Borana Ranch & Safari Lodge

Borana Safari Lodge was designed to be in harmony with its surrounds and all building materials were locally sourced from renewable sources. Just 27 km (17 miles) north of the equator, the lodge is 1,829 m (6,000 ft) above sea level, which makes the nights pleasantly cool. The Borana Wildlife Conservancy is in a malaria-free area. NB The lodge closes for the entire month of November.

Individual, unique accommodation

Borana Lodge offers eight romantic and unique cottages, each with its own open fireplace and veranda (private or shared). Each cottage is entirely secluded with private views over the valley below from the bedroom and en-suite bathroom. Four cottages are double and four have twin queen-sized beds. Two cottages are ideal for families with younger children and another has been specially built with young children in mind. Cottages 7 and 8 are suited for families with teenage children. They are a bit further from the lodge with their own plunge pool and dining facilities if you'd like some quality family time.

Family friendly

Generations of the Dyer family have grown up at Borana Lodge, and children of all ages will feel instantly at home there. The family and staff understand children and go out of their way to ensure that their safari experience is as exciting and entertaining as is yours; from arranging entertainment and outdoor activities to catering to their tastes and bedtimes. Some of these include:

• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Game drives in open vehicles
• Guided bush walks
• Cooking and baking with chefs
• Visits to the local community schools when class is in session
• Fishing
• Swimming

Tranquil main lodge with excellent views

Set in lush indigenous gardens, Borana Lodge has an infinity pool from where you can watch the elephants swimming and enjoying the waterhole. The pool veranda is a favourite spot for long, lazy lunches. The wonderful food is freshly prepared from local produce supplied largely from the ranch and orchard. There's also a sitting room with cosy fireplace in winter and picture windows framing views of the plains below.

Wide range of game activities available

Borana Lodge is privately owned. There are no national park rules and no other outside visitors to compete with at big game sightings. All game drives (day and night) are on open safari vehicles with supremely knowledgeable drivers and guides. Other activities include horseback safaris, mountain bike safaris and guided bush walks. Optional extras include chartered helicopter and nostalgic biplane (real ‘Out of Africa’ style) flights, buggy/quad biking trails, visits to the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust with its crystal springs, rockpools and breath-taking canopy walk.

Working ranch

Borana is not just a game sanctuary, it's also a working cattle ranch with 2,000 head of cattle, most of the hardy, indigenous ‘Boran’ variety. There is also a dairy herd specifically for the lodge's use. You're welcome to accompany the ranchers on their rounds to get a better understanding of the challenges of maintaining a balance between wildlife management and cattle ranching.

Getting there

By air - There are daily scheduled flights to Lewa from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, followed by a 1.5-hour road transfer to Borana. Alternatively, private air charters can be arranged to Borana's private airstrip.

By road - Its a scenic, 4-hour drive from Nairobi.

Our take on Borana Ranch & Safari Lodge

A friendly, informal lodge, Borana Lodge has been owner-run by the Dyer family for three generations and you're welcomed and encouraged to feel like a long-standing friend rather than a newly arrived guest. There's so much to see and do at Borana, and it's all organised with seamless, effortless efficiency. The lodge is in a stunning location with incredible views of the surrounding countryside. Perfect for an active and outdoors safari experience.