Borana Lodge

Perched on a hillside beneath Mount Kenya with sweeping views across the Laikipia Plateau, Borana Lodge is a safari retreat where handcrafted cottages, extraordinary wildlife encounters and a deeply purposeful sense of place create a restorative escape, shaped by the wild beauty and conservation spirit of northern Kenya.

Story

Borana Lodge’s story begins with the land itself: the rolling hills and acacia valleys of the Laikipia Plateau beneath Mount Kenya, where the Dyer family first established the lodge as part of a long term commitment to wildlife protection and regenerative land stewardship. Long before conservation became a global imperative, Borana was already shaped by the belief that hospitality could help protect both wilderness and community.

Over the years, the lodge evolved into one of Africa’s most pioneering safari retreats, with stone and thatch cottages handcrafted by local artisans and carefully positioned to sit gently within the landscape. Today, open fireplaces, private verandas and interiors layered with Kenyan craft add warmth without disturbing the soul of the wilderness, while every stay continues to support the wider Borana Conservancy and its extraordinary conservation legacy.

Why we selected Borana Lodge

Conservation that genuinely protects wilderness

Every stay directly supports Borana Conservancy’s rhino protection, anti poaching teams and habitat restoration, making the safari experience inseparable from real land stewardship.

A pioneering safari lodge with soul

One of Kenya’s most iconic family owned lodges, Borana combines classic safari romance with a deep sense of history, purpose and place.

Rooted in Kenyan craft

Stone and thatch cottages, open fireplaces and handcrafted interiors reflect the textures, artistry and warmth of local Kenyan design traditions.

Extraordinary wildlife beneath Mount Kenya

From horseback safaris and ranger patrols to elephants gathering below the infinity pool, the setting offers one of East Africa’s most immersive wilderness experiences.

Local life & traditions

This is the land of pastoral tradition, where Maasai and Samburu communities still move with the rhythms of cattle, rain and grazing that have shaped life in Laikipia for generations. Seasonal movement across the plains, storytelling by the fire and a deep lived knowledge of wildlife coexistence remain central to daily life, while women’s beadwork and handcraft traditions continue to carry both cultural memory and livelihood.

Laikipia rises in acacia woodland, rolling savannah and the distant silhouette of Mount Kenya, a landscape long defined by herding, resilience and conservation. Homesteads are built from natural materials and practical craft, while kitchens centre on grilled meats, chapati, sukuma wiki and long communal meals that reflect the warmth of Kenyan hospitality.

Authentic experiences in the area

Ride horseback across the Laikipia plains

Explore Borana’s rolling hills on horseback, moving quietly alongside giraffe, zebra and antelope while experiencing the landscape in one of Kenya’s most intimate and exhilarating ways.

Join rangers on rhino and anti poaching patrols

Spend time with Borana’s expert ranger teams for a rare inside view of rhino monitoring, tracking and the extraordinary anti poaching work that protects one of East Africa’s most important sanctuaries.

Big Five game drives and guided bush walks

Set out across the conservancy with expert guides to track elephant, lion, leopard and rhino, then continue on foot to discover the smaller details of the bush through local ecological knowledge.

Meet local artisans and nearby communities

Visit women’s beadwork groups, schools and neighbouring communities supported by Borana’s long standing initiatives, offering meaningful insight into the traditions and livelihoods that shape Laikipia.

Protecting culture & land

At Borana Lodge, preservation begins with direct stewardship of Borana Conservancy’s 32,000 acres of protected wilderness. Every stay helps fund rhino protection, anti poaching patrols, habitat restoration and large scale reforestation, safeguarding one of East Africa’s most important wildlife landscapes for generations to come.

Beyond conservation, Borana supports the cultural life of Laikipia through local employment, healthcare access, women’s craft initiatives and long term partnerships with neighbouring communities. Built by local craftsmen using stone, timber and thatch, the lodge also honours the visual language of the land, sitting lightly within the hills rather than imposing upon them.

Learn more

Location & surroundings

Located on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, the area surrounding Borana Lodge is renowned for its protected conservancies, extraordinary wildlife and the pastoral traditions that continue to shape life across the Laikipia Plateau.

Set on a hillside within Borana Conservancy, the lodge opens onto sweeping views of rolling savannah, acacia valleys and the distant silhouette of Mount Kenya. From its terraces, guests look out across wildlife corridors, grazing plains and the Hyena Valley Dam below, a panorama that captures the raw beauty and quiet grandeur of northern Kenya.

Key details

Address

Borana Conservancy
Laikipia Plateau
Kenya

Getting here

By air: Scheduled or private charter flights to Borana airstrip from Nairobi Wilson (approx. 1 hour)

By road: Approx. 4 hours from Nairobi via Nanyuki and the Laikipia Plateau

Private conservancy transfers and scenic helicopter arrivals can be arranged

Facilities

Stone and thatch cottages with private verandas, fireplaces and sweeping valley views

Infinity pool overlooking the Hyena Valley Dam and surrounding wildlife plains

Fresh seasonal dining with bush breakfasts, terrace lunches and candlelit dinners under the stars

In cottage massage treatments, yoga spaces and wellness shaped by the rhythms of the bush

Horse stables, safari vehicles and expert guiding for game drives, bush walks and riding safaris

More

Rooms: 8 stone and thatch cottages and family suites

Season: Year round

Words from the owners, The Dyer Family

“Our story begins with a deep love for this land and the belief that conservation and hospitality should protect one another. Whatever brings you here, whether wildlife, adventure or time together beneath Mount Kenya, we hope Borana becomes part of your own story of the African plains.”

Every stay booked direct keeps value with the people of this place, so they can reinvest in culture, community and land

We believe travel should give back more than it takes; that it can protect cultures, not erode them.

That is why we connect you directly with each hotel’s own website. By booking direct, value remains in the hands of those who shape these places, enabling reinvestment into local culture, community, and land.