The great migration and an African adventure with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Kenya

Written by Laura Mullan

Fairmont Kenya properties are the best base to tour Kenya’s natural and lifestyle wonders and witness one of the top ten bucket list adventures including the world’s largest migration of wildlife. In fact, Fairmont is a pioneer in combining luxury accommodation with conservation efforts, and each of its hotels and resorts holds a deep respect for its surrounding land and communities: Fairmont the Norfolk in vibrant Nairobi, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki, with the direct view of Africa’s second highest peak and Fairmont Mara Safari Club set on the foot of Aitong Hills and home to the great wildebeest migration.

Each property offers unique experiences, from a visit to the elephant orphanage in Nairobi to a slope breakfast facing Mount Kenya and the Great Migration experience at the Maasai Mara game reserve, so you’ll come home with a wealth of knowledge about the culture, wildlife and role of conservation organisations in Kenya – a souvenir that will last a lifetime.

Fairmont The Norfolk

for conservation and lifestyle experiences

An alluring combination of old-world charm combined with elegant contemporary design, The Norfolk is a landmark hotel steeped in history, with the city of Nairobi growing and flourishing around it. The hotel is the optimal base for exploring the vibrant city’s best conservation attractions, including the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which is famed for its elephant orphanage. Here, you’ll be offered a thought-provoking class from the experts on these precious animals and the trust’s conservation efforts.

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

for conservation and resort activities

Magnificent views of majestic Mount Kenya set the scene for the incredible conservation work achieved at the Mount Kenya Safari Club, which includes the on-site Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, notable for breeding the critically endangered Bongo antelope. A little further afield, Fairmont has also created a vegetable patch for the women in the neighbouring village of Kanyoni in an initiative to help them generate income for themselves. Fairmont has guaranteed to purchase 100% of the yield from the patch to use in its resort restaurants, encouraging independent business ownership and fostering a harmonious relationship between the resort’s staff and guests and the local community.

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

for The Great Migration and safari in a tented camp

Consisting of 51 tents that feature African décor and four-poster beds, the Fairmont Mara Safari Club sits adjacent to the breath-taking Mara River, one of the seven ‘new’ wonders of the world*. Perfect location to live the Great Migration, experience daily safari and visit the White Rhino Conservancy project, a partnership between Fairmont, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the local community. The Fairmont Mara Safari Club is also the perfect base for visiting the Maasai Mara, one of the world’s richest wildlife reserves, and home to the ‘Big Five’. Or, to absorb the culture, you can visit a Maasai village, where you can help improve standards of living for the residents and find a keepsake of your trip by purchasing some of the traditional crafts on sale there. *As listed in USA Today in 2006