Kenya & Tanzania Reimagined: Private Safaris in East Africa’s Iconic Destinations
The Original and Best get Better
In Kenya’s remote conservancies and Northern Frontier District, and in the lesser-visited corners of Tanzania, you'll discover landscapes where wildlife thrives undisturbed, with fewer vehicles and a rare sense of connection to community and conservation.
These journeys build on the classic safari foundations, offering fresh ways to engage with landscapes, people, and wildlife. They are as authentic as they are exclusive, as responsible as they are rewarding — experiences that often prove even more moving than you imagined.
- 1. Sarara, Namunyak Conservancy, Kenya
- 2. Lewa Conservancy, Kenya
- 3. Segara Retreat, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya
- 4. Koros Camp, South Horr Valley, Kenya
- 5. Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya
- 6. Katavi National Park, Tanzania
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.”
1. Sarara, Namunyak Conservancy, Kenya
Some view life as a tooth-and-nail competition run by the rules of the survival of the fittest. Ecologists, however, see the totality of life as balance and harmony, with each organism playing their role in mutual coexistence and symbiosis. No one species can, or should, dominate to the detriment of others.
If you had gone to the Matthews Range in northern Kenya in the mid-1980s, you would have found these hills and plains overgrazed and poached; there were almost no elephants at all. Now, thanks to humans playing a role that enhances rather than compromises the existence of the web of life, things are different. You’ll now find the second-largest population of elephants in Kenya and the landscape and community transformed. It’s an inspirational and beautiful story in every way.
Key to this has been the partnership and involvement of the Sarara Foundation, which invests in education and health, conservation, and enterprise development in the area. The foundation’s small and luxurious accommodation options – Sarara Camp, Sarara Treehouses and Sarara Reteti House – are located in stunning spots and are the economic engine of change for the better. They are exclusive havens that spread benefits to all.
Namunyak is a paradise of jaw-dropping scenery clad in flourishing life, a harmony of thriving wildlife and Samburu communities that welcome small numbers of guests to see what can be done when there is vision and collaboration rather than conflict. It’s a place to revel in the powerful Singing Wells ceremony and Ngoma dancing, beadwork lessons and close encounters with orphaned elephants, while enjoying stunning safari possibilities without the crowds. The focus on sustainability and the good of the environment as a whole – including the people within it – guarantees authenticity and exclusivity to anyone lucky enough to visit.
Exploring the Namunyak Conservancy on horseback
Fly camping beneath the stars with the Matthews Range on the horizon
The pool at Sarara Treehouses
The Terrace at Sarara Reteti House
Witness the timeless ceremony of the Singing Wells
Enjoy an evening of Ngoma Dancing
Look down to the waterhole at Sarara Camp
A luxury tent at Sarara Treehouses
Elephants are thriving in the area
Sarara Camp is a small and intimate camp in an impressive and remote area of northern Kenya. The property promises a safari full of unforgettable authentic wildlife and cultural experiences. Think long walks through the bush, learning how to bead with Samburu women, meeting orphaned elephants, and finding a natural water slide in the mountains.
In a remote and dramatic location overlooking the Namunyak Mountains and plains below, Reteti House is an intimate property that’s ideal for families or small groups wanting to experience Kenya’s northern splendour in privacy. What’s more, it’s a short stroll from the heart of an inspirational conservation story.
There’s nothing quite like a treehouse, a secret vantage point perched in a leafy canopy, to rekindle the excitement of your youthful past. How many treehouses, however, come with such a gorgeous swimming pool and amazing safari, conservation and community experiences close by?
With the flexibility of seasonal sites to suit the interests of their guests, this exclusive-use mobile safari camp features romantic old-style safari accommodation, though with numerous modern comforts. It’s a perfect pairing with any of the other Sarara camps, or a standalone safari in its own right.
2. Lewa Conservancy, Kenya
To stay within the Lewa Conservancy is to be part of an evolving and inspiring story of communities and families continuing the vision of their predecessors. Indeed, so world-renowned is it that it has been recognised and listed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. It isn’t just a Big Five destination: it’s one with heart and history.
While it might have been farming rangeland in the 1920s, a seed was being sown for what it would become even in those days by Alec Douglas, whose philosophy was ‘leave space for wildlife’. By the 1970s, there was a small, fenced and guarded rhino sanctuary, but eventually the livestock went, and the rhinos and all the other endemic animals began to thrive as the natural vegetation returned to these 27,000 hectares.
