Top 10 Private Safari Camps in Kenya
Unmatched Privacy, Wilderness, and Wildlife Encounters
Discover the Luxury of Seclusion
If you’re searching for a safari experience that offers exclusivity, tranquility, and intimacy with nature, Kenya’s private safari camps are the perfect answer. Nestled in community conservancies, private reserves, and remote corners of the wilderness, these camps provide access to less-traveled routes, personalized service, and extraordinary game viewing—often without another vehicle in sight.
Unlike national parks, private conservancies in Kenya allow activities such as night drives, bush walks, off-road excursions, and cultural interactions that give you deeper immersion into the African bush. Whether you’re looking for a romantic hideaway, a family retreat, or a solo escape with five-star service, this guide to the top 10 private safari camps in Kenya will inspire your next great adventure.
1. Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp – Timeless Luxury in the Mara
📍 Location: Olderikesi Conservancy, Masai Mara
🛏 Type: Luxury vintage-style tented camp
Cottar’s is a family-owned camp operating for over 100 years, offering a throwback to the golden age of safari. Located in a 6,000-acre private conservancy, the camp gives guests access to the Masai Mara while avoiding the crowds.
Why it stands out:
- Antique-style luxury tents with modern comfort
- Private guides and vehicles
- Access to both conservancy and national reserve
👉 Explore Kenya’s Top Safari Lodges
2. Ol Donyo Lodge – A Mount Kilimanjaro Backdrop
📍 Location: Chyulu Hills Conservancy, Amboseli region
🛏 Type: Private lodge with rooftop star beds
Situated between Amboseli and Tsavo West, Ol Donyo offers one of Kenya’s most exclusive safari experiences. The lodge sits on a 275,000-acre private ranch and is a dream destination for horseback safaris, mountain biking, and watching elephants at the lodge’s waterhole.
Top experiences:
- Ride horses alongside giraffes
- Rooftop sleep-outs under the stars
- Private infinity pools and personalized dining
👉 Why Choose a Private Safari in Kenya
3. Saruni Samburu – Elevated Solitude in the North
📍 Location: Kalama Conservancy, Samburu
🛏 Type: Designer villas in rocky outcrops
Saruni Samburu redefines what it means to blend luxury with nature. The lodge is built into a cliffside, offering panoramic views across Northern Kenya. With fewer tourists, Samburu is home to unique species like the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich.
Best for:
- Exclusive photography and private game drives
- Off-the-grid luxury
- Cultural immersion with the Samburu people
4. Sanctuary Olonana – Award-Winning Private Camp on the Mara River
📍 Location: Private concession in Masai Mara
🛏 Type: Eco-luxury suites with riverfront views
With just 14 suites and floor-to-ceiling glass walls, Sanctuary Olonana is a private escape for luxury seekers. Located on a secluded section of the Mara River, it offers exceptional game viewing during the Great Migration with minimal crowds.
Unique highlights:
- Private plunge pools
- Spa with riverfront views
- Close to wildebeest river crossings
5. El Karama Eco Lodge – Family-Friendly Wilderness
📍 Location: Laikipia Plateau
🛏 Type: Eco-lodge in a private 14,000-acre ranch
El Karama is a private safari retreat that excels at family-focused safaris. From child-friendly game drives to nature walks and cooking classes, the lodge delivers an educational and exciting safari in a conservation-focused environment.
Ideal for:
- Private family safaris
- Farm-to-table meals
- Wildlife conservation and bushcraft activities
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6. Ol Lentille – Kenya’s Highest Safari Retreat
📍 Location: Northern Laikipia
🛏 Type: Four exclusive-use villas on 40,000 acres
If privacy is your top priority, Ol Lentille is your dream camp. Each group of guests is assigned an entire villa and private staff, including a butler, guide, and chef. From camel safaris to spa treatments, this is safari on your terms.
Why book here:
- Fully private experience for couples or families
- Community-run conservancy
- Customized safari schedules
7. Mara Plains Camp – Intimate, Elegant, and Remote
📍 Location: Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara
🛏 Type: Ultra-luxury tented camp
Mara Plains is a Relais & Châteaux property located in one of the Mara’s most game-rich conservancies. With only seven tents and maximum privacy, it’s ideal for serious wildlife photographers and honeymooners seeking exclusivity.
What you get:
- Use of a Canon DSLR and Swarovski binoculars
- Private decks with views of wildlife corridors
- Game drives in open 4×4 vehicles
👉 Where Luxury Meets Big 5 Sightings
8. Loisaba Lodo Springs – Designer Safari in the Hills
📍 Location: Loisaba Conservancy, Laikipia
🛏 Type: Designer safari suites with valley views
Opened in 2019, this stylish camp offers contemporary design and elevated service in the heart of Kenya’s wild north. With a dedicated safari vehicle and guide per booking, every activity is fully customized.
Best for:
- Bespoke safaris
- Helicopter excursions
- Scenic horse riding and camel safaris
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9. Segera Retreat – Art, Conservation, and Privacy
📍 Location: Laikipia Plateau
🛏 Type: Luxurious villas with artistic design
Segera fuses contemporary African art, wildlife conservation, and high-end privacy. Guests can enjoy a classic vintage safari car, dine under ancient trees, and sleep in the Zeitz tower suite. It’s less safari lodge and more private safari gallery.
Highlights:
- Art-inspired private villas
- Exclusive-use game drives
- Organic cuisine and wellness offerings
10. Tortilis Camp – Amboseli’s Boutique Gem
📍 Location: Private Kitirua Conservancy, Amboseli
🛏 Type: Tented camp with Kilimanjaro views
Tortilis offers access to Amboseli’s elephant herds while avoiding the crowds inside the park. Game drives in the conservancy are quieter and more relaxed, and the camp’s elevated setting gives superb views of Kilimanjaro on clear days.
Why go private here:
- Stunning views and serene atmosphere
- Family tent options
- Cultural visits to Maasai communities
👉 What Are Conservancies and Why Should I Visit Them?
Why Choose a Private Safari Camp in Kenya?
Staying in a private camp or conservancy gives you:
- Fewer vehicles and uncrowded wildlife sightings
- Flexible safari schedules (not just 6am and 4pm drives)
- More activities like night drives, off-road tracking, and walking safaris
- Deeper cultural immersion with fewer tourists
- Higher level of service including personal guides, chefs, and butlers
For honeymooners, photographers, repeat travelers, or those seeking space and serenity, Kenya’s private safari camps deliver an unforgettable experience that national parks alone can’t match.
