Number 1 eco-tourism travel Agent 2022
Hewn into a rocky hillside on the Lewa Borana Conservancy in Kenya, Arijiju is an enchanting private house available for exclusive hire for groups of up to ten. Designed by a combination of leading architects and interior designers, this magical home opened in November 2016 and offers world-class wildlife, outdoor adventure and wellness facilities in one of Kenya’s most staggering landscapes, alongside a pioneering approach to conservation.
Taking its name from the Maasai word for the hill on which it sits, Arijijuis an exemplum of design brilliance where every aspect of its natural surroundings has been carefully considered. Arijiju’s position was chosen predominantly based around the region’s three most impressive views: the sunrise, sunset and Mount Kenya. A fourth and utterly unique influence also came from the acoustics of the valley, which has been incorporated to maximise the sound of the dawn chorus of birds singing.
From the outside, flat roofs planted with natural grasses, roughhewn local stone and timber see it all but disappear into the untamed landscape, whilst inside five expansive bedrooms, a cinema, library, living area and cavernous dining room offer state-of-the-art luxuries complemented by an earthy colour scheme, locally sourced materials and copper accents.
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Arijiju is home to five exquisite suites, three flanking the central courtyard and a further two nestled in the olive groves that surround. Each feature the same earthy colour scheme and effortless touches characteristic of leading interior designer Maira Koutoudakis, whilst a sixth ‘constellation suite’ is available for those nights too beautiful to sleep anywhere but under the stars. Elsewhere, a cavernous dining room, games room, cinema and well-equipped library are available for cooler nights, and with a team of 20 resident staff - that range from guides and rangers to butlers and chefs - Arijiju ensures every need is catered for.
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Arijiju’s head gardener is fully trained in permaculture, and the organic garden provides healthy farm to fork menus with energy rich, quality ingredients that regenerate and renew a sense of wellbeing. Breakfast consists of homemade muesli, seasonal smoothies and fresh eggs from Arijiju’s very own chickens served on the sun drenched front terrace, whilst for lunch and dinner the head chef will create sharing style dishes including North African inspired salads and farm reared meats, served out in the bush, in the garden or up on the roof terrace.
All meals, whether served at home or in the bush.
All beverages, including quality house wines, spirits and liqueurs.
Borana airstrip transfers.
Laundry.
Babysitting facilities for children.
Game drives and wilderness walks.
Mountain biking with experienced guides.
Bush running with experienced guides.
Use of tennis and squash courts, gym, yoga deck, hammam, and spa.
Wifi, Sonos multi room music system, Apple TV, and movies in the home cinema.
Introductory spa and beauty treatments.
Landscaped courtyard
5 Bedroom suites
Dining/Living room
Guest kitchen
Library/Office
Games room
Cinema room
Boot room
Roof terrace with star bed
Squash court
Clay tennis court
Gym
2 Yoga platforms
Spa
Hammam
20m Infinity lap pool
Go on your own private safari. Take a game drive each morning and evening in an open-sided 4x4 vehicle. After an early wake-up call and coffee or tea brought to your room you will meet the ranger and vehicle at the top of the main path to the lodge and venture out to catch the best light of the day — this is also when animals are most active. Your experienced ranger will help you read the bush like a book and hopefully you'll find cheetah, lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and herds of plains game across the diverse landscape of the Conservancy. Your ranger will also help you identify birds and their calls as well as read animal tracks left behind in the soil. You can plan to take a picnic break- fast or even lunch with you or simply return to Arijiju to escape the heat of the day and enjoy a late breakfast at home.
Rhino tracking is an extraordinary and emotive experience. Guests wake up with the dawn and head out to meet the rhino rangers, expertly trained security guards who have dedicated their lives to protecting these endangered and magficient creatures. Guests walk side by side with these local heros, learning first-hand what it takes to protect this species from extinction.
