ol Donyo Lodge
Nine-suite Relais & Châteaux lodge on Maasai group ranch with Kilimanjaro views and rooftop
Founded on the Mbirikani Group Ranch, a Maasai-owned holding in the Chyulu Hills, ol Donyo Lodge occupies a hillside between Tsavo and Amboseli national parks. The property holds eight deluxe suites and one two-bedroom family suite, each with a rooftop platform fitted with a star-bed for overnight sleeping under open sky. Private plunge pools and verandas face Mount Kilimanjaro and the lodge waterhole.
The main area comprises a restaurant, bar, spa, infinity pool, and two hides—one sunken, one open-air—positioned at the waterhole below. A new fire deck sits off the main lodge. Suite interiors blend contemporary and rustic design; en-suite bathrooms include indoor and outdoor showers, indoor baths, and double basins. The two-bedroom Sambu Suite functions as a self-contained unit with two en-suite bedrooms under one roof sharing a single pool.
Open-vehicle drives and night drives track cheetah, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, giraffe, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo across the concession. Guided walks and multi-hour hikes climb into the Chyulu Hills with a tracker carrying a firearm. Intermediate and advanced riders join horseback safaris ranging from two to four hours across open plains. Mountain biking is available during cooler hours. Cultural visits run to nearby Maasai homesteads, and day excursions drive to Amboseli National Park. Helicopter scenic flights and transfers can be arranged. The lodge is a Relais & Châteaux member.
The main area comprises a restaurant, bar, spa, infinity pool, and two hides—one sunken, one open-air—positioned at the waterhole below. A new fire deck sits off the main lodge. Suite interiors blend contemporary and rustic design; en-suite bathrooms include indoor and outdoor showers, indoor baths, and double basins. The two-bedroom Sambu Suite functions as a self-contained unit with two en-suite bedrooms under one roof sharing a single pool.
Open-vehicle drives and night drives track cheetah, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, giraffe, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo across the concession. Guided walks and multi-hour hikes climb into the Chyulu Hills with a tracker carrying a firearm. Intermediate and advanced riders join horseback safaris ranging from two to four hours across open plains. Mountain biking is available during cooler hours. Cultural visits run to nearby Maasai homesteads, and day excursions drive to Amboseli National Park. Helicopter scenic flights and transfers can be arranged. The lodge is a Relais & Châteaux member.