The rhino may be the headline act, but the holistic approach to conservation at Lewa has restored an ecosystem that contains far more than those that attract the safari novices clutching a list with just five to tick off. There’s an animal even rarer than a rhino to spot: Grevy’s zebra. What’s more, there are endangered reticulated giraffes, desert-adapted oryx, and packs of African painted dogs. With big cats aplenty too, Lewa is a safari destination that rivals the best. You can also enjoy it in multiple ways: riding a horse, mountain bike or camel; in a hot air balloon; on foot; and cool off in a waterfall plunge pool in the Ngare Ndare Forest.
There’s a small number of lodges and private villas in Lewa, all personal in scale, luxurious yet authentic, but – most importantly – owned by the conservancy itself or by families that have deep roots here. They’re integrated and coordinated and, thanks to education, healthcare and water initiatives that they sponsor and facilitate, it isn't just the rhinos that are flourishing. See the wildlife but also see the people – all of them – who are an extended, caring family.
Get close to wildlife by taking a horseback safari
The valley-side location of Lewa Wilderness lodge
On a horse, white rhinos pay you no attention. Encounters are close and exceptional.
Driving safaris bring you close to wildlife in comfort.
Ride in stately manner on the back of a camel
See the skill of the sniffer dog unit in the Lewa Conservancy
Spend time with the Masai community in Il Ngwesi
The dramatic backdrop of Mount Kenya is ever-present in the Lewa Conservancy
Enjoy the cool forest of Ngare Ndare
From its very beginning, Lewa Conservancy and Lewa House have been about family, and with two-bedroomed cottages sleeping four, this is the ideal place to bring your brood. Owners Sophie and Calum McFarlane raised their kids here: the fifth generation of the family to live in this special place.
A small and romantic luxury camp within a Big Five safari territory famed for its rhino population, Lewa Safari Camp has gorgeous ensuite tents beneath shady, thatched canopies. Owned directly by the Lewa Conservancy, it plays a key role in the economic basis of this famous conservation story.
In a prime hilltop setting within one of Kenya’s best – and yet under-visited – safari destinations, Kifaru House has a literal handful of gorgeous, thatched cottages in the grounds of a delightful lodge. The views are grand, but the scale of the experience is personal and intimate.
With a gorgeous valley-side location in the remarkable and abundant Lewa Conservancy, this cluster of luxury and individually exceptional cottages is the height of laid-back safari sophistication. Three of the nine cottages are perfect for families, but there’s so much room and privacy that couples will love this place too.
3. Segera Retreat, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya
Picasso once said that art washes away the dust of everyday life, and to experience Segera Retreat – an artistically crafted, intriguing and inspirationally beautiful place in every way – is to have the metaphorical and actual dust swilled off. True art is not a postcard aesthetic of mimicry; it is creative and inventive; it blends and combines to make a whole much greater than the sum of its parts. Such is the achievement here, a place that is not only consciously luxurious but also exquisite from any angle.
Segera Retreat is the brainchild of businessman and collector Jochen Zeitz, whose impeccable eye was cast over every aspect of curation and design of the gorgeous houses, gardens, pools and communal spaces. It’s a paradise of striking sculptures from the Zeitz collection, thatched houses emerging from the bougainvillaea, and exquisite glimpses to the natural beauty beyond.
There may be a temptation to spend downtime between safari excursions merely snoozing on a luxury terrace or enjoying treatments at the phenomenal wellness centre, but Segera Retreat is a place of inspiration as well as relaxation. Time spent in the 4C Centre is the starting point, followed perhaps by an expert-led tour of one of Africa’s best contemporary art collections in the converted stables. Then you’ll want to engage fully with excursions into the community to meet the artisans and creatives, and to experience the culture and traditions that inspire them.
With its private airstrip just a stroll away, it’s easy to observe Segera Retreat from above, perhaps in heritage style in the restored ‘Wings Over Africa’ biplane or otherwise in a helicopter heading to a distant bush location. From this vantage point, you’ll see the solar plant, the lush oasis of organic gardens, the regeneration of habitats, wildlife flourishing, and local people benefitting. You may even glimpse a patrol of East Africa’s first all-female anti-poaching unit.