At Arijiju wellness is included. For us, the essential Arijiju experience is about leaving feeling stronger and healthier than ever before - that’s why up to five hours of spa time, every day, is included in your stay. Deep tissue Massages, signature scrubs, water ritual treatments as well as manicures or pedicures all enhance the effects of high altitude exercise grounds, quality ingredients and adventures that open your mind and revive your body.
Arijiju is one of the few places in the world where one can go trail running, hiking and walking in the prisitine African wilderness. There are several different routes with varying degrees of difficulty and options are discussed and planned with the managers and guides. All running and walking is accompanied by a ranger while a support vehicle and spotter trails behind you for extra safety.
When the Dyer family first came to Borana horses were the only means of transport. The family’s love of horses remains and as a guest this is still one of the most intimate ways to experience wildlife. Novice riders and children can ride patent safety horses from Rose Dyer’s stables on the edge of the Ngare Ndare river while experienced riders can ride polo ponies from Kisima Stables on the Mount Kenya moorlands, book overnight riding safaris and also ride from the Borana Stables within the Borana Conservancy. Trained for riding in the wild, these horses are fit and sure footed – they know the land and can be trusted to give you an exceptional riding experience in amongst the plains game of Africa.
The gym has an open front overlooking the wildlife and has TRX equipment, a treadmill, rowing machine, spinning bike, free weights and boxing equipment. Croquet, boules and football is also available, and the local Arijiju football team is always up for a friendly match with Arijiju’s guests. Arijiju kindly provides a boot room full of sports equipment and footwear in every size for those who are travelling light.
A helicopter safari over Northern Kenya’s extraordinary landscapes is visually astounding and a once in a lifetime experience. Safaris take in breath-taking scenes of graphic mountains, far reaching deserts, Rift Valley lakes and salt flats filled with pink flamingo. Private pilot guides will touch down in impossibly remote and stunning locations to interact with local people, enjoy cultural experiences, fish in Mount Kenya’s lakes, and even overnight in remote log cabins or fly camps.
60 min flight to Lewa followed by 1.5hr drive to the camp.
35 min private charter to Borana airstrip followed by 25-minute drive to the camp, with game viewing en route.
Should you wish to fly in via private aircraft, please let us know and we will assist with the necessary arrangements.
Arijiju’s head gardener is fully trained in permaculture, and the organic garden provides healthy farm to fork menus with energy rich, quality ingredients that regenerate and renew a sense of wellbeing. Breakfast consists of homemade muesli, seasonal smoothies and fresh eggs from Arijiju’s very own chickens served on the sun drenched front terrace, whilst for lunch and dinner the head chef will create sharing style dishes including North African inspired salads and farm reared meats, served out in the bush, in the garden or up on the roof terrace.
Arijiju is home to five exquisite suites, three flanking the central courtyard and a further two nestled in the olive groves that surround. Each feature the same earthy colour scheme and effortless touches characteristic of leading interior designer Maira Koutoudakis, whilst a sixth ‘constellation suite’ is available for those nights too beautiful to sleep anywhere but under the stars. Elsewhere, a cavernous dining room, games room, cinema and well-equipped library are available for cooler nights, and with a team of 20 resident staff - that range from guides and rangers to butlers and chefs - Arijiju ensures every need is catered for.
Hewn into a rocky hillside on the Lewa Borana Conservancy in Kenya, Arijiju is an enchanting private house available for exclusive hire for groups of up to ten. Designed by a combination of leading architects and interior designers, this magical home opened in November 2016 and offers world-class wildlife, outdoor adventure and wellness facilities in one of Kenya’s most staggering landscapes, alongside a pioneering approach to conservation.
Taking its name from the Maasai word for the hill on which it sits, Arijijuis an exemplum of design brilliance where every aspect of its natural surroundings has been carefully considered. Arijiju’s position was chosen predominantly based around the region’s three most impressive views: the sunrise, sunset and Mount Kenya. A fourth and utterly unique influence also came from the acoustics of the valley, which has been incorporated to maximise the sound of the dawn chorus of birds singing.
