BORANA
With panoramic views over the Samangua Valley and the Lewa Plains to the Ngare Ndare Forest and Mount Kenya beyond, The Lodge offers eight romantic and unique cottages, each with an open fireplace and private veranda.
The grandfather of the present owners of Borana fell in love with the wildness and soul-enriching isolation of this land. In building the lodge, the Dyers took care not to lose this while ensuring that the Lodge offers the ultimate in luxury and comfort. All cottages are entirely secluded and have private views from both bedroom and bathroom of the valley below.
The Lodge is designed to work in harmony with the landscape and is created from local, sustainable building materials. It enjoys an idyllic setting, 17 miles north of the equator and 6,000 feet above sea level, and is free from the malarial mosquito and the nights are cool.
All areas of the Lodge overlook a lake that is a popular watering hole for the local animals so there is constant activity for guests to watch. Take a guide and walk down to the dam to enjoy a close-up view of elephants swimming!
There are eight cottages at Borana. Four have large double beds and four have twin beds - both of which are queen size. Four of the cottages have their own veranda. Two sets of cottages share a veranda, both of which has a phenomenal view over the dam. Each cottage also has an open-fireplace lit every evening by the room stewardess; a basket of firewood is kept in each room. The bathrooms are the epitome of luxury: spacious, clean and with exceptional views over wildest Africa.
The Lodge is set in a verdant garden of largely indigenous plants chosen for their scents, colours and flowers. From the infinity pool guests can watch the elephants wandering their well-trodden path to the watering hole or simply relax, read and soak up the sun. The pool veranda is a favourite place for a long, leisurely lunch watching the natural world unfold before you.
In the dining room at the main lodge guests can sample fresh produce from the Ranch, fresh juice from the Borana orchard and wines from around the world.
In the sitting room, sofas and armchairs surround a huge open fireplace and picture windows guarantee a continuing vista to the plains below.
A stunning piece of nature and a luxurious Lodge make this one of the best experiences I have had in fifteen years of coming to Africa – Thanks.
Ed Lifmand, Alexandria, VA