Nilotica Private House
Our brand new, exclusive use private camp is named after the indigenous tree specie "Acacia Nilotica', which we are passionately regenerating here inside the conservancy as part of our positive impact initiatives.
This is our most beautiful creation yet: located adjacent to Main Lodge, this exclusive use area offers luxury, privacy and big views of this landscape and wildlife at close quarters.
Nilotica is river facing and boasts 4 separate cottages sleeping up to 10 pax, comfortably, the house is perfect for private groups or families looking for that extra level of privacy and comfort. The heart of the camp is the active water hole and salt lick that attracts wildlife all through the day.
Sit by the pool watching Elephant and Giraffe come to water. With flexible indoor and outdoor living, open fire cooking, a fire pit for cocktails and star gazing and plenty of space to wander between rooms and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Features:
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Cottage 1: The Family Suite: two large inter-connecting bedrooms sleeping ideally two adults and up to four children with a shared ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, this large cottage also has a gorgeous outdoor bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink combination for overflow use!
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Cottage 2: one large double or twin bedroom cottage with an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, a beautiful private veranda and outdoor swinging chairs overlooking the river
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Cottage 3: one large double or twin bedroom with exceptional views of the waterhole and river - good proximity to the pool and pool house
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Cottage 4: our most private cottage: a large double or twin bedroom, ensuite bathroom with his and hers sinks, shower and toilet and water hole and river views
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Communal areas: Breakfast deck on raised decking under thatch for early morning chai and serene bird watching, journal writing or meals for smaller groups. Wrap around stone verandas and decking connecting each area. Private, chemical-free pool with big views over the river and salt lick/water hole with wildlife, spacious central bathroom nearby with extra shower and a large Pool house with a bar, dining room and comfortable sofas next to the fireplace for cocktails, reading and board games
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Outdoor sandy fire pit cocktails and star gazing by the open fire for evenings
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Private team of staff including Chef, Waiter and Room Steward
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Private Game drive car and Guide
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Private Wifi throughout
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Access to all Main Lodge amenities including: Bush Spa, Bush Gym, Running Track, Bush School for Kids, Shamba and Cooking experiences, Shop and Beading area
The River Cottages
A serene extension area and exclusive use part of our lodge made up of two large twin or double cottages and a private dining and living room and kitchen. Ideal for friends/couples travelling together who are looking for a bit of extra privacy or for families with teens who want to be more independent. With a friendly distance between the two bedroom cottages, but bringing the group together in the communal dining area, outdoor sandy fire pit and bar, this very private part of the camp is charming and comfortable. Private wifi throughout for your convenience. This system, as with all wifi,can be switched off at source should you want to digitally detox during your stay.
Designed to bring the beauty of the natural world right to your bed; these luxurious rooms have large windows stretching the length of the walls and high ceilings to give you plenty of space and light. Each room has the option of double, twin or even triple beds available, both have a large writing desk, plenty of atmospheric lighting and the choice of a bath or a shower. Bathrooms are spacious, contemporary in design, with his and hers sinks and plenty of privacy. One of the cottages also has a stunning outdoor bathtub made from river stones and cool grey cement for extra special evenings under the stars.
Only a short stroll from the main camp and swimming pool, you are very much still part of the family, but at River Camp our guests have exclusivity and the space to retreat at the key times of day to catch up on a book or with one another.
All our rooms throughout our Lodge have complimentary shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion and hand soap for your use. These are natural, paraben-free products made from local herbs by a small, family-owned business in our area!
THE LODGE
El Karama Lodge has the warmth and character of a beautiful bush home in the wild and that's because it is. Made by hand and with love by the owners Sophie and Murray Grant, you are hosted by a charming and experienced team of local Kenyans, many of whom built this lodge with the Grant family. Offering guests high levels of privacy, freedom and the authentic feel of a lodge that gives guests every comfort and luxury without feeling detached from the natural surroundings.
You will head out every day with your private guide in search of adventure, gazing over vast rollings plains, stunning riverine habitat, rocky escarpments and a dramatic waterfall; this landscape provides it all. Whether you like getting out on foot, in open game drive vehicles, horseback riding, sleeping under the stars, cooking on open fires or simply sitting patiently at the rock hide with your camera and binoculars waiting for hippos or water birds. Our experienced team will make it happen. Private vehicle use is no problem for us as are private meal experiences, day trips and wellness.
Our Bush Gym is in the heart of camp overlooking the hippo pool, our Bush Spa offers Massage and Treatments and there is even a new running track inside the fence where you can test your fitness at this altitude !
The Main Lodge rooms comprise of The Hobbit House for families and three Bandas - each one is an airy cottage made by hand with local artisans from our region. Burnished river stone, carved fallen wood, thatch and canvas mean you are at one with nature. Each cottage is unique and varies in size and feel. All are ensuite with large bath/showers made from river stone and elegantly hand-crafted woodworking and paintings from this family of creatives.
We are an luxury eco-lodge and operate on 100 % solar powered electricity (24 hours a day) for lighting and for hot water, we have eco -friendly flushing toilets and bath/showers, a strict zero waste policy and Kenya's first chemical free, solar-powered swimming pool. We have over 2 million litres of water storage in a reservoir and tanks filled with mostly harvested rain water. We have tried to create a peaceful environment that connects you to the bush combining all the important home comforts without losing the magic of this wild space which we love so much and want to share with you.
The Hobbit House
This cottage, which is part of the main lodge, is perfect for families, sleeping up to six in two bedrooms and two mezzanine floors each with a single bed set up perfect for teens.
The master bedroom has a large double bed fit for a king, two tree house floors with single beds for children over 10 years and a living area with a sofa, armchairs and writing desk.
The second bedroom is smaller and ideal for young children: with two twin beds (can be made into a double) and a round glass window for game viewing. The shared bathroom is large, with a romantic, river-facing bush bath with a romantic window looking onto the wildlife and birds outside and a spacious separate shower. There is a lot of additional space around this cottage for kids to run and explore, a swinging chair under the shade of a Nilotica tree for reading and snoozing and a table and chairs for early morning Chai and journalling.
Should you want to take your evening meal here we can set up the fire pit and dining tables under the stars for you anytime.
The Bandas
All three of our lodge bandas have an airy, spacious central room with a comfy double bed (or two twins), large windows for wild views, a seating area with a small table for writing, furniture for storing/hanging clothes and an ensuite bathroom with flushing toilets and a large stone bath (and overhead shower) that you can sink into after a long day out. Each Banda has its own private veranda for reading, early morning coffee and star gazing. All three of our charming bandas have swinging chairs, over looking the river and salt licks beyond where wildlife abound.
Located centrally and nearest to the large river-facing dining room, these bandas are ideal for couples, friends or families wishing to stay near to one another.
The Lodge Pool
Our eco-friendly swimming pool is a pioneering effort that has added something very special to our lodge. Not only does the pool area give you more space to explore, stunning and wide reaching views of the river, the Aberdares and the ridge beyond, it has also proved popular with over 80 bird species who visit that space daily. The pool itself comprises of a 14 m by 7m main pool with adjoining baby pool for little ones. It is chemical free and eco friendly, running on a copper based EcoSmarte system and harvested water from our storage reservoir and tanks. As with everything in the lodge, we use solar energy from nine panels to run the filtration system and the water can be recycled back into the ecosystem with no harmful effects.
We have stylish cabanas, sun loungers and swinging chairs for lounging by the pool. Plenty of space to read, play pingpong and relax in this central area overlooking the ridge and mountains beyond. The bar is never far away and lunchtime meals and dinners can be taken here too.