Sirai House is found in the Laikipia region of Kenya, on the Borana Conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya. Situated high on a remote ridge at the edge of the indigenous cedar and wild olive forest of Ngare Ndare, it offers stunning views in every direction.
Built by local craftsmen with local materials it has a true sense of hotels, yet its eye-catching style reflects a love of architecture, design and art.
Though secluded, it offers every comfort. In short, it is a contemporary East African Home.
Your Stay – Key facts
• Sirai House is available for rental on an exclusive occupancy basis. The minimum stay is 3 nights and the house is available for booking all year round.
• The house sleeps 12 guests in six suites spread across four cottages. Suite 1 (the Master Suite) and Suite 2 stand alone. Suites 3 and 4 are linked by a sitting room, as are Suites 5 and 6, making them ideal for families. Four of the rooms can be configured as a double or a twin.
• A private wine cellar with over 3,000 carefully selected bottles of wine.
• An intimate cinema.
• A clay tennis court, 20 metre lap pool, boule pit, gym, library and full-sized billiard table.
• State-of-the-art communications and entertainment system.
• The Borana Conservancy on which Sirai House is located is a low-risk malaria area.
• Guided game drives in 4 x 4 open-sided safari vehicles, guided wilderness walks and guided horse riding safaris.
• Big Five experiences (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino), also cheetah, giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, wildebeest, wild dog, hyaena, baboon, oryx, impala and eland to name a few species, plus diverse birdlife.
• Additional activities include flying safaris (helicopter, light aircraft or bi-plane), trout fishing; forest walkway and platform viewing at Ngare Ndare Forest; visits to the adjacent Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy; community enterprise and cultural Maasai village visits.
• A temperate climate. Days are warm with average highs of between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. Evenings and nights are cool. Rainfall is increasingly hard to forecast but usually happens in November and late March to May.
Location
Sirai House is situated on the Borana Conservancy, located in the Laikipia district in the central-east Rift Valley province of Kenya, on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya. More than 14,000 hectares in size (35,000 acres), the Conservancy is just 27 kilometres (17 miles) north of the equator and has an average altitude of around 2 000 metres (6,560 feet).
Getting there and away
By Road: Borana is a four hour drive from Nairobi and a one hour drive from the town of Nanyuki.
Scheduled Air: There are daily scheduled flights by Safarilink and Air Kenya from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the neighbouring Lewa Downs Conservancy from where guests are collected. The drive to Sirai House takes approximately one hour.
Private Charter Flights: There is an airstrip on the Borana Conservancy for charter flights from which guests are collected. The drive to Sirai House takes approximately twenty minutes.
Helicopter: Sirai House offers a helicopter landing pad
What’s included
• Exclusive use of the house including all amenities and facilities
• Luxurious all-suite accommodation
• All meals, whether served at home or in the bush
• All beverages; including house wines (personally selected from around the world), spirits and liqueurs
• Open Land Rover 4 X 4 safaris, guided wilderness walks and horse-riding accompanied by experienced guides.
• Transfers to and from the Borana, Lewa or Nanyuki airstrips and Sirai House.
• Borana Conservancy fees
• Contribution to the Borana Ranch Conservancy supporting local education, health and wildlife conservancy projects
• Internet, music and movies
• Laundry
• Babysitting facilities for children
• All local taxes
What’s not included
• Premium cellar wines and French Champagnes
• Air transfers
• Spa treatments
• Outsourced activities and activities enjoyed off the Borana Conservancy
• Staff gratuities
Terms and Conditions
• Rates are quoted in US Dollars (US$), subject to change and are inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT)
• Sirai House reserves the right to amend tariffs in the event of currency fluctuations.
• Sirai House is booked exclusively and can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests sharing.
• Children of all ages are welcome and bookings are subject to availability. In the interest of safety, participation of children in any game activities is at the discretion of their guide.
Activities and Amenities
The Pool House
A sizeable guest area, the Pool House comprises the main guest swimming pool, a gym, a clay tennis court and a permanent, granite table tennis table.
The 20metre lap pool is 1.8metres at its deepest point and there is a changing room and shower nearby. Towels are provided at the poolside. Children under the age of 12 are required to be supervised by a parent or guardian. The swimming pool does not have a lifeguard.
The Gym
The gym is located at the swimming pool. The fully equipped gym consists of free weights, cardio vascular machines and Yoga and Pilate’s accessories. The equipment is not suitable for children below 12 years of age.
Clay Tennis Court
The tennis court is located opposite the pool-house overlooking Mount Kenya. Tennis rackets and balls are available for guests and are stored in the boot-room in the main house.
Running Track
Fitness enthusiasts can complement or substitute their gym workouts with a stint on the running track that surrounds the property. Two kilometres in circumference, it also doubles as a walking track for guests who would prefer a brisk or leisurely walk.
The Boule Pit
There is a boule pit for guests to participate in this traditional ball game. Boules and cochonnets (jacks) are available and stored in the Club Room.
The Cinema
A plush, intimate cinema with nine (double) love seats, it offers a choice of 1 000 top feature films.
The Library
The library houses more than 400 books, including the owner’s extensive Africana collection. Guests are welcome to read these books in the library, we request however, that books are not removed from the library. The Library is also equipped with a television, computer and printer with Internet access.
The Club Room
The Club room is dominated by its full-sized Sir William Bentley billiard table equipped with cue sticks, arches and balls. It is the perfect hotels for after dinner conversations and cognacs. Children under 12 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult and unfortunately are not permitted to use the table.
