Mbweha Camp

Built from lava stone under thatched roofs, the ten cottages at Mbweha Camp stand among euphorbia candelabra and yellow-barked acacia on the southern edge of Lake Nakuru National Park. The setting is Soysambu Conservancy, a Ramsar wetland site and an important bird area roughly two and a half hours from Nairobi. It is a short drive, but the pace here changes fast. Because the camp sits outside the park boundary, guests can walk, cycle and join night game drives, activities the park itself does not allow. Day trips run into Lake Nakuru National Park, sometimes with a bush lunch overlooking the lake and the Eburru and Mau ranges beyond it. Soysambu holds around 12,000 wild animals, along with a notable share of the world's endangered giant mangabey population, while nearby Lake Elementaita draws lesser and greater flamingos and breeding great white pelicans. Cottages keep things plain: king or twin beds, a verandah, mosquito nets, a fireplace and an outside shower. A lounge and dining area anchor the camp, with a pool, bar and spa on site. Rangers lead the walks and drives, and horse riding is available for those who want a slower way to cover ground. Wildlife viewing extends to sites just 16 kilometres from camp, including the prehistoric grounds at Kariandusi.