Tassia Lodge

Moulded onto a rocky bluff above a broad valley, the lodge's structures almost disappear into the landscape. The architecture is astonishing, combining thatched roofs and barely there rock walls to highlight the main feature – the view. The central lounge incorporates several seating areas with broad sofas perfect for full-body lazing. There's a well-stocked bar and a dining area, though meals shift, often happening under the stars. The decor is subtly Moroccan, and the pool enjoys the same valley views.

Six spacious rooms continue the trend of embracing the outdoors, with open sides, though all are extremely private and secure. Inside, all incorporate a luxuriously large bed draped with mosquito netting, a seating area and a large en-suite bathroom with a shower. Two of the rooms are family-friendly, with space for an extra bed. The use throughout of natural colours, stone floors and walls and rustic wooden furniture means that the rooms are elegantly understated but lack no crucial comfort.

Walks are the primary activity (there's just one game-viewing vehicle) and vary in length and emphasis. Treks with Martin focus on tracks and searching for game; those with a local guide incorporate information about the people, plants, animals and Masai history (ask to see the caves where people once lived). Visit a local village, investigate one of Tassi's community projects, see Martin's rehabilitation centre for birds of prey, or arrange a night-time camel safari and bush sleep-out (extra cost).