Kifaru House
Wildlife ranges freely across the surrounding hills, guides share the secrets of this protected landscape, and every moment feels connected to something meaningful. It’s perfect for travellers who appreciate refined comfort, privacy, and close up encounters with some of East Africa’s most iconic species, including both black and white rhinos.
Location
A hint of one of the animals you are likely to see here is in the name ‘Kifaru’, because it means ‘Rhino’ in Swahili. Originally farmland, Lewa was established as a rhino sanctuary in 1983 and is now home to more than 10% of Kenya’s rhino population. Indeed, both black and white species can be found here, along with 20% of Kenya’s stock of endangered Grevy’s zebra.
Accommodation
While cool drinks on your private sandstone-paved veranda may be the stuff of the memories you’ll take home, the elegant and luxurious interior of your cottage will do more than its share to calm and thrill you in equal measure. You’ll enjoy a canopied four-poster bed, a generous ensuite bathroom, and carefully curated colonial furniture facing those all-important fold-back doors leading out to the view. One of the cottages has two bedrooms and is therefore ideal for families.
If you’re having a meal indoors, you’ll be eating delicious fare with the select group of fellow adventurers at a dining table made of ancient dhow wood. Windows and doors will remain flung open so that, if ever there’s a pause in conversation, you’ll hear the birdsong in the trees and the sounds of anything that wants to wander into this unfenced idyll.
Experiences
- Lewa is a ‘Big Five’ destination, which includes both black and white rhinos. For us, though, our goal will always be the photo of a cheetah and the plains game with the backdrop of Mt. Kenya.
- The guides at Kifaru House are Samburu from local communities and this is their backyard. Take the opportunity to head out on a walking safari with one of them, paying close attention to their knowledge of conservation and habitat management.
- Explore the Lewa Conservancy on the back of a trusty steed. But what will you choose? Will it be a good-natured Kifaru horse or a proud Samburu camel?
- For a contrast to the landscape of Lewa, spend a day in the adjacent Ngare Ndare Forest Conservancy. Head into the canopy on the specially constructed walkway and be eye-to-eye with the monkeys.
- Visit a Samburu manyatta homestead in the Tassia and Il Ngwesi lowlands to the north. The housebuilders here are women, and they’ll let you know some of the secrets of the most desirable homes.
- Spend time with an anti-poaching tracker dog unit and be astonished by the fortitude, skill and dedication of these specialists.
Why we include Kifaru House in our journeys
It offers rare intimacy thanks to its position in the peaceful Lewa Wildlife Conservancy; a place where both black and white rhinos thrive, along with plenty of other iconic African animals.
Talk to us about designing your safari >
From The Team
“Kenya and Tanzania never fail to deliver amazing safari experiences — thanks in part to locations that inspired the concept of African wildlife adventures. While these iconic parks and conservancies remain central to the tradition, I often recommend that returning visitors and first-time travellers explore lesser-known corners within these destinations. The conservation and cultural experiences are exceptional, and every safari has a personal, intimate feel.”
Why Plan Your Safari with Journeysmiths
Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want your safari to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want your safari to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Great Places to Combine with Kifaru House
Kifaru House works beautifully as part of a wider journey through Kenya and East Africa. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.Kifaru House works beautifully as part of a wider journey through Kenya and East Africa. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.
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