Views from the villas at Segera Retreat are exceptional
The spa at Segera Retreat
Expert guiding will unveil exceptional safari moments for you at Segera Retreat
The Garden House at Segera Retreat
The houses at Segera Retreat are beautiful and secluded
The Bird's Nest, a place to sleep out under the stars
Meet Kenya's first all-women ranger unit
Segera Retreat houses some of the Zeitz Art Collection in stylish surroundings
Segera Retreat has stunning architecture with a relaxed luxury vibe
4. Koros Camp, South Horr Valley, Kenya
As the wise have always known, if you seek the truth of things, spend time in the wilderness. Don’t join the crowds, steer clear of the ‘usual’, and go to places where there is stillness and where your thoughts can be clear. Kenya has such places; and one of them is the semi-arid South Horr Valley, where you will find space to breath and think at peaceful, remote and simple Koros Camp.
The flight here is a powerful experience by itself, taking in mind-blowing and elemental landscapes of volcanic calderas, vividly multi-coloured lakes, raw deserts and parched, rugged mountains. And yet when you arrive, there’s a pool to slip into and recalibrate while you get your mind around your isolation. You’re off-grid between the Ndoto Mountains and Lake Turkana.
The trust that enables such authentic community encounters in a region where tourism is a rarity is something that is built through time and effort. For this, we can thank Nick and Angie Taylor, who forged links when they first established the camp as their home while working on the Lake Turkana wind farm. Nowadays, Karina Jessop and Amory Macleod – a member of a legendary Kenyan conservation dynasty – are the hosts who continue that tradition.
As for you, you may have spent the afternoon exploring a dry riverbed on a quad bike or ventured on foot to a rocky viewpoint while encountering the prolific birdlife. You may even have gone out onto the jade-coloured waters of Lake Turkana on Fiametta, the lodge’s boat, to hook an enormous Nile perch.
The location of Koros Camp in the South Horr Valley
Meet Samburu people
Enjoy the remote and dramatic South Horr Valley
Meet the Pokot people
Meet the Turkana people
Enjoy the cool oasis of the Koros Camp pool
The stylish, airy rooms are comfortable and immersive in their environment
Exploring the landscape can be by all kinds of methods, including quad bikes
Meet the Gabra people
5. Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya
Kenya’s newest black rhino sanctuary, the Loisaba Conservancy of the northern Laikipia Plateau is a community trust partnership encompassing more than 20,000 hectares of prime Ewaso ecosystem. Chosen from three other sanctuaries to improve the genetic variation of the line that will go on to thrive in Loisaba’s prime habitats, the 21 rhinos that arrived in 2024 each weighed more than 1000 kilogrammes.
While habitat restoration is a decades-long success story, pressures from poaching remain. As a result, constant vigilance is required, and visitors to Loisaba can spend time with the dedicated dog unit to see how they operate against this constant threat. Staying in one of the conservancy’s lodges, you’ll know that your stay contributes directly to the costs of this specialist outfit.
Sunrise at Loisaba Conservancys Lodo Springs
Lion tracking within the Loisaba Conservancy
Samburu traditions in the Loisaba Conservancy
Game drives in the Loisaba Conservancy are exceptional
Enjoy a night under the heaves in a Loisaba Star Bed
Loisaba Tented Camp in the Loisaba Conservancy
Loisaba Lodo Springs in the Loisaba Conservancy
The view from a starbed in the Loisaba Conservancy
Trek by camel in the Loisaba Conservancy
High on the edge of an escarpment, with a much visited waterhole below, Loisaba Tented Camp has an enviable position in Kenya’s Loisaba Conservancy. This is an area of rugged natural beauty, the camp a romantic retreat for those wanting to appreciate the wilderness in peace.
Loisaba Star Beds offers the ultimate sleeping under the stars experience combined with superb game viewing, excellent food and a friendly team of staff.
Perching in a breathtaking prime position above a land of safari perfection, Lodo Springs has the feeling of complete isolation and splendid exclusivity. Luxury combined with location is a heady combination.
6. Katavi National Park, Tanzania
Time marches relentlessly on. In many ways, things improve because we add comfort and discard difficulties, but in that process, sometimes we lose authenticity and simplicity. There are places, however, that are portals to a previous era; where things have remained relatively unchanged, and we have a chance to experience what used to be.
