Ol Malo – Laikipia hotels
Ol Malo is a privately-owned game sanctuary on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in Kenya’s wild and beautiful North Eastern Province – 5000 acres of spectacular bush country overlooked by Mount Kenya and teeming with the elusive antelope from which the land takes its name.
In this majestic setting – on a rock escarpment on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau,
bordering the tribal heartlands of the nomadic Samburu people – the Francombe family and their Samburu neighbours have created a home for themselves and a dream destination for the privileged few who seek a glimpse into the true heart of Africa.
They are pleased to be able to share their vision, their experience and their way of life with guests from around the world, either in the hospitality of the family home or in a large self-contained house in the grounds of one of the most stunning properties in east Africa.
Colin and Rocky Francombe are both descended from old settler families and have always dreamed of owning their own piece of Africa. In 1991 they bought Ol Malo and out of the dense bush carved a future for themselves and their children – first a foothold in the towering hillside, then a family home and in 2006 an exceptionally luxurious house for guests. In the process they have transformed an overgrazed cattle ranch into a world-renowned sanctuary for wild animals that offers visitors an intimate and rare appreciation of Kenya’s culture, local Samburu people and wildlife.
Ol Malo is a striking building in an outstanding location – natural local materials sculpted into a warm and hospitable lodge set among the curves of a rocky hillside surveying one of the great views of the world.
Comfortable and accommodating sitting and dining rooms provide shady terraces for protection from the sun – and open firehotelss for the cooler evenings. Smooth lawns and carefully tended shrubberies sweep down to a cliff edge, providing a vantage point for activity at the watering hole and salt lick below. A maze of slated pathways wind down to four rock and olive wood cottages.
Each double room has its own veranda and complete privacy. Large picture windows frame a wild, constantly changing landscape – clouds scud across the sky, stately eagles wheel and glide on thermals above the plains. An infinity pool adds to the beauty as well as the amenity of this hotels.
Built, owned and managed by Colin and Rocky Francombe, with the help of the Samburu people, Ol Malo has established a reputation in the world of eco-tourism that far exceeds its modest size and is a result of the Francombe family’s commitment to personal service and attention to detail. For just a handful of guests at a time, Ol Malo offers the perfect mix of comfort, luxury and life in harmony with nature.
The new building on the property – Ol Malo House – is exclusive to one group of guests, able to accommodate 12 guests with ease. Built in rock, olive wood and with a thatched roof, it continues the hand-crafted tradition established by Colin – but Ol Malo House is designed and created by the whole Francombe family: Colin and Rocky, with Andrew, their son, and daughters Anne and Julia.
The hub of the house is a large and beautiful sitting and dining room – with open firehotelss – encircled by three en-suite double bedrooms. Separate cottages create a further three double bedrooms: each private and comfortable cottage has arch windows and doors, en-suite bathrooms, and decor inspired by the area’s wild landscape, local flora and the life and culture of the Samburu people. Lighting is handmade by the Samburu women creates a warm ambience and welcoming atmosphere. A flagstone path leads to a large open area overlooking the infinity pool and this incredible land’s wide-open vistas – perfect for al fresco dining. A barbecue area creates a wonderful hotels in which to end the day under a star-studded African sky.
The plains and dense bush round Ol Malo contain an enormous number of species – some unique to the area. This is the birthhotels of mankind and home to some of the greatest bio-diversity on earth. Those with an inclination to take in the wonders of the natural world will have a full programme of events to cover.