Borana
Arijiju Retreat is an exclusive-use luxury villa on Kenya’s Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, with views toward Mount Kenya. It has five suites for up to ten guests, a cantilevered pool, spa and hammam, and Big Five game drives on its doorstep. It is ideal for families, friends and private celebrations seeking space, privacy and wildlife.
Arijiju Retreat is an exclusive-use luxury villa on Kenya’s Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, with views toward Mount Kenya. It has five suites for up to ten guests, a cantilevered pool, spa and hammam, and Big Five game drives on its doorstep. It is ideal for families, friends and private celebrations seeking space, privacy and wildlife.
By Olengugih Safaris | Kenya safari planning guide
Quick answer: Arijiju Retreat is an exclusive-use luxury villa on the Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, northern Kenya, with views toward Mount Kenya. It has five suites for up to ten guests, a spa and hammam, tennis and squash courts, and Big Five game drives on its doorstep. It is rented as a whole house, which makes it one of Kenya's best choices for multi-generational family trips, friends travelling together and private celebrations. Most guests fly from Nairobi in about an hour.
Arijiju Retreat is a private safari home set on a hillside in the Borana Conservancy, part of the game-rich Laikipia plateau in Kenya's highlands. Unlike a traditional lodge with shared dining rooms and other guests, the whole property is yours alone. Your group has the house, the staff, the guides and the pool to itself.
The building is part of the appeal. Grass-covered living roofs and walls of local Meru stone help it blend into the hillside, and its design draws on the rock-hewn churches and monasteries of Ethiopia. Inside, the feel is closer to a beautifully furnished country house than a tented camp, with fireplaces, a cinema room, a library, a candle-lit lounge and bar, and arched windows looking over the valley.
Detail | Arijiju Retreat |
|---|---|
Location | Borana Conservancy, Laikipia, Kenya |
Style | Private, exclusive-use villa |
Accommodation | Five suites: three in the main house, two in cottages |
Capacity | Up to 10 guests |
Landscape | Highland savannah, rocky outcrops, views toward Mount Kenya |
Wellness | Spa house, hammam, gym, yoga deck, tennis and squash courts |
Wildlife | Big Five, black and white rhino, cheetah, wild dog and more |
Children | Welcome |
Best for | Families, friends, honeymoon buy-outs, milestone celebrations |
Getting there | Around one hour by charter flight from Nairobi, then a short drive |
Arijiju sits inside the Borana Conservancy on the Laikipia plateau, north of Mount Kenya. Borana is a privately managed conservancy of roughly 90,000 acres that shares an unfenced boundary with the neighbouring Lewa Conservancy, so wildlife moves freely across a very large protected landscape. The area is known for its conservation work, including rhino protection, and has Kenya's northern highlands scenery of open plains, acacia and distant mountain views.
The retreat is also described as being in malaria-free highland country. If that matters for your family, confirm the current position with your doctor or a travel clinic before you travel.
Arijiju is built for groups. Three suites are in the main house, arranged around a central courtyard, and two further suites sit in cottages connected by a stone pathway. That layout works well for two families, three generations, or up to five couples, because everyone has real privacy while sharing the main living spaces.
Suites are furnished with a mix of traditional Kenyan craftsmanship and contemporary comfort. A rooftop "constellation suite" for sleeping under the stars is available on request, which is a rare thing to offer at this level of luxury.
The pool. A cantilevered pool hangs over the Sieku valley beside an old olive tree. Elephants and other wildlife are known to visit the water below, so you can watch them from a sun lounger.
The food. Meals are built around local, farm-reared meat and vegetables from the retreat's organic kitchen garden. Menus can be tailored from indulgent to light, vegan or gluten-free, and meals can be served on a terrace, by the fireplace or out in the conservancy.
The wellness side. The spa, hammam, gym, yoga deck and tennis and squash courts mean you can fill days without leaving the property. Spa treatments are typically included as part of the rate, but check the current inclusions when you request a quote.
Because the house is exclusive-use, the day is shaped around your group rather than a lodge timetable. Typical activities include:
Most guests fly. There are two main options:
A private helicopter transfer directly to the property is also possible. Driving from Nairobi is possible but long, so most travellers prefer to fly.
Laikipia can be visited year-round. The drier months, roughly June to October and January to March, usually give easier wildlife viewing because animals gather around water. The green, quieter seasons offer lush scenery and better value. Weather and wildlife patterns vary from year to year, so ask us for current advice when you plan.
Arijiju is rented as a whole house, and in 2026 the daily rate for up to six guests is USD 18,500 in peak season and USD 16,000 in off-peak season. You pay per house, not per person.
Season | Dates | Daily rate (up to 6 guests) | Per extra adult | Per extra child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Peak | 1 June to 30 September and 16 December to 10 January | $18,500 | $2,600 | $1,300 |
Off-peak | 11 January to 31 May and 1 October to 15 December | $16,000 | $2,500 | $1,200 |
The house sleeps up to ten guests, so a group larger than six adds the extra adult or child rate for each additional guest per day. Rates are in US dollars and shown for 2026; 2027 rates may differ. Park and conservancy fees, airstrip transfers and flights are often charged separately, so the most accurate way to price your trip is to request a personalised quote.
It is less suited to solo travellers or anyone wanting a classic shared lodge atmosphere or a low-budget safari.
Many guests pair Laikipia's quiet, private luxury with the Masai Mara for the Great Migration or Amboseli for elephants beneath Kilimanjaro. A beach finish on the Kenyan coast is another popular choice. At Olengugih Safaris we plan these combinations around your dates and group. Browse our Kenya safaris, explore luxury safari experiences and ultra-luxury hotels and lodges, or request a free quote.
Is Arijiju Retreat exclusive use? Yes. The whole property is booked by one party, with five suites for up to ten guests.
How many people can stay at Arijiju? Up to ten guests across five suites.
Is Arijiju suitable for children? Yes, children are welcome, and the layout suits families and multiple generations.
How do I get to Arijiju from Nairobi? Fly from Wilson Airport to Borana airstrip (about an hour) and drive a short distance, or take a scheduled flight to Lewa and transfer by road.
Is Arijiju in a malaria-free area? It is described as being in malaria-free highland country. Check current medical advice before you travel.
What can I do at Arijiju? Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, rhino tracking, horse riding, mountain biking, spa treatments, tennis, squash, yoga and optional helicopter excursions.
Can Olengugih Safaris arrange a stay at Arijiju? Contact us with your dates and group size and we will build a quote and a full Kenya itinerary around it.
Tell us your dates, group size and interests, and we will design a private Kenya itinerary around Arijiju Retreat, with flights, transfers and add-ons included. Start your enquiry or call us on +254 717 210 198.
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Last reviewed 14 Oct 2026
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Borana