The Cellar
The cellar was designed as a feature for one end of the dining room. It houses a carefully crafted collection of more than 3,000 fine wines and champagnes, stored on purpose-designed steel and hardwood racks in front of dressed stone, visible through the cellar’s glass doors. Guests with will be delighted to discover offerings from some of the world’s most famous wine estates. These fine wines and champagnes are not included in the tariffs and will be billed as an extra.
The Studio
Located at the stables, guests can enjoy a coffee before or a cognac after a horse ride, relax in front of the fire, or enjoy the view of the paddocks while browsing through our carefully selected merchandise from across the African continent.
On Safari
Safaris and Walks
Game drives in 4×4 open sided safari vehicles are conducted by our experienced guides; providing guests with spectacular encounters with the Big Five and other wildlife, the abundant birdlife, and the plant and ecosystems within the Borana Conservancy.
Walks are conducted by experienced guides who point out the finer details of the bush, while allowing guests the opportunity to see wildlife on foot. Bush walks are not suitable for children under 12.
Sirai House guides have all passed the examinations set by, and are accredited members of KPSGA (the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association). Binoculars and wildlife reference books are available for guests during game drive and walks.
The duration and departure times of game drives and safari bush walks can be tailor-made to guest needs, however early morning excursions usually deliver the best opportunities for viewing wildlife.
Horse Riding
A stone and wooden structure, the Sirai stables accommodate the home’s resident horses. An adjacent tack room houses a selection of riding accessories and tack for guest use.
Sirai House has well schooled Boerperd x Friesian and South African thoroughbred horses. Exploring the Borana Conservancy on horseback is immensely enjoyable
Riding in the bush is not advisable for novice riders. Sirai House guests who wish to participate in guide-led horse riding must be able to mount and dismount unaided, and must have experience riding in open countryside. Sirai House guests who wish to participate in guide-led horse riding must be able to rise/ post to the trot in an English Saddle, mount and dismount unaided. Guests who choose to not wear riding helmets will not be permitted to ride.
Sirai House reserves the right to refuse riders inclusion in riding safaris should their ability not meet the required standards.
Additional Activities
The following activities are excluded and charged separately.
A Cultural Exchange
Visits can be arranged to a nearby Maasai village where you will see how the women of the tribe produce their famous beadwork.
Flower Power
Flowers are grown commercially for export on nearby Kisima Farm. Guest visits can be arranged.
Flying Safaris
Given its geographical location, Sirai House is the ideal base from which to explore Mount Kenya and the northern frontier by helicopter, light aircraft or bi-plane.
Forest Walkway
Experience the 5 300 hectare (13 000 acre) indigenous Ngare Ndare Forest on the northern foothills of Mount Kenya and Borana’s southern boundary. A tree-top canopy walkway and viewing platform are the perfect vantage points from which to bird watch; waterfalls and swimming holes are ideal for a dip on a hot day.
School Days
All schools in Kenya are fee paying, a policy that poses a major challenge for local families without the means to pay.The Borana Conservancy, through the Borana Education Support Program, identifies children that most need financial assistance and raises monies for youngsters to attend five local primary schools, promoting the importance of conservation and the environment at the schools. Currently 30 youngsters are on full scholarships at the five primary schools in the area. A visit to one of the schools can be arranged.
Trout Fishing
Trout fishing excursions can be arranged at Kisima Farm, Lake Rotundu or Lake Alice on Mount Kenya
The Design Of The Suites
Guest Suites
The six guest suites are spread across the property with reasonable and in some cases, substantial space between them, designed for privacy and seclusion. All suites are connected to the main areas via easy pathways. Each of the guest suites has been individually decorated and styled but linked through the quality and sophisticated simplicity of their furnishings. All suites feature sophisticated interiors with quality furnishings, firehotelss and a state of the art AV system.
The guest suites and their bathrooms feel intimately connected with nature. The bathrooms feature separate showers, free standing tubs, twin hand basins and separate WCs. Three of the guest suites (Suites two, five and six) have an outdoor shower in addition to the one indoors.
Four of the suites can be configured either as double or twin rooms – the exceptions are suites five and six. The linen is 400 thread count Egyptian cotton, direct from the Nile Valley. Pillows are American-sized and available in both feather and hypo-allergenic options.
The Master Suite
The Master Suite features embroidered Ralph Lauren curtaining, neutral raw linen and suede upholstery. The king sized bed sits high, while cow horn and sleek silver accessories complement its grandeur. The carpet is a reloaded patchwork Persian and the chandelier has been assembled from clay “leaves” to resemble a giant suspended pangolin, a reclusive scaly anteater. A rim-flow swimming pool forms part of the master suite bathroom. It is 4 metres x 4 metres, approximately 1.8 metres at the central deepest section.
Guest Suite Two
Guest Suite Two is also characterised by a neutral, raw, linen base, accented with eau de nil cotton. Focal points include a “dragnet” chair and a recycled woven rubber light fitting from Italy. A framed Yoruba cloak embroidered with shells from Nigeria dominates the space.
Guest Suites Three and Four
Suites Three and Four are the most urban in style. Their overall palette is dove grey infused with a splash of aubergine, offset with Wildebeest rugs. Vintage photographs from the Royal Geographic Society add some fun. There is a sitting room with fold-out sleeper sofas linking the two bedrooms; making them ideal for families.
Guest Suites Five and Six
Guest Suites Five and Six are the most ethnic in design and something of a departure from the taupe and linen combinations found in the others. Spicy and rustic, the suites are dominated by beautiful four-poster beds, accessorised with sheepskin, sisal, embroidered suede and big, framed cow skin aprons. A large chandelier made from Maasai gourds lights up the shared sitting room. The sitting room connecting the two bedrooms is dramatic and striking, awash with natural light and is African-inspired.