Sirikoi Lodge Kenya

Founded by Willie and Sue Roberts, who have worked in conservation for more than four decades, Sirikoi grew from a scatter of tents into a small lodge set inside Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the foothills of Mount Kenya. It remains family owned. Nine rooms are split between three luxury tents, a family tent, Sirikoi Cottage and the private Sirikoi House, each set along the spring-fed Sirikoi stream. Fireplaces are lit each evening, and bathrooms hold free-standing Victorian tubs and rain showers. Every group gets its own vehicle and guide, for day and night game drives across a conservancy that began with just 15 black rhinos in 1984 and now holds the largest resident population of Grevy's zebra in the world. Elephant herds pass the dining deck most days, sometimes for hours at a time. Guests can also join a tour of the lodge's own organic garden, which supplies more than 80 varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs to the kitchen, or visit Lewa's operations room and anti-poaching unit. The pool runs 18 metres long, heated for cooler days. Sirikoi House has its own. Sirikoi sits at 5,500ft, with a mild, spring-like climate through the year and two short rainy seasons, in April and May, and November.