Best of Kenya

Key Areas of Interest

1. Mara Plains Camp, Olare Motorogi Conservancy
2. Sirai House, Borana
3. Sirai Beach, Kilifi

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Mara Plains Camp

Property Overview

Mara Plains Camp is a one-of-a-kind, seven tent camp located in the private 35,000-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy, on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. This intimate camp, one of Kenya’s only two Relais & Chateaux properties (other being sister property ol Donyo Lodge), blends the finest in wildlife viewing with the absolute best of safari hospitality and guiding. No other camp offers the extensive traversing area of Mara Plains Camp, with access to a total of 100,000 acres of private conservancy land as well as the world-renowned Maasai Mara. 

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Each guest at Mara Plains contributes considerably to the success of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy’s flourishing ecosystem; conservation fees paid safeguard this habitat, while supporting over 1,000 Maasai families. This partnership ensures the survival of an exceptional density and diversity of wildlife. 

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Olare Motorogi Conservancy is reputed to have the lowest vehicle density in the Maasai Mara region, while also having the highest concentration of big cats anywhere in Africa. There is only one guest bed per 350 acres, leaving the land unadulterated for the wildlife to roam and thrive, as nature intended.

Experience & Activities

Wildlife dirves take place in some of the Mara’s most coveted vehicles. Each of the camp's Toyota Land Cruisers is open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers (fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug invertors), with just four to six guests each. Game drives typically start at sunrise, returning for lunch and depart again in the mid-afternoon. However, very often guests will go out all day, deep into the Reserve or Conservancy with a packed breakfast and lunch. Wildlife drives can also continue into the night because of the camp’s location on a private conservancy.

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Each of Mara Plains’ guest tents has a professional Canon camera set, including a Canon 7D camera body and Canon 100-400mm and 24-70mm lenses. In addition to wildlife drives, both massages and hot air ballooning are available at additional cost. If a chance to learn about the Maasai is of interest, then cultural visits to a nearby Maasai village or the headquarters of the Maa Trust, a local non-profit, are also a highlight. Locally produced crafts are available for purchase at the camp iwht all proceeds of which go toward the community.

Accommodations

• Suite

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Each of the camps five luxury suites have deep canvas canopied ceilings, rough-hewn recycled wood flooring and accents of East Africa’s rich safari history. Thick Lamu wood doors,  leather couches and brass accents transport guests to a time and land far away. The lounge, en-suite facilities including a deep copper bath and extensive private verandah complete these stunning tents. These stylistic elements coupled with environment elements such as solar power make Mara Plains a modern-day retreat.

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• Jahazi Suite

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Mara Plains is also home to the Jahazi Suite, villa-style suite that sleeps 4 or 5 people and includes its own private vehicle, guide and staff.  With an expansive under canvas lounge and two bedrooms the design pays homage to the essence of East Africa; Swahili heritage is reflected in wooden Lamu doors and accents of red honor the Maasai. With leather, copper and brass used in campaign-style furniture, you have a lavish yet comfortable atmosphere that complements the surrounding wilderness. 

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Accommodation

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• Fully inclusive of all scheduled activities, meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including imported spirits and champagne. 

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Quick Facts

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• Mara Plains Camp can accommodate 14 guests sharing, plus an additional guide’s tent as required. Children from 6 years are welcome and can be accommodated in our family suite.

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Activities

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• Early morning, late afternoon and night game drives in an open, 4×4 vehicle as well as the option of getting to know more about the local Maasai Community. Balloon flights across the Maasai Mara can be arranged but are at an additional cost.

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Location

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• On the 35,000 acre private Olare Motorogi Conservancy which lies on the northern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya.

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Sirai House

Property Overview

Sirai House is a magnificent private home located in the Borana Conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya, enjoying staggering views in every direction. Built by local craftsmen from indigenous materials, the house reflects the owners’ love of architecture, design and art, and has been created with privacy and pure comfort in mind.

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Available for exclusive use only, Sirai House has six sumptuous suites and affords guests all the facilities associated with a world-class resort, with the cocoon-like ambience and seclusion of a private home – set in a flourishing game conservancy. The private 35,000-acre reserve adjoins Lewa Conservancy and is home to an abundance of game, including the critically endangered rare black and white rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, serval, hyena, the rare Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe, buffalo and a host of antelope which wander freely between the two reserves.

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Sirai House is served by team of 40 staff, including an accomplished chef who makes a point of understanding and anticipating guests’ preferences, creating mouthwatering meals using ingredients sourced locally or grown in the house shamba (kitchen garden). The ethos underpinning the house is one of conservation, with a focus on supporting the local communities through employment and sustainable tourism.

Experience & Activities

Sirai has its own watering hole and hide for game viewing in situ, although game drives in a custom-made open-sided safari Land Rover, walking safaris and sumptuous bush picnics are available to guests throughout their stay. Riding safaris and helicopter excursions to several of Kenya’s magnificent national parks and landmarks can also be arranged direct from the house.

