Nilotica Private House
Our brand new, exclusive use private house is named after the indigenous tree specie "Acacia Nilotica', which we are passionately regenerating here in the lodge environs as part of our positive impact initiatives.
This stunning private house is our most beautiful creation yet: luxury, privacy and big views of this landscape and wildlife at close quarters.
With two separate cottages, the house is perfect for families and small groups looking for that extra level of privacy and comfort. It offers a sprawling wooden dining deck on stilts overlooking the river and landscape beyond, stone patios for yoga, reading and relaxing, a private fire pit for cocktails and sundowners and an active salt lick attracting wildlife including elephant, zebra, bush buck and buffalo daily.
Features:
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Cottage 1: two large inter-connecting bedrooms sleeping two adults and up to four children with a shared ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, this large cottage also has a gorgeous outdoor bathtub/plunge and bush shower too!
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Cottage 2: one large double bedroom cottage, with enough space to add a child's cot or a small bed, ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, a beautiful veranda and outdoor swinging mattress by the river
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Communal areas: Large communal patio area for morning tea and relaxation, wooden walkway and raised dining room deck and seating area overlooking river, outdoor fire pit for evening sundowners, salt lick with wildlife, open fire cooking and private meal set ups
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Private team
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Private Car and Guide
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Private Wifi
The River Cottages
An exclusive use camp made up of two large cottages and a private dining and living room and kitchen. Ideal for families with teens or friends/couples travelling together. With a friendly distance between the two bedroom cottages, but bringing the group together in the communal dining area, fire pit and bar, this private area of the camp is charming and comfortable. New in 2022, wifi stretches across both rooms and the dining/outdoor areas for convenience. This 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 luxury 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 walk 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.
THE LODGE
Arriving at El Karama Lodge has the warmth and character of a beautiful bush home in the wild. Offering guests privacy, freedom and the authentic feel of a lodge that guests with every comfort and luxury without feeling detached from the natural surroundings.
You will head out every day 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 team will make it happen. Private vehicle use is no problem for us as are private meal experiences, day trips and well being (Massage, Yoga). ) Just let us know when you book.
The lodge rooms comprise of The Hobbit House and The Bandas - airy cottages 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. We have only eight cottages in total, meaning intimacy throughout your whole experience here. 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 woodwork.
We are an eco-lodge and operate 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 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.
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.
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 deck chairs too.
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 the 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. 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.
New for 2022, we have added wifi to this communal public area for your ease and convenience. Should you wish to detox, no fear, there is a second dining and relaxation area overlooking the river, where we have not added wifi.
