ol Donyo Lodge

Chyulu Hills - Amboseli, Kenya

Price on request

5/5

192 Reviews

Plan your stay at ol Donyo Lodge

General information

Children welcome from 5 years old

Pool(s) and equipment

Internet access in the rooms

Activities to do on site or nearby

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secluded lodge & suites

elephant watching

view on the Kilimanjaro

private swimming pool

wildlife conservation program

Wake up to snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro and the distant roars of lions. ol Donyo Lodge is a pioneer amongst safari lodges, and a forerunner of sustainable tourism: by working with the local Maasai people, it has been able to blend conservation and livelihood benefits. On the slopes of the Chyulu Hills, this lodge blends contemporary and traditional design. To stay here is a chance to explore Africa in an uncommon way – by horseback or four-wheel drive, on foot or in a hide twenty paces from some of the largest elephants in the world. ol Donyo Lodge enjoys a stunning location, with the savannah at its feet stretching as far as the eye can see. This is the Africa of the mind's eye.

Our commitments

A partner of ol Donyo Lodge, the NGO Big Life Foundation, protects over 2 million hectares of wildlife.
The property is one of the major donors of the Big Life Foundation, annually donating several hundred thousand dollars. Cattle rearing is an essential part of the Maasai way of life, who are shareholders of the land which is under conservation around ol Donyo Lodge. When predators and cattle mix, it is usually predators like lions that are killed by the Maasai protecting their cattle. This ultimately places the lions on a path to extinction. Richard Bonham, the creator of the Big Life Foundation, realized many years ago that in order to save the wild animals he had to tell the locals how valuable wildlife is for conservation tourism. He also initiated anti-poaching operations. Since then biodiversity breathes easier.

Meet your hosts

Chef

Benjamin Maritim

Read stories of the property

2024-01-23

Love in the Heart of Nature

Curl up in a cabin in the treetops or cuddle up under a warm quilt beneath starry, starry skies–Relais & Châteaux's more unusual accommodations are ideal for lovers of adventure and exploration and perfect for those in search of the most wildly romantic destinations.

Read the article

Activities, excursions and other attractions during your stay at ol Donyo Lodge

Horseback Riding on the African Plains

“Whether you are an intermediate or expert rider, there is nothing quite like a safari on horseback. Accepted by the wildlife as another animal, one is able to get incredibly close for a truly unique game viewing experience. The magical sense of peace and freedom, from horizon to horizon, is un-paralleled.”

Elephant Rescue

When we spotted a wounded elephant at the hide we called in the heli vets who treated the bull there and then. Guests came down to the hide to watch this procedure and waited for the bull to get back on his feet and drink some water quietly at the water hole before wandering off into the bush.

Star Bed experience

“Millions of stars cast their distant, flickering light across you as you lie there, absorbing the still, tranquil air of the African bush, punctuated by the mournful call of a solitary hyena on its nocturnal wanderings, a nearby jackal with excited chatter, calling to its mate to announce a tasty find. The ever-beckoning Kilimanjaro may greet you in the morning as you wake, its vast silhouette casting its sheer enormity over the breaking dawn horizon, the natural wild beauty of the bush spreading out all around you.”

Itinerary - Kenya safari & beach for lovers

A lovers’ journey into an Africa with many faces: safari photos with lions and giraffes in Kenya, diving with Manta rays in the Indian Ocean, taking a pirogue down the Zambezi river and a moving visit to Zanzibar’s Stone Town. An African honeymoon revisiting the origins of the world… <a href="https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/destinations/routes-du-bonheur/kenya-safari-beach-for-lovers" target="_new"><b>See the itinerary</b></a>

Itinerary - Legendary Kenyan safaris

Here more than anywhere else, time is marked by the advancing sun. Forwards through lush vegetation, at the pace of the animals. Lions, zebras, giraffes and elephants paint beautiful, surreal pictures. Distant Mount Kilimanjaro towers over the scenery which the Maasai people describe with passion. <a href="https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/destinations/routes-du-bonheur/legendary-kenyan-safaris" target="_new"><b>See the itinerary</b></a>

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