8 extravagant safaris to experience in Kenya

The luxury safari originated in the 1920s when affluent Europeans and Americans traveled to Africa to witness (and hunt) its extraordinary wildlife.

In true Roaring Twenties fashion, these travelers indulged in lavish tented camps complete with satin linens, silverware, gramophones, gourmet meals, and endless gin and tonics.

Guided by the iconic big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton and frequented by notable figures like Ernest Hemingway, Prince Edward (before becoming the Duke of Windsor), and Teddy Roosevelt, Kenya became the gold standard for safaris in Africa.

That tradition endures to this day. Kenya remains at the forefront of pioneering wilderness experiences that would have been beyond the imagination of safari-goers in the 1920s.

From custom-built safari vehicles and opulent private aircraft to “tents” that rival the luxury of Park Avenue penthouses, modern safaris in Kenya are all about indulgence and comfort.

Keep reading to uncover eight extravagant safari experiences in Kenya:

1. Finch Hattons Luxury Camp

Nestled in the heart of Tsavo West, one of Kenya’s oldest and largest national parks (established in 1948), Finch Hattons captures the essence of its iconic namesake.

Tsavo, the beloved haunt of aviator Denys Finch Hatton, was where he shifted from hunting to photographic safaris, and tragically, it was here that he perished in a 1931 Gypsy Moth crash.

Surrounding the camp are a luxurious spa with a Turkish bath, an open-air yoga platform, a lagoon-inspired infinity pool, a fully equipped gym, a small museum with natural history wonders, and a bar brimming with relics that Hemingway would have adored.

Beyond the main restaurant, guests can also reserve a private dining experience in a romantic rooftop setting, evoking the magic of “Arabian Nights” – cozy, pillow-lined sofas and Oriental rugs encircling a dining table with an uninterrupted view of the Milky Way.

“Finch Hattons is for those who yearn for the romance of a bygone era,” says camp manager Jonathan Mutisya.

Loisaba

After being nearly destroyed by a bushfire in 2013, Loisaba reopened this year, now offering even greater luxury and comfort than before.

In addition to the luxurious tents, each offering breathtaking views of the plains and snow-capped Mount Kenya, the newly redesigned camp will soon unveil an exclusive canvas enclave with a private pool, set to open in July.

Loisaba’s most extravagant overnight experience is the mobile Starbeds – custom-crafted four-poster beds mounted on the back of Land Rover flatbeds, rolled out onto open-air decks at night, allowing guests to sleep under the African stars.

A true wine enthusiast, camp manager Jani Scheffer has filled the wine cellar with a selection of exceptional vintages, featuring delights from South Africa and beyond.

Ol Jogi Ranch

This exclusive private game reserve, nestled in the wilderness north of Nairobi, offers one of Kenya’s most prestigious safari experiences.

Once owned by billionaire French art dealer Alec Wildenstein and his eccentric wife Jocelyne 'The Cat Woman' Wildenstein, this former cattle ranch is now dedicated to preserving endangered species.

What sets Ol Jogi apart (and makes it exceptionally extravagant) is that the expansive manor house, its surrounding cottages, and the entire ranch are available only for exclusive use, with prices reaching around a quarter of a million dollars per week.

“The experience I aim to offer here is how Africa might have looked 20 or 30 years ago,” says ranch director Alec Wildenstein Jr. on the reserve’s website.

“There is no other place in Africa where you can have a 60,000-acre wildlife conservancy all to yourself. You won’t encounter another tourist or a single minivan.”

Ol Jogi Ranch, Nanyuki, Kenya; [email protected].

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Ol Pejeta House

Once the private safari retreat of Saudi billionaire arms dealer and jet-setter Adnan Khashoggi, this two-story wilderness mansion is now managed by the prestigious Serena group.

Among the many luxurious features of Ol Pejeta are a grand drawing room with a stately fireplace, a personal chef who customizes menus to suit each guest, four elegant bedrooms and a guest cottage, plus two swimming pools and expansive gardens.

Khashoggi’s private retreat is nestled within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a private game reserve located on the western side of Mount Kenya, famous for its groundbreaking rhino and chimpanzee conservation efforts.

Elewana Flying Safari

Continuing the legacy established by Finch Hatton and Prince Edward (later Duke of Windsor) in the late 1920s with their pioneering flying photographic safaris, Elewana recently introduced SkySafari Kenya.

Operated in a first-class Cessna Grand Caravan from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, the eight-day tours include stops at Amboseli, Meru, and Maasai Mara national parks, with optional extensions to Diani Beach on the Kenyan coast or Zanzibar in neighboring Tanzania.

Overnight stays are at luxury lodges in each destination, including Elsa’s Kopje, Sand River, and Tortilis Camp in the bush, as well as Hemingways Nairobi.

skysafari.com; +255 27 250 0630 / 1 - 9; [email protected]

Mahali Mzuri

With around 150 camps, lodges, and various accommodations – and numerous vehicles encircling the same pride of lions – Maasai Mara has transformed into the safari version of Disneyland.

However, some places resist the wave of mass tourism, including Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri camp in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, located on the edge of the national reserve.

The architecture itself makes this wilderness retreat stand out: a dozen cutting-edge “tents” designed and crafted by Nairobi’s canvas expert Jan Allen, paired with rustic chic interiors by London’s Real Studios.

In Swahili, the name translates to “beautiful place,” and it truly lives up to its meaning, perched on a hillside with views over the expansive plains where millions of wildebeest and countless other animals migrate annually.

From the Gordon Ramsay-trained chef to indulgent spa treatments (such as the Orinka stick massage), the camp embodies Branson’s distinctive mix of flair and adventure.

Alfajiri

Set against the pristine white sands of Diani Beach, this exclusive villa complex provides a unique twist on the traditional Kenyan safari experience.

While its prime location by the Indian Ocean offers attractions like scuba diving, snorkeling, kite surfing, and deep-sea fishing, Alfajiri is also an excellent base for exploring nearby coastal game reserves such as Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.

With their thatched roofs and grand wooden doors, two of the three villas showcase traditional Swahili design, while the third villa evokes the charm of the Caribbean.

Alfajiri’s private chefs masterfully combine local ingredients, such as fresh seafood directly from the boat, with European cooking methods introduced by the Italian expatriate owners.

Among the celebrities who have enjoyed the unique 'beach and bush' safari experience at Alfajiri are British comedian Rowan Atkinson and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood.

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp

While Richard Branson’s camp embodies modern luxury in the Mara, Cottar’s offers a nostalgic glimpse into the safari days of yore.

Quiet sophistication defines this luxury camp, crafted by the fifth generation of the Cottar family, who began their Kenyan safari business shortly after the First World War.

Although the Mara camp was established only two decades ago, it evokes the charm of classic East African safaris, featuring spacious canvas tents adorned with family heirlooms, antique furnishings, and even traditional khaki-colored pith helmets.

Guests have the option to play classic vinyl records on a gramophone in the dining room, savor tea served on fine silver, write in their journal using a vintage typewriter, or indulge in a relaxing open-air soak in a portable canvas tub.