JW Marriott has opened the JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp in Kenya's Solio Game Reserve, bringing a wellness-focused safari experience to the Laikipia region between the slopes of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Ranges.
The camp sits within a 45,000-acre private conservancy known for its rhino conservation work and home to one of Africa's largest populations of both black and white rhinos, along with leopards, lions, waterbuck, zebras, and Thomson's gazelles. Guided game drives run at sunrise and in the late afternoon, while night drives reveal nocturnal species such as serval and caracal, plus predators at their most active.
Designed by LW Design, the camp comprises 19 tented suites, including a two-bedroom option, with views of Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Mountains, nearby waterholes, or open savannah. Low-slung timber and canvas structures feature roll-up canvas walls, private decks, plunge pools, and indoor freestanding baths. Interiors lean on Kenyan craft, with warm earth tones, woven textiles, and hand-carved timber, plus furnishings and artwork from local artisans including Kitengela Glass, Safari Bronze, and Ceramiqa. Shared spaces include a Map Room, library, games room, and a retail boutique stocked with contemporary Kenyan art and craft.
Beyond game drives, guests can book guided walking safaris, cycling excursions, and birding outings. Photography is a signature draw: Guests have access to professional Canon camera equipment and on-site guidance from resident photographers. Bespoke experiences, arranged by request, include helicopter excursions, trout fishing on Mount Kenya, and sunset painting sessions.
Dining centers on an on-site signature garden, which supplies herbs, fruits, and vegetables for the camp's menus and doubles as a dining venue with "The Garden Table." Mavuno, the signature restaurant, serves seasonal menus shaped by Kenyan flavors, global influences, and open-fire cooking, while Ember Bar and Lounge offers fireside drinks and sharing plates. A "Five Elements" cocktail program draws on smoke, spice, earth, honey, and fire, and a dedicated wine room hosts bespoke tastings. Off-property, guests can arrange bush brunches under acacia trees, candlelit dinners beneath the stars, and bread-making and Kenyan cooking classes.
The Spa by JW offers treatments rooted in regional healing traditions and highland botanicals, using products from Kenyan skincare brand Jani enriched with local ingredients like highland moringa, wild aloe, Laikipia honey, cedar, and clove. The signature Solio Passage half-day experience combines volcanic stone therapies, botanical massage, a glacial hydrotherapy soak, and cedar forest bathing. A fitness center and outdoor pool round out the wellness offering.
Conservation underpins the operation: Guests can visit the Solio Rhino Orphanage, where orphaned calves are rehabilitated before reintroduction into the conservancy. The camp also supports the Lazizi Welfare Foundation's daily meal program at Riacho Comprehensive School and the Solio Women's Empowerment Project, whose handcrafted pieces are sold in the boutique with all proceeds returning to the project. Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater recycling support operations, and 95 percent of the workforce comprises Kenyan nationals.
The camp is located near Nanyuki Airstrip, roughly a 30-minute flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport or a three-hour drive from the capital. Private charters from Wilson Airport to Solio Ranch Airstrip take 35 minutes, followed by a 10-minute drive to camp.
Rates start from $1499 per person, per night (all-inclusive*).
*The all-inclusive rate includes accommodation with complimentary minibar, full board dining and beverages (excluding select premium wines and spirits), and one bush breakfast and sundowner per stay. Activities include twice-daily shared game drives led by expert guides, including one night drive per stay, as well as guided walking and cycling safaris, and use of professional Canon photographic equipment with expert guidance. Wi-Fi, laundry services, Wilson Airport meet and greets and return Nanyuki airstrip transfers are also included.
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