Best hotels in Kenya

Tucked beneath tall, yellow-barked acacia trees in the heart of Ol Pejeta’s wilderness area are the Safari Cottages, established in 2012 by a family whose combined experience in the wildlife industry exceeds 65 years. So you're in capable hands. Enjoy the silence, the space, the uninterrupted views, your personal chef (or you can self-cater), great accommodation and plenty of game. Here, in the southern sector of the conservancy, there are animals at every turn, from elephant (which often file past the cottages), lion, leopard and cheetah to black rhino, birds galore and other creatures great and small.

Not all safari camps are of the canvas and game driving variety and Sasaab is definitely one of them. Well, there’s a little bit of canvas around and you can certainly game drive in the striking wild lands of the Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves, but that’s just the beginning; there’s also camel rides, spa treatments, fly camping and walking safaris at this elegant Moroccan-inspired retreat. As the only tourist initiative in the area, ties with the local Samburu are strong and $50 from each stay is donated to the 600 families in the Westgate Community Conservancy. Beautifully designed, ethical and eco-friendly… could this be the perfect safari camp?

Meru National Park is recognised as having a greater diversity of animal species than any other park in East Africa, so prepare yourself and your camera for large elephant herds, hippo, lion, caracal, reptiles, a rhino sanctuary and more than 400 species of birdlife. Elsa’s Kopje, named after the lioness made famous by George and Joy Adamson, is an unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled retreat set into a rocky hill above the site of George’s famous orphaned lion camp.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, sprawled across 65,000 acres (263 square kilometres) of Laikipia wilderness, is top of many people's game reserve wish list for its legendary wildlife viewing. With more than 70 recorded mammal species, the conservancy is home to lion, leopard and jackal, the largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra in the world, more than 130 black and white rhino, and too many bird species to list. To the south rises snow-capped Mount Kenya, to the north are the arid lands of Tassia and Il Ngwesi. Between them lie areas of pristine forest, fertile grasslands, extensive springs and acacia woodland.

There’s something about Kenya. The rich heritage, perhaps? Or the promise of wildlife, always just around the corner? Or maybe it’s the people, whose unwavering smiles welcome you to this beautiful country? Whatever it is, Loldia House has it all in spades and even a little bit more. A traditional homestead perched on the Western shores of Lake Naivasha, the house was built in the 1930s and perfectly captures the charm and character of early Kenya. Days are spent spotting wildlife grazing around the lakeshore, and evenings cosied up by the fire in the drawing room. Kenya in a perfect nutshell.

With its prominent twin gables and broad porch, this boutique property is unmistakable. Karen Gables delivers all the warmth and charm associated with its classic Cape Dutch facade – mornings on the veranda sipping coffee, delicious breakfasts with homemade breads and jams, evenings by the fire. Set in the upmarket suburb of Karen in southwest Nairobi, the hotel lies peacefully in its surrounding greenery, undisturbed by the traffic jams and chaos of other parts of the city.

A remote hideaway on the slopes of Mount Nyiro in northern Kenya.

Desert Rose Lodge was built to showcase Kenya's stunning Northern Frontier region. Perched some 1700 metres above sea level, the lodge is surrounded by the dense forest and jungle of Mount Nyiro's slopes, yet on the ground, there is nothing but semi-arid plains. The road leading up to the lodge (an exhilarating, twisting, heart-stopping track up a steep incline!) marks the beginning of your adventurous stay, and throughout, you'll be cared for by local Samburu staff. The only lodge in the region, and more remote than you can imagine, a stay at Desert Rose is remarkable in every way.

Two hours’ drive north of Mombassa on Kenya's central coast, the newly renovated Hemingways Watamu is a boutique beach hotel that combines the old-time charm of a fisherman's paradise, with a fresh injection of luxury. Its hunting- and fishing-loving patron saint, the eponymous Ernest Hemingway, is said to have visited in search of some big game fishing, but allegedly never left the bar! Take this anecdote as an allegory - feel free to be as busy or static as you like. From sailing, deep-sea fishing and diving, to golfing and sunset cruising, there is plenty to keep you entertained, but the sandy beaches and open-plan grounds with two swimming pools are there for lazing and lingering. Whatever your aim, Hemingways Watamu is a gem.

Established in 1972 in the Lewa Conservancy in Northern Kenya, Lewa Wilderness is one of the country's oldest safari camps where you can see the Big Five in unaffected and authentic comfort. Found inside 62,000 acres of conserved land, the camp is surrounded by well maintained gardens and views stretching over the valley and towards the hills. Here conservation and respect for the wildlife work hand in hand with a passionate team dedicated to creating an unpretentious and memorable guest experience. In the words of the owners grandfather, "Always make room for wildlife"

Kitich Camp is a truly remote and private location set in a pristine forest on the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains (also known as the Lenkiyio Hills). The camp has guarded this vast natural forest for more than 40 years and was originally set up in the 1970s as a private hideaway for his friends by the celebrated hunter and conservationist Miles Burton. The forest covers some 900 square kilometres of Mathews Mountains' peaks, which soar so high above the lowlands that the BBC described the area as a “biological bonanza" on a "sky island".