#Solio Game Reserve

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“ Solio Game Reserve “ // Bjorn Persson

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A pair of white rhinos nudge their heads gently together at a watering hole in Solio Game Reserve, Kenya. “It’s a photo that depicts love and care to me, showcasing a beautiful bond between the two rhinos,” said the photographer - Photograph: mediadrumimages/Nadine Villabrun

click image link for more Week in Wildlife photos

[funnywildlife]

#RhinoFriday Shout out from @bush2cityadventure These are magnificent and powerful animals that need our help and protection if future generations ever want to see them in the wild! We`re helping to raise money to support rhino conservation projects and you have opportunity to make a significant contribution too, book a conservation safari with us and join expert guide and ranger on the field as they follow the natural drama of rhino in the wilderness. This incredible adventure can be booked individual or combined at Singita Grumeti Tanzania or Phinda and Ngala Private Game Reserve or Marataba South Africa and Kenya feature Meru National Park or Lewa wildlife Conservancy. 📷: Solio Lodge 📷: Andbeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve 📷: Elewana Kifaru Haouse #Wildography #Travel4Conservation https://www.instagram.com/p/CTGUMD-iCsc/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Game Drives in Solio Reserve Solo is all about rhinos, but there’s plenty of other wildlife to see here, and several species that are not so common in other places. Like the reticulate giraffes, a subspecies of giraffes with absolutely distinct color patterns. Or the Beisa oryx, an absolutely stunning large antelope, very timid and skittish, also with stunning colors, as if they are wearing masks. Plenty of zebras, waterbucks, impala. Two more mammal species here that I’ve never haven’t seen before - coypu (a species of large water rat or nutria), and African golden cat (no pictures of him, but clear view of him crossing the road and then sitting in the bushes and staring at us). #travel2unlimited #travel #travelblogger #Africa #safari #kenya #natgeo #natgeotravel .#wildlife #africansafari #adventure #solio #rhino #rhinos (at Solio Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFF6dMBedR/?igshid=1ikh4ea67kf9v

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Set at the foothills of Mount Kenya, Olepangi Farm is an authentic farmstead in Timau. Set on 120 acres, this family-run lodge offers amazing views over the natural surroundings and is hosted by the owners, Elizabeth and Clinton who have developed the farm as a lifelong dream to live in such a paradise.

The beautifully appointed cottages are decorated with rich antique carpets and beds. Each one has a private bathroom and is fitted with a shower and comes with beautiful organic soap, shampoo and conditioner handmade in Kenya. At the farm, guests can enjoy massages, horse riding, community walks, croquet, gin tastings and the favourite option “do nothing.” Further afield, the beautiful Laikipia region is ideal for hiking, horse riding and game viewing. Guests can take day trips into the many neighbouring wildlife reserves including Samburu National Park Ol Pejeta, Lolldaigas, Solio and into Ngare Ndare Forest

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Ingrid Vekemans' “White Rhinoceros Battle,” taken at the Solio Game Reserve, Kenya, won the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Award 2021 for the Wildlife at Risk category

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The sanctuary on Solio Ranch (also Solio Game Reserve) on Laikipia Plateau was founded in 1970 as a breeding ground for white and black rhinos. This has been extremely successful, and many rhino have been translocated to other parks and reserves. The small park is literally full of rhino and a variety of other safari animals have been introduced as well. #solioranch #visitkenya🇰🇪 #magicalkenya🇰🇪 #welovewildlife (at Solio Ranch) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPFfgIMgw6d/?utm_medium=tumblr

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East African oryx herd, Solio Game Reserve in Kenya's Great Rift Valley(1366x768)

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12 magical days in Kenya is what awaits you on this dream African safari. Upon arriving at the Nairobi Airport, you will be met by your private driver and whisked away to famous Giraffe Manor. I wrote an entire blog about my recent experience there about how adults can play like children there.

Giraffe Manor is owned by the Safari Collection and is an exclusive boutique hotel set in 12 private acres inside an indigenous forest in Nairobi. One of the 12 rooms is named after Karen Blixen (author of “Out of Africa”) but the true fascination is the herd of Rothschild’s giraffes who visit morning and evening, sometimes poking their long necks into the windows of the Manor in hopes of a treat. It is an experience you will never forget.

After spending 2 nights at Giraffe Manor, you will enjoy a charter flight to your first safari camp in Kenya from the Safari Collection – Solio Lodge the only camp on the 45,000 acre Solio Game Reserve. You are met by camp staff at the private airstrip to be driven to the lodge nestled on this private wildlife sanctuary tucked in between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains. You will get to see not only black but white rhinos thanks to the internationally recognized private rhino breeding reserve. On a recent visit, I saw 64 rhino in 1 game drive but they also have other great game like the giraffes and birds.

