A Complete Guide to Mount Kenya: From Highlands Lodges to Forest Hideaways

From Highlands Lodges to Forest Hideaways
Karen Plains Recommends: A Kenya Weekender Series

City Guide – Kenya Weekenders

Where the Wild Highlands Meet Refined Hospitality

Crackling fireplaces. Steaming mugs of chai. Trout fresh from glacier streams. Hikes under alpine sun and nights beneath constellations so bright they could be traced by hand. Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak, is a world of snow-dusted summits, ancient forests, and quiet luxury — just four hours from Nairobi.

For travellers craving both wilderness and warmth, the region’s boutique lodges, heritage farms, and conservation-led stays offer an elevated slice of Kenyan serenity.

🌿 Where to Stay Around Mount Kenya

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

Best For: timeless luxury and cinematic views
Address: Nanyuki-Timau Road, Nanyuki
Price: from $550 per night

Perched on the equator with views of Mount Kenya’s icy crown, this legendary lodge blends 1950s glamour with modern comfort. Suites open onto manicured lawns where peacocks wander freely. Expect roaring fires, horseback safaris, and cocktails by the river.

Soames Hotel & Jack’s Bar

Best For: chic simplicity and gourmet comfort
Address: Nanyuki–Meru Highway, Nanyuki
Price: from $150 per night

A favourite of weekenders from Nairobi, Soames pairs minimalist Scandi interiors with panoramic mountain views. Its restaurant serves locally sourced dishes — think crispy tilapia, rosemary chips, and passion fruit mojitos at sunset.

Olepangi Farm

Best For: countryside elegance and slow living
Address: Timau, Laikipia
Price: from $220 per night

Olepangi’s whitewashed cottages and vintage furnishings evoke the grace of an English country home set amid Kenyan wilderness. Days here are for horse riding, afternoon tea, and star-filled nights by the firepit.

Sweetwaters Serena Camp

Best For: conservation safaris and family stays
Address: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia
Price: from $320 per night

Located within Ol Pejeta — East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary — this eco-camp offers tented luxury surrounded by wildlife. Morning game drives reveal elephants and endangered Grevy’s zebras; evenings bring candlelit dinners overlooking the waterhole.

The Riverstone Camp

Best For: riverside seclusion and modern design
Address: Burguret, Nanyuki
Price: from $180 per night

Hidden on the banks of the Burguret River, Riverstone offers sleek architecture that merges with forest canopy. Each glass-fronted villa has an outdoor tub, letting you soak beneath a sky full of stars.

🏔️ What to Do Around Mount Kenya

Summit & Trails
Adventurous travellers can tackle the Lenana Peak trek — a moderate climb ideal for first-time mountaineers. Shorter routes like Sirimon or Chogoria reveal alpine lakes and bamboo forests.

Wildlife & Conservation
Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy to meet the last northern white rhinos, or stop by Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, home to rescued bongos and colobus monkeys.

Local Culture
Shop woven baskets and beadwork at Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers, or tour Brown’s Cheese Farm for a picnic on the lawn paired with house-made brie.

Coffee & Craft
Pop into Le Rustique in Nanyuki for brunch and local art, or unwind at Cedar Mall’s rooftop cafés, perfect for travellers mixing work and leisure.

🚗 How to Get to Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya lies about 200 km north of Nairobi — roughly a four-hour drive via the A2 highway. Private transfers from Karen Plains Hotel can be arranged for guests as part of our “Kenya Weekenders” concierge program.
Closest airstrips: Nanyuki Airport (45 minutes from most lodges). Daily flights operate via Safarilink and Air Kenya.

🌅 When to Visit

• December–March: Clear skies, best for summit views and hiking.

• April–June: Lush greenery and lower rates — ideal for photographers.

• July–October: Peak safari season, abundant wildlife sightings.

🕊️ Karen Plains Recommends

Just as we bring quiet art and design to Nairobi’s leafy Karen suburb, Mount Kenya brings peace to the highlands. It’s where creative minds, explorers, and romantics find stillness — and return renewed.

Plan your next Kenya Weekender with us.
👉 Book your stay at Karen Plains Hotel to begin your journey: https://live.ipms247.com/booking/book-rooms-karenplainshotel