Ailsa’s Visit to Ol Lentille, Kenya

Ol Lentille, Kenya  

Fermented milk, a camel & the marathon man…

Join us for the first of our Q&A sessions with Ailsa as we chat about her incredible trip in March that led her to Laikipia and Lewa in Kenya, followed by Wildwaters in Uganda and finally to the beautiful Tanzania.

‘First on my itinerary was Ol Lentille where 4, fully serviced luxury villas are set within Ol Lentille’s 40,000 acre conservation area in Laikipia, Kenya. Regarded as one of the most unique safari lodges in Kenya for its unmatched location, rare beauty, and ancient roots, Ol Lentille offers a very different approach to luxury travel fuelled and inextricably linked to conservation and community.   

Ailsa, please share with us a little about your first impressions of the Laikipia region? 

No matter how many times you have done it, for me, nothing beats the exhilaration & anticipation of arriving by small plane into a dirt airstrip in Africa. My arrival into Laikipia was no exception. Safari Link connects from Nairobi Wilson in less than an hour. Loisaba air strip (it’s one building, so no terminal dashing or conveyor congestion here. In fact, no dashing, full stop - heavenly) offers a small, well-kept building, with bathroom facilities and information on the valuable work the conservation team undertake. But before that, by the runway, we were met with the customary broad smiles of 2 guides who greeted myself and a family of 4 heading to a different location.  The sun was shining and a sense of mental detox, set in immediately as Solomon, my guide and I hit the road for the 75-minute drive to the lodge…. Unhurried, uncrowded & breathtaking are my buzz words for this region.

What did you think of Ol Lentille?

Wow – something I really didn’t fully comprehend from the images and that can’t be captured entirely online, is the location. Not just the lodge as a whole, but the precise and unique positioning of the villas and main areas which all straddle the ridge of one of the highest points in the region. The result, be it from the poolside, spa, your villa or The Gallery is each location offers a unique, breathtaking and uninterrupted view.

The current custodians of Ol Lentille have put a considerable amount of thought, time and investment into the attention to detail and décor of each villa/house/suite. It’s an overused cliché, but the staff effortlessly fell into a pace and rhythm that suited me and the many things I wanted to experience and do over the coming days, meaning I instantly felt relaxed, cared for and ‘at home’.

More than anything, the standout must be the activities, experiences and community partnerships which I will talk about a little further on.

Top Tips?

1)    Combine Ol Lentille with another game experience, visiting the Maasai Mara or Lewa Conservancy first would be my preference, but equally can be reversed. The ‘take-away’ and memories from your stay at Ol Lentille will carry greater meaning and your appreciation for the authenticity each and every activity and interaction will be more deeply rooted.

2)    3 nights is not enough! Activities are numerous and you will want to do them all.

a.     Go to the local goat and cattle market and true local market (children were stroking my skin and wanted to touch my hair… this was not the tourism hot spots I had experienced on other trips and the experience a first for me! This was the real and often unseen Kenya…

b.      Spend an evening or afternoon at a local Manyatta (village), be a guest at a local wedding or circumcision (honestly… I was relieved there wasn’t one taking place… but the explanation was fascinating and eye watering at the same time!)

c.     Take a camel safari, riding to the river rewarding yourself (and your camel) with a leisurely lunch by the river side as local herdsmen (young boys) bring their goats to drink.

d.     Join the Maasai and Samburu villagers at the ‘singing wells’ -this is unique to this region and something normally the preserve of their tribe. The careful integration between Ol Lentille and the community ensures guests are welcome and, in the least, ‘tourist’ way possible, this is a huge tick.

e.     Walk with baboons. Normally known to be aggressive and unapproachable, this is the world’s only habituated baboon colony, living wild, but having been studied for decades, the two conservationists studying them daily, will guide you as you walk quietly alongside the troop as they come home to ‘roost’ for the night…

f.      Visit the schools & hospital that Ol Lentille supports, it is truly humbling and rewarding to see, first hand, how invaluable the support from tourism contributions are.

3)    Lastly, make sure you take time to include bush breakfasts, sundowners dining, star gazing and the vast and varied walking Ol Lentille has to offer.

4)    Pick a movie and enjoy a fireside boma outdoor movie night.

5)    Dance with the local warriors, enjoy star gazing the unpolluted skies from the various decks and viewpoints.

Who do you think this sort of holiday is best suited to?

Guests that want to experience not only the bush and unique topography of Northern Kenya, but adventure & connection. An authentic Africa, and whilst doing so truly benefit, the local community, without compromising standards of accommodation, breadth of activity, experiences, dining & remote relaxation. 

What was your biggest highlight?

Solomon and Boni (their backstory) and our many adventures.

I believed I had experienced ‘community’ before, but this was the first time I truly felt as if my interactions were unscripted, unplanned and genuinely spontaneous. We exchanged lifestyle differences and insights, with equal interest and fascination. Sitting with Boni and Solomon and their relatives, sharing Kenyan tea (goats milk infused with a herb and lots of sugar) as well as fermented milk… swapping stories and questions, has left a lasting impression.

Solomon, my guide was a leading Kenyan marathon runner until his international career was accidentally brought to a halt by another runner tripping him up during the London Marathon. That year he was set to lead the pack with a PB that has only been beaten by a handful of others since. He has travelled the world ‘running’ (he is very tall and fast I am told!) and is not only head of the local community, but led me on 3 days of adventure, friendship and insight. He currently runs a running club for over 600 youngsters, talked me through their community beliefs, traditions, expectations and so much more.

Boniface, our very own Camel man (well he actually owns the camels) and the community mediator. Also, a guide at Ol Lentille. A one-time TV personality being one of the two Maasai/Samburu plucked from rural Africa to star in ‘Two Kenyan Guys’ a National Geographic docuseries several years ago. Boni and his friend Lemarti were sent to New York, Texas and beyond, recording their reactions to life on another continent. (google it… a clip is still available on You Tube) Boni is also an extreme rally driving champion and has a fabulous sense of humour. Yet, all that aside, listening to Boni sing to sooth the camels as he guided them (and we rode) to the river,  showed you can take the man out of Africa, but you will never take Africa out of these men.

Was there anything that surprised you?

The Maasai and Samburu men and women that I met and learnt about. Many have experienced and pursued lives in other countries… stockbroker in New York, lawyer in Europe to world class athletes I recall being mentioned, yet the allure and pull of their community, simplicity of their lifestyle and the sheer magnetism and beauty of Laikipia draws them home… having visited, I can fully appreciate why.

Why do you think Ol Lentille offers the best possible experience?

For all the reasons above and more… I could recant stories for hours. The experiences offered are not easily replicated or offered at just ‘any’ location or lodge. Ol Lentille has harnessed, embraced and delivers a unique offering. 

Take a sneak peak at Ailsa's highlights from her recent trip to Ol Lentille in the Laikipia Conservancy of Northern Kenya.