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, 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 (to see Rhino or visit an Elephant Sanctuary by air) and Wellness (Massage, Yoga). ) Just let us know when you book.
You will sleep in airy cottages made by hand with local artisans from our region. Designed by the owners Sophie and Murray, the cottages are made from burnished river stone, carved fallen wood, thatch and canvas meaning you are at one with nature in all the ways that count. 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 have made sure you have plenty of space and privacy too.
We are sustainable tourism operator and run 100 % solar powered electricity (24 hours a day) for lighting and for solar heating systems 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 pools.
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 Lodge is steeped in history, character and artistry, don't forget to look at the books written by family members that describe the way of life here, how the food we eat is grown and reared and why this lodge came to be. It is one of the last lodges in Kenya to have this richness of identity to offer.
The Hobbit House
This cottage is perfect for families, sleeping up to 6 over two bedrooms and 2 mezzanine floors.
The master bedroom has a large double bed fit for a king, two tree house floors with a single beds for children over 10 years (as you climb a steep staircase!) and a living area with a sofa, armchairs and writing desk all overlooking the river and bush views. Dik dik, Bushbuck and Guineafowl all wander through camp making the game viewing from your bedroom pretty special!
The second bedroom is smaller and ideal for young children sharing the cottage with their parents: with two single twin beds (can be made into a double) and a round glass window for all day game viewing, this cosy bedroom is the stuff of childhood memories. The shared bathroom is large, with a romantic, river-facing bush bath with a zippable window that can left open while bathing looking onto the trees and birds outside. There is also a separate shower and flushing toilet and room for storing personal items. There is a lot of additional space around this cottage for kids to run and explore, cots to added and a dreamy swinging chair hung under the shade of a Nilotica tree for reading and snoozing.
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...just ask.
This cottage is the nearest to the swimming pool pathway, overlooks the river and guests can be driven straight to the door after activities!
The Bandas
Our bandas are cosy, with a romantic history attached to them. The first rooms in the Lodge, they reflect the history of our Lodge. With a main central room with a comfy double bed (or 2 twins), large windows on both sides for wild views, a seating area with a small table for writing, furniture for storing/hanging clothes and an ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet 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 3 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 who prefer to be in the heart of camp rather than on the edges. Perfect for first time safari goers and naturalists as the birds around this woodland area are just mesmerising and always close by for viewing.
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 with it's own pool, pool house, fire pit, waterhole and access is our most beautiful creation yet: luxury, privacy and big views of this landscape and wildlife at close quarters.
Sleeping up to 8 pax over two separate cottages, the house is perfect for families and small groups looking for that extra level of privacy and comfort. With a raised breakfast deck on stilts overlooking the river and landscape beyond, stone patios for yoga, reading and relaxing, private pool, poolhouse and dining area, fire pit for cocktails and sundowners and an active waterhole attracting wildlife including Elephant, Zebra, Bush Buck and Buffalo daily.
Features:
Cottage 1 : 2 large inter-connecting bedrooms sleeping up 2 adults and up to 4 kids with a shared ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, this large cottage also has a gorgeous outdoor bathtub/plunge and bush shower too!
Cottage 2: 1 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
NEW for 2025 - due to the success of Nilotica Private we are adding two more rooms to sleep up to 8-12 pax!
Cottage 3: 1 spacious double or twin room with ensuite bathroom and veranda overlooking the waterhole
Cottage 4: 1 spacious double or twin with ensuite bathroom and veranda looking towards the river, discreetly tucked away in the Euclea
Communal areas: Private swimming pool overlooking the waterhole and river, views for miles
Stone patio for yoga and reading
Wooden breakfast deck for morning tea and relaxation,
Discreet fire pit for evening sundowners under the stars, salt lick with wildlife, open fire cooking and private meal set ups
Private Kitchen for flexible dining
Private team: Chef, Waiter/Host, Steward
Private Car and Guide
Private Wifi
The Lodge Pool
Our eco-friendly swimming pool is the heart of Main Lodge.
A place to gather and spend the hottest times of day, a place to eat, read, relax and play, it is welcoming and spacious.
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 9 panels to run the filtration system and the water can be recycled back into the ecosystem with no harmful effects. The water for the pool comes from harvested rain water gathered at the HQ off a huge roof system catching rain.
All the landscaping is natural, indigenous succulents that require no irrigation at all. We walk the walk.
The Shop
Our shop has been created to support multiple community projects in our local region producing beautiful artisanal products that celebrate our cultural heritage. From beautiful hand-made soaps and organic essential oils, to local organic honey, beaded jewellery, hand sewn linen clothing and illustrated books by members of the Grant family, including the brand new cookbook The Bush Kitchen: Notes and Recipes from the Wild. Shopping here can be your non-guilty pleasure as all the profits go to very good causes!