New luxury tented camp opens in Laikipia County

It takes us about 20 minutes from Nanyuki town to arrive at Mutara Conservancy, a 63,000 hectare ranch owned by the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC).

Until last year, there was nothing much going on at the ranch. However, towards the end of the year, the profile of the ranch changed after Jambo Chester Hotels & Resorts leased 20,000 hectares to build the Jambo Laikipia tented Camp - a serene and private place with personalised service.

There are only 15 luxury tents - among them one presidential suite. The VIP suite comes with a Jacuzzi for that romantic relaxed feeling for couples looking for a nice getaway. There are also four family and group tents.

Set on a magnificent ridge, Jambo Laikipia tented Camp overlooks beautiful hills. Below, the swimming pool welcomes guest to cool off from the piercing sun.

The tents are spacious, with wooden floors to keep your feet warm at all times.  In the evening and during the dry season, wild animals converge below the camp almost next to the pool to for water from a stream that hardly dries off.

The camp has a capacity of 30 guests but can be extended to accommodate an additional 10 people. It has a restaurant with the option of dining either inside or outside while watching the wild animals wondering in the wilderness below. 

The restaurant is built to match both Victorian and African hospitality. The camp is eco-friendly.  The water is pumped from a borehole sunk inside the expansive property.

A 60,000 litre tank reservoir has also been built. With this storage tank, the camp can run for six days in case of water shortage.

There is also electricity and WI FI for those guests who can’t afford to stay away from their gadgets while on holiday.

Guests staying at Mutara tented camp can also visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The two facilities signed a memorandum of understanding to give guests maximum experience of the wild.

At Ol Pejeta, tourists can go for lion or chimpanzee tracking, as well watching other game. A few metres from the camp are quarters for the drivers complete with a canteen.

Mutara Conservancy has enough security personnel. Some of who are guards and rangers from the ADC ranch. The camp also has an in-house nurse and subscribes to the flying doctors services.

Jambo Chester hotel& resorts has invested Sh180million in this camp which is part of the investments by Monarch Holdings. The group has interest in entertainment, hospitality, real estate and insurance.

Jambo Chester Hotel Nairobi (formerly Chester House) and Impala Eco-lodge in Kisumu - inside the Impala sanctuary is part of its hospitality portfolio.

Other hotels by the hotels are Jambo Lake Nakuru Camp at the Delamere ranch, Jambo Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Jambo Jahazi&Bahari House in Watamu.

Monarch Holdings is also looking to invest in Meru with the Jambo Golo Camp and Jambo Mara Camp at the edge of Maasai Mara Conservancy.