Enjoying both morning and evening game drives seeing lions, leopards, zebra, warthogs and plenty of impalas, you return to your luxurious cottage before joining the others for dinner – often served outdoors with fresh organic ingredients from the lodge’s garden.

After exploring Solio Lodge for 3 nights, you are now off on another charter flight to Safari Collection’s next stop – Sasaab Lodge. Exploring Kenya’s Northern Frontier allows you to see the majestic elephants to lions, leopards, cheetahs and the Samburu Special Five: Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk Antelope and Somali Ostrich.

Your Moroccan-styled room has an enormous open-air bathroom and a private plunge pool along with a relaxing veranda to observe Mount Kenya by day and star gazing by night.

It’s hard to believe that another 3 nights has gone by but it is now time to head to the last of the 3 safari camps for this trip – Safari Collections’s Sala’s Camp. Imagine combining comfort with understated intimate luxury and that is exactly what you will find in this tented camp. Located on the southern, wilder corner of Kenya’s mighty Masai Mara game reserve and where the Sand and the Keekorok Rivers come together, the area attracts teeming wildlife – from wildebeest to huge lion populations.

The morning brings opportunities to experience the wildlife and birdlife of the Masai Mara before returning to a bountiful breakfast. Relax in your luxurious tent by taking a plunge in your private pool. After an exhilarating evening game drive, return to relax and meet up for sundowners by the campfire before enjoying dinner under the stars.

It is hard to believe but it is time to say good-bye to Kenya. 12 days filled with the best game reserves in the world, delicious fine dining and wines, sleeping under the stars and meeting fascinating people are just a few of the memories you will take back with you.

Ready to book your trip? Call us right now at 1-800-940-9344 or email us at hoainfo@hillsofafrica.com so we can begin turning your dream into reality with your Kenyan African Safari.

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Visiting Giraffe Manor in Kenya

Africa is such a dynamic and fascinating continent. It’s an incredible place to soak in history and learn about the past. One especially fascinating and visually stunning period here is the turn of the twentieth century.

If you want to turn back time to see Kenya the way it looked in the 1930s, you’ve got to check out The Safari Collection’s Giraffe Manor. Incredibly preserved and sitting on top of 140 acres of land, this place is like stepping into a dream.

Here’s my experience staying at Giraffe Manor in Kenya!

A post shared by Kiersten • The Blonde Abroad (@theblondeabroad) on Apr 10, 2017 at 10:12am PDT

About

Getting To

Giraffes

Food

Activities

More

About

The Giraffe Manor

The Safari Collection’s Giraffe Manor has just ten rooms, which can accommodate up to twenty-five guests. While it’s definitely a luxury spot, it doesn’t have the usual fitness center and swimming pool setup– it’s not a place to do business or even think about your life in the twenty-first century.

With that said, it does offer Wi-Fi, massage therapists, complimentary chauffeured vehicles, and full boarding, which includes an incredible choice of international cuisine and spirits. There are 10 rooms on property, and they each have their own stunning decor and unique personality.

However, there’s usually one main reason that everyone comes to the Giraffe Manor…

and that is to see the world-famous giraffes that roam the property!

Getting To

Getting to Giraffe Manor

While you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time, Giraffe Manor is actually just over thirty minutes from Nairobi’s international airport in the Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi. It’s also just a quick ride to the center of town or the Nairobi National Park.

While Nairobi is a great place to visit and Kenya has a ton to offer, you are never going to want to leave Giraffe Manor.

Giraffes

The Giraffes

There are around twenty Rothschild giraffes that wander around the space between the Giraffe Manor and the Nairobi Giraffe Centre. These guys are incredibly friendly and are very, very used to interacting with people.

The giraffes will eat right from your hand, and they definitely expect you to feed them! They have so much personality that the staff actually knows each and every giraffe by sight and name and can even tell you about their personalities and ancestors.

In the morning, you’ll wake to giraffes impatiently waiting for you to come to your balcony and treat them to some snacks. We woke before the sun and were giddy with excitement to see two giraffe faces peeking through our balcony.

Just before sunset, high tea is served in the company of the giraffes. You can enjoy scones, cookies and cakes along with tea or a cold glass of wine as you feed the giraffes and watch as the fading Kenyan sun lights the sky on fire with pink and purple.

And, the pièce de résistance of my experience at Giraffe manor was getting to enjoy breakfast with the giraffes. Guests gather in the dining room to feed the giraffes their breakfast, then enjoy a delicious “human breakfast” to themselves.

