good for you

At Ol Malo in the heart of Samburu territory, the day is measured by the patterns of nature.

The day begins when you wake up an amazing sunrise framing the snow-capped peaks of Mt Kenya while hot Kenyan coffee and home-made biscuits are brought to your room.

A perfect way to celebrate the new day is with a dawn camel ride into the wilderness, keeping tempo with the world by the roll of the animal’s stride. You are likely to see any of 50 types of Game, including Elephants, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion, Leopard and cheetah.

At night a warm inner glow will envelope you as you recount the day’s memories by the warmth of the roaring fire.

Ol Malo is called ‘the place of the Greater Kudu’ by the Samburu people, and to stay here is to abandon yourself and for a short time live by different drumbeat in wild and beautiful Northern Kenya.

good for kenya

Colin and Rocky Francombe, both born in Kenya of settler families, designed and built Ol Malo. They do a great deal in the area to help their Samburu neighbours. They have set up ‘The Ol Malo Trust’, a trust fund providing help for the Samburu with their medical needs, food and support through severe drought and offering guidance towards important environmental developments.

They have also created Ol Malo Designs, a company which provides employment and financial assistance to the Samburu people, and aims to develop their talents through art. During a recent severe drought, Ol Malo fed over 200 families who had lost all their livestock and were literally starving, through this method.

Rooms

Food

Three meals plus drinks are included in the rates at Ol Malo.

Home cooking is very much the theme at Ol Malo, starting each morning with hot tea/coffee and home made biscuits bought to your room.

A full English breakfast is available and can either be taken in Ol Malo’s dining room, which is a fitting tribute to the phrase ‘room with a view’ or in the bush with the animals in the wild.

A buffet-style lunch of tasty fresh meats, salad, home baked bread and desserts are served daily by the pool or you can take a picnic down by the river.

Dinners consist of mouth watering three-course meals using local ingredients, which can be taken in the dining room or on your own private veranda. For those seeking a little more adventure, candlelit bush dinners under the stars can be arranged.

Ol Malo’s cooks will also attempt to provide kids with their favourite meals at a time that suits the family, and nannies can be provided to look after children for short periods of time, to give parents a chance to enjoy some time alone.

Spirits, wine, beer and soft drinks are all included in the price at Ol Malo, but if you want to celebrate with champagne, it is at an additional cost and must be organised before you arrive.

Features & Facilities

• Full range of activities and Game Safaris are included in the rates. See the Local Info section for more information.
• Four separate cottages each accommodating two to three people.
• Two additional luxury tents
• En-suite bathrooms in cottages and tents
• Private verandas attached to each cottage
• Swimming pool
• No electricity, but lighting is provided by a generator.
• Ol Malo Designs gift shop

Local Info & Activities

This spectacular region is considered the gateway to Kenya’s wild Northern frontier country. Wild and sparsely populated. This is an area of beautiful wilderness, where protected game roams freely and safely. Centred around the original Laikipia National Reserve, this area has become a sanctuary for Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic Northern species.

game safaris

Ol Malo is situated in the Northern Frontier District with no fenced areas. Over 50 species of animal and 280 species of bird life can be found at Ol Malo and in its surrounding Laikipia region.

Game to be found includes; Elephants, Buffalo, Giraffe, Grevy and Burchell Zebra, Gerenuk, Hartebeast, Grants and Thompsons Gazelle, Impala, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena (spotted and striped) and Wild Dog.

Game is wild and unused to human company, which makes it all the more exciting when tracking the animals by foot, 4WD vehicle, camel or horse.

Camel and Horse Rides: Ol Malo has a family of camels and ponies that can be ridden across the plains, or around the camp which is a perfect way to experience the bush.

Local Samburu Manyatta: The Samburu love meeting Ol Malo’s guests. During your stay you can have the chance to meet the local Samburu children, visit their school, paint, learn tribal dancing, make beaded artifacts, and visit their manyatta (village). There is also the chance to learn about hunting with spears and try your hand at spear throwing.

Nature Walks: Africa is not only about the Big Five – at Ol Malo’s guides are experts in finding the smaller things of interest – spiders, insects, harvester ants, flowers and plants

Camping under the Stars: For the more adventurous, try a sleep-out under the stars and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild – this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Overnight in the Look Out Hut: Just by the water hole is a fantastic hut which is visited by different types of animals. Fitted with bunk beds it can be an exciting place to spend the night and you never know who could wake you up in the morning.

Mountain Biking: The hilly terrain is perfect for mountain bike lovers. Bikes are available for use on a daily basis and are free-of-charge.

Children’s activities: There is a range of activities designed especially for kids including face painting, treasure hunts, swimming races, wildlife spotting, cooking and picnics.

Sustainability

Colin and Rocky Francombe, both born in Kenya of settler families, designed and built Ol Malo. They do a great deal in the area to help their Samburu neighbours. They have set up ‘The Ol Malo Trust’, a trust fund providing help for the Samburu with their medical needs, food and support through severe drought and offering guidance towards important environmental developments.

The Ol Malo eye project has involved the treating of 102 people suffering from the preventable disease Trachoma. Doctors from the UK visited Ol Malo camp and treated these people, giving them back their sight. Plans are in place for another visit by Doctors in Autumn 2007. Up to 80% of adults in the Ol Malo area suffer from Trachoma.

Getting There

This area of wilderness at Laikipia is a sprawling, rather loosely defined area, accessible by road from Nanyuki, Baringo, Eldoret or Isiolo. Full information on directions and maps will be supplied to guests on reservation.

There are scheduled flights to Lewa Downs in Laikipia and Ol Malo also has it’s own private air charter and air strip.

Kenya is well served by major international airlines, which fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa).

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

The ranch is closed for the months of April, May and November.

• US$425 per adult per night
• US$210 p/child p/night
• US$60 pp per day park conservation fee
• US$20 for children.

Full board accommodation, including meals, soft drinks, beer and house wine, game drives, guided walks; horse riding, camel treks and Samburu cultural visits.

booking & cancellation policy

• A 25% deposit secures reservations and balance must be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival.
• Cancellation policy: Between 120 and 45 days before stay – 20% of total cost of stay is forfeited
• Between 30 and 45 days 40% of total cost of stay is forfeited.
• 100% is forfeited if cancelled 30 days prior to arrival.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.