By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is one of the most famous hotels in Africa. Founded by the Hollywood actor William Holden, it sits on the equator in more than 100 acres of gardens beneath the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. It has welcomed Winston Churchill, Clark Gable and John Wayne, and it still has the gracious, old-world glamour of a 1950s safari club, with peacocks on the lawns and fires in the rooms.
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is one of the most famous hotels in Africa. Founded by the Hollywood actor William Holden, it sits on the equator in more than 100 acres of gardens beneath the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. It has welcomed Winston Churchill, Clark Gable and John Wayne, and it still has the gracious, old-world glamour of a 1950s safari club, with peacocks on the lawns and fires in the rooms.
Location: Nanyuki, Kenya
The club sits on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, near the town of Nanyuki, in Kenya's central highlands, and the equator runs right through the grounds: the tennis court famously straddles it. Mount Kenya, at 5,199 metres, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-highest peak in Africa. Nairobi is a few hours away by road, or a short flight to Nanyuki's airstrip. Nearby Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the Big Five and to a chimpanzee sanctuary, and the wildlife reserves of Laikipia and Samburu are within easy reach.
The surrounding area is one of Kenya's great safari regions. Ol Pejeta Conservancy, nearby, is home to the last two northern white rhinos in the world, as well as the Big Five and the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary, while the wide plains of Laikipia offer walking safaris, camel treks and horse riding among elephants and giraffes. Mount Kenya itself can be climbed: Point Lenana, at 4,985 metres, is a challenging but non-technical trekking summit, reached over several days through bamboo forest, moorland and giant groundsels.
Rooms and cottages at Mount Kenya Safari Club
Rooms, suites and cottages are spread through the gardens, renovated with wood-burning fireplaces, private verandas and comfortable, classic furniture. The atmosphere is traditional rather than contemporary, in keeping with the club's history, and many rooms look out over the lawns to the mountain.
The club's history is everywhere, from photographs of the stars who stayed here in its heyday to the gracious lounges and bars where safari stories have been told for decades. It began as a private home in the 1930s, and Holden and his partners turned it into one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.
Facilities at Mount Kenya Safari Club
There is a heated pool, where afternoon tea and cocktails are served with views of the peaks, a nine-hole golf course, tennis and beautifully kept gardens with ponds and wandering peacocks. The William Holden Wildlife Foundation's animal orphanage, on the estate, cares for orphaned wildlife, and guests can meet some of its residents. The hotel arranges game drives in nearby conservancies, horse riding, guided walks and hikes on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya.
The mountain moment
The Mount Kenya moment is dawn, when the clouds lift and the jagged, glacier-streaked peaks of Batian and Nelion appear above the forest, glowing pink in the first light, while peacocks call across the lawns. Then step across the equator for breakfast.
In the evening, the club comes into its own, with drinks by the fire in the bar, dinner in the grand dining room and the sounds of the African night drifting across the lawns, much as it was when Hollywood stars gathered here in the 1960s.
Why Mount Kenya Safari Club is one of the best mountain hotels
The club earns its place for its history and setting. Few hotels anywhere have such glamorous stories, and the views of Mount Kenya, the gardens and the equator make it a memorable stop on any Kenyan safari. It is traditional rather than cutting-edge, and some guests find it more of a heritage experience than a luxury lodge. But for character and history, it is unique.
For a highland safari lodge in Tanzania, see The Highlands.
Two nights is enough to enjoy the club, the gardens and a visit to Ol Pejeta, and many guests use it as a comfortable start or finish to a safari in Laikipia, Samburu or the Maasai Mara. Pack layers, as the highland mornings and evenings are cool, and bring binoculars for the birdlife in the gardens.
When to go to Mount Kenya Safari Club
The best weather comes in the dry seasons, from late June to October and from late December to March, when Mount Kenya's peaks are most often clear. April and May bring the long rains, and November the short rains, though showers usually pass quickly. Combine a stay with the wildlife of Ol Pejeta, Laikipia or Samburu, or the Maasai Mara.
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Questions, answered
- Who founded Mount Kenya Safari Club?
- The Hollywood actor William Holden founded the club, which has hosted stars and statesmen including Winston Churchill.
- Is Mount Kenya Safari Club on the equator?
- Yes. The equator runs through the grounds, and the tennis court straddles it.
- Does Mount Kenya Safari Club have a pool?
- Yes, with afternoon tea and views of Mount Kenya.
- How do you get to Mount Kenya Safari Club?
- By road from Nairobi, a few hours, or a short flight to Nanyuki.