I should note that the Rothschild’s giraffes are one of the most endangered subspecies of giraffe and one of the world’s most at-risk species. So while they are definitely a tourist draw, the Nairobi Giraffe Centre and The Safari Collection’s Giraffe Manor are really there to help local giraffes.

The Safari Collection is all about sustainability, community, and conservation.

They work to positively affect the community and wildlife while teaching the world about Kenya’s wildlife. In addition to helping these tall guys, The Safari Collection works with different organizations that help the mere 20,000 lions and 7,000 cheetahs remaining in Africa.

Food

The Food

At the Giraffe Manor, all of your food and drinks are included so you don’t have to worry about anything. Your day starts with a breakfast that can range from a quick bite of fruit to a full, cooked breakfast.

Lunch and dinner are both from a set three-course menu.

One aspect of dining at the Giraffe Manor that I really liked is that you sit down and eat family style with the other guests. The food is seasonal and varied, but you can generally expect a blend of international cuisine with fine dining touches and African flair. It’s a unique place and you get to meet people from all over the globe!

What You Should Know

The property is family friendly – which is great for kids and families! However, if you’re coming for a romantic, quiet getaway, be prepared to potentially have a lot of little ones running around.

At dinner, the guests were separated to families could eat together, while the adults traveling without kids ate in the formal dining room.

Activities

Activities

The Giraffe Sanctuary on property is a must-visit, as well as the nearby David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust — a haven for elephant and rhinos orphans.

In addition to activities around the property, Giraffe Manor creates customized itineraries for each guest. It organizes everything from horseback tours to hot-air balloon rides to camel treks to visits in local villages where you can learn about the native culture.

More

The Safari Collection

The Safari Collection owns and operates boutique, luxury lodges and camps throughout Kenya. Their other properties are truly remarkable, and if you’re looking to extend your time in Kenya (beyond the Giraffe Manor) here’s the highlights of their other properties:

Sasaab Lodge in Samburu

Imagine nine individual cottages situated high on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River– that’s Sasaab Ladge! The property commands breath-taking views across the arid landscape of the Northern Frontier District and offers a truly exceptional safari experience.

Solio Lodge in Laikipia

Solio Lodge is located on a private wildlife sanctuary, tucked in the valley between the lofty slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of the Aberdare Mountains, directly north of Nairobi. Talk about intimacy! The Solio Reserve is also internationally recognized as the most successful private rhino breeding reserve in Kenya, so you WILL see them!

Sala’s Camp in the Masai Mara

Located in the heart of the Masai Mara, Sala’s Camp is one of the most intimate and luxurious lodges in the reserve. The camp can sleep up to 18 across seven luxury tents that come with all the comforts guests could wish for including en-suite bathrooms with hot showers! This camp allows access to some of the most untouched parts in the Mara where game viewing is less likely to be shared with other tourists. Win, win!

^ BACK TO TOP ^

– In My Opinion –

One night was actually enough time to experience everything on the property. I arrived in the afternoon just before tea, and left the following day just after lunch.

I’ll be honest, I was a bit worried that it would feel like a tourist trap and I’d leave feeling like I got scammed on a place that’s nothing more than an epic Instagram photo opportunity. But, that’s not the case. This place is the real deal.

Giraffe Manor is literally the coolest boutique hotel I’ve ever stayed at. Aside from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share your breakfast with giraffes, the food, staff and accommodation truly are next level amazing.

  SHOP my favorite Kenya-travel essentials!

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Thank you to The Safari Collection for hosting me during my stay. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Visiting Giraffe Manor in Kenya is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2qFaAkJ

[travel2unlimited]

Total Rhino Overload at Solio Reserve In most reserves in Africa, you are super lucky if you spot one or two rhinos in far distance for a quick glimpse. Not so at the Solio Reserve - here rhinos are like buffalo and antelopes - everywhere. Solio Reserve is a private 17,500-acre reserve that has one of the highest concentration of rhinos in entire Africa (in fact many that are born here are supplied to other parks around Kenya). There are about 300 rhinos here (around 20 are black and the rest are white). In a single day of game driving (all day long), we counted 128 rhinos (3 of them the elusive blacks) - no double counting, and this is insane. It was a total rhino wonderland, with rhinos everywhere, near and far, some with massive horns and most with small babies. Rhinos are territorial, but the territory is relatively small, revolving around the central pile where the whole family poops. Get ready for a complete rhino pic overload! #travel2unlimited #travel #travelblogger #Africa #safari #kenya #natgeo #natgeotravel .#wildlife #africansafari #adventure #solio #rhino #rhinos (at Solio Lodge, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMDhA6ZB7o4/?igshid=1q4ozqynmryxt