Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Ol Donyo Lodge

Ol Donyo Lodge

Insider’s Review of Ol Donyo Lodge

Ol Donyo Lodge is a partner in a groundbreaking organization called Great Plains Conservation. Through the Maasailand Preservation Trust, the Lodge supports the Maasai way of life and the conservation of the ecosystem. Simply by visiting, you are contributing directly to the survival of the region’s flora, fauna, and the valuable and unique local culture.

Ol Donyo is situated in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya which are among Hemingway’s titular green hills of Africa. Amazingly, these rolling, volcanic hills are the youngest volcanic range in Africa, the last volcanic activity having only happened about 600 years ago. The mist forests of the hills contrast with the golden savannahs below, and the terrain is thick with herds of zebra and impala, stalked by the park’s resident lions. The open plains, rolling hills and snow-topped Kilimanjaro invoke images of Africa as it was in the earlier part of the last century. This is truly an unspoiled corner of the world.

Accommodations at Ol Donyo Lodge

Ol Donyo Lodge is one of the most luxurious safari lodges in East Africa. Each suite and lodge is uniquely designed and positioned for its own relationship to the bush, but all are luxurious and opulent, with extravagant amounts of personal space. A few of the lodges can even function as your own luxury bush-home retreat, complete with your personal pool, vehicle, guide and chef for in-villa dining and true privacy.

And Star Beds! These unique handcrafted beds on raised wooden platforms are partially covered with thatched roofs that can be wheeled out onto the rooftop for a night under the stars with complete privacy, and only the boundless equatorial night sky for a ceiling.

A note for families & children

Ol Donyo Lodge is happy to host children of all ages—and indeed, children under 15 stay at a reduced rate.

Amenities at Ol Donyo Lodge

  • Laundry services
  • 24-hour electricity
  • Telephone
  • Fireplace in common area
  • Personal chef service

In-Room Amenities at Ol Donyo

  • Hairdryers
  • Private deck/veranda
  • Private pool
  • In-room massage
  • En-suite bathrooms
  • Outdoor/under canvas showers
  • Star beds

Activities at Ol Donyo

Most of your activities here involve exploring this beautiful landscape. Trek or drive across the savannah, seeking game or birds. Or track rarely seen, nocturnal game on night game drive safaris, the eyes of predators illuminated by a combination of moonlight and spotlights. Another option is mountain biking across the plains—pedal past a herd of zebra as they all fix a curious gaze on the new “creature” rolling across the savannah.

Ol Donyo Lodge also has some friendly bloodhounds on site—their primary purpose is to combat poaching, but these canines are playful too, and their handlers will gladly take you out for training, playing a game of “hide and seek” to see if you can outwit them. It’s not an easy task—they have a 95% success rate!

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