5 Star Hotel
Exclusive member since: 2020
Location: Amboseli Region in Kenya
On the Mbirikani Group Ranch - 275,000 hectares of private African wilderness bordering the Chyulu Hills National Park and owned by 4,000 Maasai - ol Donyo Lodge combines contemporary design with the rich culture of the Maasai. We see the community as our partners and there are financial benefits beyond the lease fees we pay that go to them, the teachers, the academics and other community projects that are designed to strategically uplift our people based on wildlife conservation and tourism. Dereck adds, "When you come to Ol Donyo, your tourism dollars are helping us turn this into a collaborative conservation model and, as a result, we are having great success with lions and cheetahs and the iconic bull elephants that are some of the last big tuskers left in Africa.
The lodge is designed so that each room has its own window "into the soul of East Africa: overlooking the plunge pool, rolling plains and Mount Kilimanjaro. The six suites plus a two-bedroom family unit have stunning star beds, where you can sleep under the canopy of stars and listen to the hyenas and lions move about. This is a more community-embracing camp and our guides will take you to their village, authentic, life-changing experiences. We hike, bike, ride horses and drive around the conservancy, then return to Relais and Chateaux quality meals served by Patrick (Executive Chef) and his team. Relais and Chateaux represents excellence in fine food and wine (in this case, from our carefully selected wine selection and our own cellar) and excellence in service, and we are proud to be one of only two Relais properties in Kenya, another of our Mara Plains Property).
The exclusive VILU Benefits exclusive services that only our clients will have when staying at Ol Donyo Lodge are:
- Private vehicle according to availability on the day of arrival.
