experiences

Experience the gentle rhythm of camel travel as you journey across the plains at sunset or descend into the valley in the cool early morning light on your way to a bush breakfast. From your elevated vantage point, the landscape unfolds before you—vast horizons, roaming wildlife, and the quiet serenity of the African bush. Our camels are calm, friendly, and accustomed to sharing the land with the wildlife they feed alongside each day.

This unique harmony allows animals to move naturally around one another, often giving you the rare opportunity to approach wildlife more closely and quietly than on foot. Keep an eye out for their elegant cousins, the giraffe, as well as antelope and other plains game that inhabit the surrounding landscape. Anyone of any age or experience can ride a camel, and they comfortably carry more weight than our horses—so there’s no need for concern about the scales!

In the branches of an ancient Boskia tree, overlooking a small seasonal waterhole nestled in the heart of Ol Malo ranch sits the Ol Malo Treehouse. A sanctuary under the expansive and indescribable beauty of the African night sky; a chance for you to sleep under a million stars, disconnect from reality and enjoy the peace and quiet of the bush. The treehouse experience begins with an evening drive (or walk) down the valley to reach your tree that has been set up for the evening.

A large campfire surrounded by camp chairs and sundowners await you, at the base of the tree. Relax round the fire enjoying the evening sounds of the bush with your favourite drink in hand and enjoy a delicious dinner cooked on the fire. Spiral stairs take you up to a rustic platform, where a comfortable bed under the stars awaits. You can snuggle under the duvet and star gaze, or use the spotlight to check for any nighttime visitors to the water hole. Basic amenities - a water basin and short drop toilet are set up marked by lanterns below the tree.

Game drives on Ol Malo are exclusive to our guests. Rooftop seats in modified Land Cruisers provide an ideal vantage point to spot wildlife and enjoy the landscape, an experience unique to Ol Malo since we are a private conservancy, allowing us the flexibility of being able to sit up on rooftop seats as opposed to being enclosed in a vehicle, as in most national parks.

On night drives guests will take out a spotlight to look for nocturnal animals such as lion, leopard, bat eared foxes, spotted and striped hyena and eagle owls. You can combine a night game drive with any number of hikes during the day, returning after a sundowner to spotlight your way home or head out after dinner for a late night drive in search of the elusive Aardvark !

Tucked beneath the escarpment and overlooking a small waterhole, the Leopard Hide offers a unique opportunity to spend a night immersed in the sights and sounds of the bush. Positioned near a tree frequently visited by one of the area's resident leopards, the hide provides a comfortable and sheltered vantage point from which to observe the natural activity around the waterhole.

The Hide itself is a simple rock-and-thatch cottage with an open front ( that can be closed) , allowing you to feel connected to your surroundings while remaining comfortable and secure. As the waterhole attracts wildlife throughout the day and night, there is always the possibility of seeing something unexpected from the comfort of your bed. Accessible only on foot, the experience begins with a walk down the escarpment from the lodge.

By the time you arrive, the Ol Malo team will have prepared cosy bunk-style beds, ready for your overnight stay. Settle in with a sundowner and enjoy a relaxed farm-to-fork dinner as the evening unfolds. As darkness falls, the bush takes on a different character. The sounds of the night drift through the valley while you relax in your private hideaway, enjoying a side of the wilderness that few people get to experience. With its combination of comfort, seclusion, and connection to nature, the Leopard Hide is a memorable way to spend a night in the heart of the wild.

The sundowner is a cherished African tradition symbolising the end of the day and the beginning of the evening. Relax and unwind after a full day of adventure, with your favourite drink watching the sun as it slowly dips below the horizon. At Ol Malo there is no shortage of incredible sundowner spots and its popularity makes it pretty much compulsory.

A sundowner is an intimate moment in serene and beautiful surroundings, a chance to reflect and connect with your family and friends whilst taking in the magic of an African evening. Some say the sun might not set if you don’t watch it with a drink in hand.

Enjoy an outdoor breakfast under an acacia tree in the middle of the ranch with hot coffee, toast roasted over the flames of a campfire and made-to-order eggs.

Leaving the lodge or house at 7.30 a.m. after a morning caffeine wake up but before the heat of the day sets in, this is an opportunity to spend a morning out in the bush exploring the land on foot, camel, or horseback (for advanced riders). You will be led by your Samburu guide and a spotter.

This is a chance to experience things that are missed on a game drive and enjoy the wilderness from a different perspective.

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Should guests wish to visit a local Samburu market (Tuesdays and Saturdays) we suggest approaching the experience as a way to step into the culture of nomadic life rather than a shopping trip. The market vendors will likely only accept Kenya Shillings (so bring these if a market is something to plan to visit) unfortunately we cannot exchange money for Kenya Shillings on-site and there are no ATMs in the area.

Shopping - Samburu Trust Women's group, beadwork
The local markets are traders from all over and not necessarily families we know, a market is more of an experience however If guests wish to purchase beadwork or souvenirs, we ask you to empower the women employed in the non-profit Samburu Trust Women’s Group Shop. Based at Ol Malo since 2000

Ol Malo has a close and symbiotic relationship with the Samburu tribe and the Samburu families in the area. We have worked closely with the local tribe right from the beginning and our Samburu Trust supports numerous families in the area.

As a result our guests are welcomed into a number of the local community homesteads, an opportunity to gain an invaluable insight into the Samburu way of life and culture by seeing traditional dances and singing, visiting our Samburu Trust beading workshop and joining a Samburu Mama in her home for tea. It must be noted that these experiences are completely un-commercial and purely a cultural experience.

In a ‘doors off’ helicopter the adventures are some of the most unique experiences one can have into Africa, exploring places you never knew existed. Meeting time honoured faces, and wildlife where only the wild things can roam.

Trips can vary from an evening flight to a perfect sundowner perch, a visit to Reteti Elephant orphanage with a coffee stop or to our most epic day trips up the great rift valley, through moonscapes and volcanic paint pots, passing through landscapes of that could be from multiple countries and picnicking with your toes and crystal clear pools being nibbled by fish.
To take it one step further go on an overnight or multiple nights adventure Ol Malo Nomad Helicopter

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