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Experience a delightful escape from urban life at Ol Malo House & Lodge, Laikipia, Kenya


Ol Malo are especially known for their hospitality, with two generations of the Francombe family sharing the hosting and management over their two properties (Ol Malo Lodge and Ol Malo House). Ol Malo Lodge is a very intimate bush homestead offering an old school hosted experience – perfect if you are seeking exclusivity and personal hosting.

Ol Malo is a charming game sanctuary set on a 5,000-acre working ranch. The lodge was built using natural materials, and is warm, hospitable and friendly – you are made to feel at home from the outset, and everything is truly set up so you can do what you want when you want.

It provides a delightful escape from urban life, set in an astounding natural landscape, and with a range of unusual safari activities on offer. Staying here is a hands-on, exciting way to experience Kenya’s wildlife.

Ol Malo manages to balance a sense of luxury and has beautiful lawns running down to the cliff edge, to provide a stunning view of the watering hole below which is a hive of activity for the resident wildlife. Each cottage has a private verandah and the swimming pool adds to the beauty and comfort, as a quick dip cools those hot days.

Large picture windows in each room frame the vast ever changing landscape and provide unlimited views of soaring eagles, wildlife on the plains, and the African sky.

Ol Malo is the adventure of a lifetime. A different world. A revelation. But all have felt the change within. Arriving as one person and departing as another!

Ol Malo at a glance

  • Relax by the infinity pool and soak in the incredible views
  • Discover the Ol Malo Conservancy on the back of a camel or horse
  • Enjoy a fabulous al fresco lunch in the shade of a giant fig tree by the river
  • Visit the local Samburu nursery school
  • Four bunk beds are set up in the leopard blind to allow you to spend the night there in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive leopard

Where is Ol Malo Located?

Perched on the cliffs of the Laikipia Plateau, Ol Malo feels utterly remote, and it is, being a three-hour drive from the nearest town. Ol Malo is on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in Kenya's wild and beautiful North Eastern Province - 5000 acres of spectacular bush country overlooked by Mount Kenya and teeming with antelope from which the land takes its name. In this majestic setting on a rock escarpment on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau.

What sort of accommodation is available at Ol Malo?

There are four stone and thatched private en-suite cottages at Ol Malo Lodge, each with their own private verandah. For families or groups of friends travelling together, Ol Malo House is very private and booked on an exclusive basis. It has six double rooms, comfortably accommodating up to 12 people.

  • Double Room - There are 4 double cottages all with double rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
  • Private House - The House at Ol Malo is wonderfully positioned and very private for groups of up to 12 guests.

What activities are available at Ol Malo?

Ol Malo has plenty to keep you busy, the guides are all fully trained, licensed, and most grew up in the surrounding wilderness so know the area very well. The lodge can tailor the activities to suit individual requirements, from game viewing by vehicle or foot, riding, camel rides, fishing or mountain biking. It is also possible and encouraged to visit some of the community projects and meet the Samburu people of the area.

Ol Malo Habitat & Wildlife

The Laikipia covers a significant portion of dramatic countryside in northern Kenya, sandwiched between Samburu and Mount Kenya in the east and the Aberdare Mountains and Great Rift Valley in the west.

The central section of the area is covered by a lava plateau which creates a series of rocky escarpments offering epic views, whilst a series of rocky outcrops and hills dot the landscape revealing the landscapes much more ancient history (some of these rocks are thought to be around 80 million years old).

The region is divided into a number of private ranches, conservancies and community lands with farming (cattle mainly), wildlife conservation and local populations all existing in relative harmony. As the region is increasingly closely managed, and the local communities are made more aware of their role in conserving wildlife and benefitting from this, there has been an increase in properties dedicated solely to wildlife, and in these areas the wildlife populations are growing steadily.

Some private ranches have been concentrating on wildlife conservation for many years and offer superb game viewing experiences, though in general the Laikipia region is better known for its wilderness, scenery and the wide variety of activities on offer.

The terrain and habitat is varied with two main rivers dissecting the region – the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok. These rivers are fed from Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains respectively and provide year round water through what can otherwise be described as a dry and harsh environment.

Around 250 species of birds have been recorded and the mammal list includes greater kudu, gerenuk, wild dog, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, lion, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Thompson and Grants gazelle, eland, Beisa oryx, defassa waterbuck, striped hyaena, spotted hyaena, baboon, vervet monkey, jackal, warthog and many smaller species such as caracal, African wild cat, serval, genet, civet, porcupine, aardvark, aardwolf and rock hyrax.

Are Children welcome at Ol Malo?

Children are very welcome to visit Ol Malo and although there are no specific child care facilities, babysitting can be arranged. The lodge is able to arrange separate meals for children and a more child friendly menu. The guides are also very flexible and are able to arrange activities to suit children of all ages.

When is the best time to visit Ol Malo?

Ol Malo is closed in April, May & November.

The main season is in January and February when the weather is hottest and driest. At this time, the animals in the wildlife parks tend to congregate more around the watercourses, making them easier to spot.

Northern and eastern Kenya temperatures vary from highs of up to 40°C during the day to less than 20°C at night. Rainfall in this area is sparse and, when it does occur, is often in the form of violent storms. July is usually the driest month, and November the wettest.

Conservation and Community at Ol Malo

Ol Malo work closely with the local communities and have supported various initiatives, in particular starting the Samburu Trust. The Trust, which began with a small number of women and children, now covers over 1 million acres of Samburuland and gives support to schools, local villages, water reservoirs and wildlife conservation.

Ol Malo Ranch provides a plentiful supply of home grown produce for the kitchen by various means; sheep providing lamb, beef and dairy cows, camel milk for lactose intolerance, chickens eggs, freshly picked vegetables and acacia honey harvested from the trees. Whilst Sausage, the resident pig, ensures no food goes to waste!

For further information, please do feel free to contact Nicola directly or at The Explorations Company for further inspiration and unforgettable safaris and holidays to Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Or, if you would like to just dream some more for now then you can by visiting our Video Library.

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