Samburu Sopa Lodge

Samburu Sopa Lodge stands on a rise in the western part of Samburu National Reserve, looking out over the semi-desert scrubland and the hills of northern Kenya. Its cottages follow the outline of traditional Samburu homes, with mud-coloured walls and thick grass thatch, but have high ceilings, large windows and en-suite bathrooms inside. They are set in an arc on either side of the main building around a waterhole, leaving a wide gap so animals can come and drink freely. The 60 rooms each have two queen beds, a large dressing table, a well-appointed bathroom and an open veranda over the waterhole, and two rooms near reception are wheelchair accessible. The thatched reception and boutique are cooled by breezes through wide openings in the walls, while the lounge has no front walls at all, giving a panoramic view of the reserve. A free-form pool tiled in blue mosaic, with a children's pool and sunken bar, also overlooks the waterhole, and dinners are served in the restaurant, on the outdoor terrace or under the stars. Game drives explore Samburu and neighbouring Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves along the Ewaso Ng'iro River. The lodge is about 325 km by road from Nairobi via Archer's Post, or a short flight to Samburu Oryx airstrip.