Sirikoi is a spectacular game lodge situated on its own private estate in the centre of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya. Surrounded by an acacia grove and overlooking a natural waterhole fed from a mountain spring Sirikoi offers some of the best game viewing in East Africa. Evening sundowners with incredible views of distant mountain ranges; delicious meals served under the stars next to a roaring fire and the sounds of animals in camp late at night are just a small part of this magical experience. A wide range of activities are offered such as helicopter trips, lion tracking, horseback riding, and visits to a local Maasai homestead. Offering unparalleled hospitality in breathtaking surroundings, Sirikoi is one of the outstanding lodges in Kenya where guests will be part of a unique African adventure

Location

Situated on the northern foothills of Mt Kenya (276 kilometers north of Nairobi), Sirkoi  Camp is set on the 45,000 acre privately owned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa can be reached via daily scheduled flights (via Nanyuki) to Lewa Downs or by private air charter directly to Lewa Downs airstrip. Or by road, four hour drive from Nairobi. 

The Background

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a pioneer in wildlife preservation, which has gained a reputation for extending benefits of conservation beyond its borders.  Visitors have privileged access to a scenically spectacular area, densely populated with wildlife.  All income generated by the camp goes directly towards Lewa’s conservation and community projects. Lewa Wilderness is situated within one of Kenya’s major private conservation successes, Lewa Downs which is found at the foot of Mt Kenya.   Lewa Downs has been the Craig family home since 1924 when the Craigs came from England and began raising cattle here.  Lewa Wilderness is the original family home of the Craigs and is still home to Will and Emma Craig.

Lewa Downs has three extraordinary assets:

• Beautiful countryside, and as good a wildlife viewing as anywhere in Africa

• The endangered species – Rhino, both Black and White, Grevy’s Zebra, and Sitatunga

• A major commitment to community development and participation.

Accommodation

Twelve permanent luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water and flush lavatories. Nine comfortable thatched cottages with ensuite bathrooms and electric lighting which is provided by a 240V generator that runs during the morning and evening hours. Closed for the months of April and November.

Dining and bars

The food is wholesome, ranch style and organically grown - full board, including soft drinks, beer, house wines and bottled water with meals. Sirikoi is run from solar energy, has its own extensive organic vegetable and fruit garden, free range chickens and dairy and a crystal clear mountain spring providing all the lodge’s water. The one acre organic garden supplies fresh daily produce and is the most prodigious of its type at any lodge or camp in Kenya. A huge selection of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers grow in abundance including bananas, tree tomatoes, avocadoes, lemongrass and lilies. We are soon to have a wetland area for naturally purifying kitchen and laundry water, and a methane plant where animal bi products (cow dung) is used to cook the staff food and heat their water

Conference and event facilities

Upon application.

Child-friendly

Children are welcome.

What to see and do

Fantastic views of distant mountain ranges and a beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kenya provide a perfect setting for game drives and bush walks. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has an incredible variety of wildlife with over 70 different species of mammal. There are roughly equal numbers of black and white rhino - the latest count numbers 106. The world's largest concentration of the endangered Grevy zebra resides on Lewa as well as elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, oryx, lion, leopard and cheetah amongst others. The Conservancy is teeming with birdlife with over 350 species across the diverse topography which includes rolling open plains, hills and kopjes, thick forest, valleys, escarpments, wetlands and rivers

• Fly Camps: Enjoy the beauty and solitude of remote destinations by flying into a secluded fly camp in northern Kenya for a night or two. With incredible unspoilt landscapes, we will erect a camp under shady Doum Palms and experience the tranquility and peace of a rarely visited land. 

• Lion Tracking: A few of the lions on Lewa are monitored so that important research information such as social structure, territory and feeding ecology can be evaluated. Guests can go out with the experienced trackers to locate the lions and help collate information about their movements and behaviour. 

• Fishing

There are some great trout fishing opportunities on Lake Alice and Lake Michelson within neighbouring Mount Kenya National Park. We can organise specialised fishing trips all over Kenya fishing for Marlin and Sailfin off the Lamu coastline to Nile Perch and Tilapia in Lake Turkana.  

• Helicopter trips: Just a 15 minute ride from Sirikoi by helicopter you can be circling the peaks of Mount Kenya - the second highest point in Africa. Remote and incredible destinations all over Kenya can be explored from the isolated desert dunes in the north to the spectacular flamingo lakes in the Great Rift Valley in the south. 

• Visit to Maasai Homesteads: Learn first-hand about the local customs, culture and daily lives of the Masai with a visit to a local village. 

• Biplane excursion: Enjoy the allure of the early aviation days when Karen Blixen and Denys Finch-Hatton flew around Kenya in a brand new Waco biplane. Based on the original model of the 1920's and 30's, the planes have room for two passengers to sit side by side for this nostalgic once-in-in-a-lifetime flying experience over an incredible African landscape. 

• Horseback riding: Enjoy the sounds and sights of the bush while on horseback.  Some game can be closely approached while riding a horse through stunning scenery and varied terrain making for an exciting excursion. 

• Camel safaris: This is predominantly a walking safari with camels to carry the camp and supplies led by Samburu tribesmen whose knowledge of the terrain has been passed through generations. A three to four hour walk in the morning with a stop for a bush breakfast is followed by a long rest during the heat of the day at your newly erected campsite. From here you can experience an evening bushwalk and a hot shower under the stars before falling asleep listening to the sounds of the African bush.