El Karama Lodge is an intimate, family run safari stay set within a private wildlife conservancy, where luxury feels personal and deeply connected to the land. With just a handful of cottages, it offers a tailor made experience rooted in conservation, community, and over 70 years of stewardship by the Grant family. It is a place where guests are welcomed like part of the home, with every detail shaped by a genuine love for the wild and the people who protect it.
Experience/ Vibe
This is a safari that feels slow, meaningful, and incredibly personal. Days are shaped around you, whether that means walking through the bush, tracking wildlife on foot, sharing stories over long meals, or simply taking in the stillness of the landscape. There is a strong sense of connection here, to nature, to people, and to purpose, with a balance of adventure, comfort, and thoughtful touches that make the whole experience feel effortless and special.
What’s Included
Location
Set within a private conservancy in Laikipia, El Karama offers a truly off the beaten path safari experience surrounded by diverse landscapes and thriving wildlife. As the only lodge in the conservancy, it feels remote and exclusive, while still being easily accessible, giving you a rare sense of space and complete immersion in nature.
Exclusive features
Environmental
Social
We had an amazing stay at El Karama Lodge this September and loved every moment of it. The service and attention to detail were outstanding, and the food — much of it coming straight from their garden and ranch — was delicious. Joseph and Elizabeth were wonderful hosts, and our guide John was a pleasure to spend time with.
We really enjoyed having a private vehicle, which allowed us to go wherever we wanted, take our time, and get all the photos we hoped for. A very special memory was the surprise bush breakfast to celebrate my husband’s birthday — such a thoughtful touch.
For a day and a half we were the only guests in the lodge, which made it feel like we had the entire conservancy to ourselves. Between lunches by the pool, dinners by the fireplace, and incredible wildlife sightings — including lions, cheetahs, and leopards — these three days will stay with us forever. And yes, it is absolutely worth the 1 hour 50 minute bumpy road from the airport — the experience on arrival makes it all worthwhile.
We highly recommend El Karama Lodge.
We had a brilliant stay at el Karama, the game drives were excellent, with lots of unusual animals, including Aardwolf, striped hyena, leopard and bat eared foxes as well as elephant ,hippo and giraffe. My daughter loved bush school with John, all the staff were friendly and hospitable and the accommodation was great. Best of all, the food was supreme too
We had the loveliest stay at El Karama. The team (shout out to Sammy, Wachira, and Joseph) went above and beyond to ensure our family was well taken care of throughout our stay. It is a very kid friendly place with a great pool and bush school activities for children to give parents a break in the middle of the day. They even provide babysitting at night so you can enjoy your dinners. The conservancy is also stunningly beautiful. Would love to stay here again down the road!
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