Arijiju 1

Laikipia

Arijiju

Overview

A private paradise

In a spot specially chosen for its sunrise, sunset and Mount Kenya views in Laikipia’s beautiful Borana Conservancy, Arijiju is one of Africa’s finest private safari properties.

Partly inspired by Ethiopia’s rock-cut churches and a 12th-century French abbey, Arijiju is hewn from the hillside, with a dramatic pathway leading to an imposing Lamu door and chic sanctuary beyond.

Surrounding the arched cloister and courtyard garden, over 2000 square meters of living space includes five generous suites, a cinema, games room, library, spa, bar, and a vast living and dining area, all decorated with a subdued mix of bespoke handcrafted furniture and antiques sourced from around the world. The infinity pool overlooks a waterhole below and a roof terrace has the best vista of all.

Outside, Borana is a conservation success story and a haven for adventure which you can explore on private drives, walks, rides and so much more.

Facts

At a glance

  • Five suites

  • Living area, dining room, cinema, games room, library and bar

  • Swimming pool, tennis and squash courts

  • Spa, gym and yoga deck

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Experiences

  • Arijiju game drive

    Game drives

    Arijiju offers exciting day and night guided game drives in open 4x4 Land Rovers. The breathtaking backdrop of the snowcapped Mount Kenya, and the rich diversity of flora and fauna on Borana Conservancy, make safaris from Arijiju strikingly photographic and an unforgettable experience.

  • Borana walks

    Walking and running

    Go trail running, hiking and walking in the pristine African wilderness. There are several different routes with varying degrees of difficulty and options are discussed and planned with the managers and guides. All running and walking is accompanied by a ranger, support vehicle and spotter.

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    Mountain biking

    The Borana Conservancy has endless rugged tracks and trails which are ideal for cycling enthusiasts. Rides are always guided and a support vehicle assists.

Community & Culture

One of the core objectives of Borana Conservancy on which Arijiju is situated is managing the interactions between humans and wildlife. With this in mind, they not only invest in the protection of wildlife with rangers on the ground, but they also help to build local livelihoods. Borana has always shared the benefits of tourism with its neighbours and helped change the perception of wildlife by increasing its potential value. They do this by supporting the development of various community tourism enterprises, including a mobile health clinic and the Borana Education Support Programme.

Conservation

In 2007 the Dyer family which owns Borana Conservancy decided to commit all retained earnings to support conservation activities. Its aim is to make conservation a long-term viable option through business resilience, strong community connections, and providing a habitat for the region’s most endangered species.

The land to build Arijiju was leased from Borana’s owner Michael Dyer on the condition that the profits made from paying guests would be reinjected into protecting wildlife, notably the conservancy’s successful rhino project and other conservation initiatives. The conservancy, along with neighbouring Lewa, is home to 14% of Kenya’s endangered black rhinos and works closely with the Kenya Conservancies Association and Northern Rangelands Trust. Constant biodiversity studies and species surveys are conducted here and plans are in place to protect threatened species. A team of 120 rangers employed from local communities has helped stave off poaching incidents in recent years.

Footprint

Borana Conservancy is committed to achieving and maintaining energy efficiency and minimizing carbon footprint on the environment and surrounding community. The house is fully powered by solar energy, recycles all grey water, uses minimal plastic, and uses a borehole to provide all drinking water.

Example trips

Get inspired

Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.

What makes us different

Why Niarra

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Niarra Travel is a forward-thinking travel company headquartered in London born out of a passion to do things differently.

In Swahili, a Bantu language spoken by millions in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, the name Niara means "with utmost purpose" and our team are united by a passion for exploration and a belief that the right kind of travel can make the world a better place.

Our Travel Researchers are here to create incredible trips with a positive impact for you.

  • Unforgettable experiences

    Creating your trip is entirely collaborative and our Travel Researchers are here for every step.

  • Positive impact

    Curated sustainable experiences and accommodation that maximize the benefits to local people and place.

  • Fairness and transparency

    An open, competitive pricing structure that ensures more money goes to where it's needed in the destination.

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