From the outside, flat roofs planted with natural grasses, roughhewn local stone and timber see it all but disappear into the untamed landscape, whilst inside five expansive bedrooms, a cinema, library, living area and cavernous dining room offer state-of-the-art luxuries complemented by an earthy colour scheme, locally sourced materials and copper accents.
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Landscaped courtyard
5 Bedroom suites
Dining/Living room
Guest kitchen
Library/Office
Games room
Cinema room
Boot room
Roof terrace with star bed
Squash court
Clay tennis court
Gym
2 Yoga platforms
Spa
Hammam
20m Infinity lap pool
Arijiju is located in the Borana Conservancy in the county named Laikipia or “tree-less plains” in Maa, the language of the Maasai. Laikipia rolls north from the edge of the snow-licked glaciers of Mount Kenya, crosses the equator and ranges up towards the semi-desert plains of the north. The region has more mammals than anywhere else in East Africa, incredible bird diversity and some of this country’s largest elephant populations with huge multi-generational herds - it is also the last stronghold of Kenya’s endangered black rhino.
60 min flight to Lewa followed by 1.5hr drive to the camp.
35 min private charter to Borana airstrip followed by 25-minute drive to the camp, with game viewing en route.
Should you wish to fly in via private aircraft, please let us know and we will assist with the necessary arrangements.
Go on your own private safari. Take a game drive each morning and evening in an open-sided 4x4 vehicle. After an early wake-up call and coffee or tea brought to your room you will meet the ranger and vehicle at the top of the main path to the lodge and venture out to catch the best light of the day — this is also when animals are most active. Your experienced ranger will help you read the bush like a book and hopefully you'll find cheetah, lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and herds of plains game across the diverse landscape of the Conservancy. Your ranger will also help you identify birds and their calls as well as read animal tracks left behind in the soil. You can plan to take a picnic break- fast or even lunch with you or simply return to Arijiju to escape the heat of the day and enjoy a late breakfast at home.
Rhino tracking is an extraordinary and emotive experience. Guests wake up with the dawn and head out to meet the rhino rangers, expertly trained security guards who have dedicated their lives to protecting these endangered and magficient creatures. Guests walk side by side with these local heros, learning first-hand what it takes to protect this species from extinction.
At Arijiju wellness is included. For us, the essential Arijiju experience is about leaving feeling stronger and healthier than ever before - that’s why up to five hours of spa time, every day, is included in your stay. Deep tissue Massages, signature scrubs, water ritual treatments as well as manicures or pedicures all enhance the effects of high altitude exercise grounds, quality ingredients and adventures that open your mind and revive your body.
Arijiju is one of the few places in the world where one can go trail running, hiking and walking in the prisitine African wilderness. There are several different routes with varying degrees of difficulty and options are discussed and planned with the managers and guides. All running and walking is accompanied by a ranger while a support vehicle and spotter trails behind you for extra safety.
When the Dyer family first came to Borana horses were the only means of transport. The family’s love of horses remains and as a guest this is still one of the most intimate ways to experience wildlife. Novice riders and children can ride patent safety horses from Rose Dyer’s stables on the edge of the Ngare Ndare river while experienced riders can ride polo ponies from Kisima Stables on the Mount Kenya moorlands, book overnight riding safaris and also ride from the Borana Stables within the Borana Conservancy. Trained for riding in the wild, these horses are fit and sure footed – they know the land and can be trusted to give you an exceptional riding experience in amongst the plains game of Africa.
The gym has an open front overlooking the wildlife and has TRX equipment, a treadmill, rowing machine, spinning bike, free weights and boxing equipment. Croquet, boules and football is also available, and the local Arijiju football team is always up for a friendly match with Arijiju’s guests. Arijiju kindly provides a boot room full of sports equipment and footwear in every size for those who are travelling light.
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