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Amongst the recreational facilities on offer you’ll find a fabulous pool area with heated infinity pool and loggia, a clay tennis court, croquet lawn, boules pitch, table tennis and billiards tables, and a luxurious spa retreat for moments of contemplation and relaxation. To stay connected to the outside world, there is a cinema with a vast array of new release and classic films, Sonos sound system in every room and a fibre optic communications system with WiFi available throughout. Sirai is also home to a stable of beautiful horses and operates as a working stud.

Sustainability

Working with neighbours and the community, Borana’s mission is to provide a sustainable ecosystem for critically endangered species. It takes an holistic approach to ensure tourism, ranching and other enterprise fund the building of local livelihoods and enhance the ecosystem integrity.

Accommodations

• Sirai House

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This is an exclusive use property, with six suites, two of which are interconnecting. There is a 20 metre infinity pool with poolside bar and loggia, a billiards room, library, croquet lawn, cinema, spa, fitness centre, and clay tennis court.

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Highlights

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• Borana is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino), cheetah, giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, wildebeest, wild dog, hyena, baboon, oryx, impala and eland (to name a few), plus diverse and abundant birdlife.
• Guests can enjoy game drives in 4x4 open-sided Land Rovers and walking safaris with experienced guides. Riding safaris and specialist birding guides can be arranged.
• Additional activities include flying safaris (helicopter, light aircraft or bi-plane), trout fishing, forest walkway and platform viewing at Ngare Ndare Forest, visits to the adjacent Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy, community enterprise, and cultural Maasai village visits.

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Quick facts

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• The house sleeps 12 guests in six suites spread across four cottages. Suite 1 (the Master Suite) has its own heated plunge pool. Suite 2 stands alone while Suites 3 and 4 are linked by a sitting room, as are Suites 5 and 6, making them ideal for families. Four of the rooms can be configured as a double or a twin.
• The private cellar houses over 3,000 bottles of wine and champagne from many of the world’s most prestigious vineyards, available at additional cost to complement the excellent house wines available to guests throughout their stay.
• The house has its own cinema, stocked with over 1,000 films and access to Netflix.
• There is a 20-metre heated infinity pool, clay tennis court, boules pitch, gym, running track, ping pong and billiard tables.
• Within the gardens, there is a boma and boules pitch, while croquet can be set up on the lawn in front of the main veranda.
• The house has a secluded retreat with inside and outside whirlpools; spa treatments can be arranged.
• The house enjoys a state-of-the-art communications and entertainment system, with a broadband speed of 15-20 mbps.

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Sirai Beach

Property Overview

Set in lush, landscaped gardens, Sirai Beach is a palatial private home overlooking the Indian Ocean from a cliff top on the Kenyan coast in Kilifi, north of Mombasa. The house, designed in contemporary Swahili style, captures the gentle breeze as it rolls in from the ocean, its interior styling infused with the flavours of the coast.

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The house is served by an accomplished chef and house team who make a point of understanding and anticipating guests’ preferences, creating mouthwatering delicacies from locally sourced ingredients - including line-caught fish, plucked straight from the ocean by a trusted local fisherman who follows responsible fishing practices.

Experience & Activities

With its 25-metre infinity pool and poolside bar, tennis court, gym and spa within its grounds, Sirai Beach is the ultimate beachside residence, the perfect place for lazy days and happy memories, whether languishing by the pool with a favourite tipple or enjoying a multitude of water sports on the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

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The ethos underpinning Sirai Beach is one of conservation, with a focus on supporting the local communities through employment and sustainable tourism.

Accommodations

• Sirai Beach

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The ground floor of the main house is arranged around a beautiful open veranda, flanked by a breezy dining room on one side, and lavish drawing room on the other. The entire first floor is given over to the master suite, while the other five suites are dotted around the gardens, all with their own verandas or private terraces and cavernous bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers.

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Highlights

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• Sirai Beach enjoys a cliff top location overlooking the Indian Ocean in Kilifi, a coastal town situated 56km north east of Mombasa, situated on the southern side of Kilifi Creek where the Goshi River reaches the Indian Ocean.
• The house is available for rental on an exclusive occupancy basis. 

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Quick facts

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• The house sleeps 12 guests in six individual suites dotted across the property, all with sea views.
• Within the grounds are a 25-metre lap pool, AstroTurf flood lit tennis court, gym and spa.
• The house is equipped with state-of-the-art communications and entertainment system, with the Sonos music system connected in every room and by the pool, and WiFi throughout.
• The wine cellar is stocked with a collection of fine wines and champagnes from many of the world’s most prestigious vineyards, available at additional cost to complement the excellent house wines available to guests throughout their stay.
• Sirai Beach enjoys a tropical climate with sunshine all year round and temperatures in typically between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

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