Solio Laikipia, Kenya
Opened
2010
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Luxe Resort LocalOutside the door
The house
The Safari CollectionRhino sanctuary keep
Five thatched cottages sit nestled in a private valley, where rhinos roam outside and a rescued bush baby visits the fireside lounge.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Private customized safari vehicles with dedicated guides accompany every cottage alongside nightly lit fireplaces and bush breakfasts.
Remarkable
Horseback riding across acacia plains, mountain biking, guided bush walks, and private game drives across the conservancy.
Remarkable
A private wildlife sanctuary between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares dedicated to black and white rhino breeding.
What they say
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Africa
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Solio's five spacious, thatched roof cottages boast a row of floor-to-ceiling windows, offering front-row seats to the 45,000-acre reserve…
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Tucked between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range, the surrounding 45,000-acre private reserve opens directly to guided drives and mountain biking.
The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling glass frames the conservancy plains, letting you watch wildlife directly from open fireplaces and deep double-ended soaking tubs.
Massage and sauna
Therapists set up massage tables beside your cottage fireplace, and an outdoor wood-fired sauna looks toward Mount Kenya.
At the table
Dishes use vegetables from the on-site organic garden, served on timber decks under acacia trees overlooking the plains.
How it began
Opened in 2010, this is the only lodge inside a historic 1970 sanctuary renowned for breeding black and white rhinos.
Laikipia
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.