One of those places is Katavi National Park in the remote far southwest of Tanzania. It’s somewhere that the crowds haven’t discovered, and the safari experience is one of well-earned discovery. And within Katavi? The place to stay is the beautiful, far-flung, utterly peaceful (despite insistent elephants) and romantic safari camp of Chada-Katavi. Remove your watch because this place is timeless.
The return to camp, thrilled by the adventure you’ve just had, is always a peaceful homecoming. There’ll be a warm bucket shower waiting, a huge bed for a snooze, and a campaign-style lounge and library for contemplation, along with a shady deck below the tamarind trees. But there’s no infinity pool, wellness centre, tennis court or gift shop because, while this is a camp of impeccable comfort, it is intrepid and authentic.
Consider neighbouring Katavi’s Mahale Mountains on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, where you can have the sand between your toes between treks to see chimpanzees. Take a flight to the remote and sprawling southern parks of Nyerere or Ruaha, and you can enjoy river safaris and extraordinary big cat encounters. And if the Serengeti is a must for you, we’ll make you experience it in the most personal of ways by arranging a stay on the Mwimba Private Reserve, where the wildlife drama is complemented by cultural immersion with the Hadzabe people.
Enjoy the shady deck in the camp
The lounge is a perfect spot to relax
This is prime walking safari territory
The luxury tents have shady verandas
You'll enjoy views of the bush from a huge bed
Elephants can wander right through the camp
Waking up to a cup of coffee in a fly camp tent is a dawn to remember
See a girls empowerment workshop
Enjoy sundowner drinks in the best safari style
Chada Katavi wants you to experience total absorption into the natural world. Expect to see wildlife strolling past your tent and peeking in your windows.
This is a fairy-tale land, where forested mountains fall into a crystal clear lake that is as big as an ocean but without the salt!
Roho Ya Selous translates to ‘heart of the Selous’. The location truly lives up to its name and is the perfect place for wildlife enthusiasts.
Oliver’s Camp was established in 1992 by Paul Oliver. His vision was to recreate the old-world charm of a traditional African safari. We can confirm that he and his wonderful team have more than achieved this. Here you look forward to an intimate and exclusive safari experience, with direct access to nature.
Jabali Ridge is a truly luxurious retreat in Tanzania’s stunning Ruaha National Park. Here you will be treated to an exceptional safari experience.
We spoke with several companies and went with JourneySmiths because Ross, from day one, was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable and professional. Based on our discussions, he flawlessly organized the adventure of a lifetime! No detail was missed. The accommodations and staff everywhere that we went were truly amazing, without exception, and travel from one location to the next on smaller flights and bush planes were all taken care of... Having now experienced Journeysmiths, and Ross, there's no one else that I would travel with!
From the Team
“Whether it’s your first safari or your fifth, the landscapes and wildlife experiences of Kenya and Tanzania always leave their mark. With Journeysmiths, we help you see them differently — privately, profoundly, and on your terms. You don’t have to choose between big game, ancient cultures, community and conservation experiences, or even between great apes and time on the beach. These two countries let you do it all, away from the crowds.”
At Journeysmiths, we tailor every safari to your interests and style, and we believe Kenya and Tanzania have something unique to offer everyone:
- Seasoned safari-goers: Enjoy richer, quieter and more personal experiences. If you’ve explored the Serengeti or the Mara before, that’s just the beginning - there is still much more to discover.
- First-time travellers: Encounter wildlife and landscapes of your dreams in private, uncrowded settings - so the magic remains intact.
- Families: Enjoy privacy, flexibility, and the chance to connect — both with nature and with each other. Choose from private villas and exclusive conservancies, with exceptional guides who help children feel like true explorers.
- Couples: Find remote, romantic settings with luxury, space, and breathtaking views. Depth and soul are always on offer, and you’ll have plenty to choose from.
- Cultural explorers: Those who value real, respectful and impactful human connection appreciate the community integration that conservancies in Tanzania and Kenya embrace.
- Conservation enthusiasts: Love contributing to and learning about the ongoing and inspirational story of ecosystem restoration.
- Luxury travellers with a conscience: Appreciate the supreme comforts of many of the lodges, knowing that they are fully integrated into conservation and community development.
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