabulary, facts on flora, fauna and stars, word games, and a safari journal. Great Plains guides and staff are careful to modify the level of activities according to age.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
Ol Donyo Lodge is located in the Mbirikani Group Ranch, a huge expanse of private land that Great Plains Conservation have leased from the local Maasai in an agreement designed to conserve the area’s wildlife. Perched on the south-western side of the Chyulu Hills, the lodge boasts exquisite views of the savanna below. Access is by light aircraft to Ol Donyo airstrip, followed by a 30-minute drive to the lodge via a winding road up into the woody hillside.
The main lodge building is an elevated stone-and-thatch structure with magnificent views across the plains.
Bar
Swimming pool
Firepit
Spa
Gym
Safari boutique
Two hides
There’s a bar and a double lounge with a grand stone fireplace, vintage leather sofas, Persian kilims, storage trunks, and paraffin lamps lit up by night. The separate main dining room allows for communal meals or individual tables, and guests can also choose to dine al fresco while keeping an eye out for passing wildlife. Outside, there’s a spacious veranda with a viewing deck that optimises the spectacular outlook and an inviting firepit where guests socialise over pre-dinner drinks. The main swimming pool has an additional dining space and shaded sunloungers, perfect for admiring the views with a cold drink. The spa overlooks the waterhole and offers a range of holistic treatments (at an additional cost), and there’s a gym with a selection of weights, spinning bikes, a rowing machine, and a treadmill. The Great Plains Safari Boutique sells a range of crafts, many of which support local Maasai community projects. Finally, the lodge also has two hides at the waterhole, one with its own coffee machine and fridge. Please be aware that mobile reception is limited, Wi-Fi connection is intermittent, and cellphones are not permitted in the lodge’s communal areas or safari vehicles.
The accommodation at Ol Donyo Lodge consists of eight spacious concrete-and-thatch deluxe suites and the two-bedroom Sambu Suite, designed with families and small groups in mind.
Rooftop star beds
Plunge pool
Mini-bar
Tea-and-coffee station
Freestanding bath
Indoor and outdoor showers
Flush toilet
Family rooms
Each suite is slightly different, but they all favour a rustic-elegant style and each features rooftop star beds, a veranda, a private plunge pool, and panoramic views of the waterhole, savanna, and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. Inside, you’ll find double or twin beds with mosquito nets, bedside tables and reading lamps on either side, a living area, a writing desk, a tea-and-coffee station, and a mini-bar. Some suites have fireplaces, ideal for keeping warm during the cool early mornings and evenings. Every en-suite bathroom has a freestanding bath-tub, indoor and outdoor showers, a flush toilet, and double basins. On request, Nyati 7 and El Mau 10 suites can accommodate triples for children sharing with adults, and standalone suites Asali and Impia are most suitable for honeymooners. The Sambu Suite is a two-bedroom home-away-from-home with a shared lounge and plunge pool, well suited to families and small groups. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, viewing deck, and star bed.
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