Solio Lodge

premier Camp | Lewa / Laikipia, Kenya

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Solio Lodge is situated within its very own private wildlife sanctuary, tucked in the valley between the rising slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of the Aberdare Mountains. Intimacy and exclusivity are showcased in the luxurious lodge's five private cottages, each individually decorated with comfort, style and the view in mind. The lodge opened in August 2010 and remains the only guest accommodation on the expansive 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve.

Our Expert Says

Solio was the one of the first-established rhino sanctuaries in Kenya and is one of the most successful breeding efforts for the critically endangered black rhinoceros as well as white rhinoceros. The only accommodation in this beautiful fenced sanctuary, Solio Lodge clearly was built with an artist's eye for modern architectural design.

– Rick Guthke

The Camp

Location: Laikipia, Kenya
Number of Rooms: 5

Solio features five spacious thatched cottages, including one two-bedroom family cottage. Each luxury accommodation is built for warmth at this high altitude, equipped with fireplaces and a wall of glass doors and windows framing the spectacular views of Mount Kenya, surrounding hills, and often grazing wildlife from within your suite. Each cottage has an en suite bathroom with double sinks, bathtub and shower, and there is a private lounge area for reading or enjoying a cup of hot tea at dawn before embarking on an exciting activity. The daytime is perfect for basking on your private deck between wildlife drives. Al fresco dinners are a common affair at Solio, surrounded by grazing zebra and impala, and the central living spaces of the lodge are comfortable and stylish settings to gather with other guests, enjoy a drink, read a book or just admire the surrounding views.

Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom with tub and shower
Soap and shampoo
Hair dryer
Fireplace
Mini bar
Tea/coffee in room
220v charging outlets in room
In-room safe
In-room massage (extra cost)
Wi-Fi in main area
Laundry included
Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
Credit cards accepted
No air conditioning (not needed)

Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Solio Lodge is surrounded by the 45,000-acre Solio Ranch. With no other accommodation within this massive tract of wilderness, the experience is one of unparalleled privacy. At Solio Lodge a wide variety of activities are on offer. Night and day game drives provide guests a chance to see many species including both black and white rhinoceros, leopard, lion, cheetah, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, warthog. It's not uncommon to see upwards of 40 rhino in a single drive, as there are over 200 within the reserve. Other methods of exploration include walking, horseback riding and mountain biking around Solio Ranch. Scenic helicopter flights to nearby Mount Kenya, accompanied by a hilltop picnic breakfast or trout fishing in the Aberdare National Park, can be arranged at additional cost and are incredibly unique ways to experience Kenya off the beaten track. Massage therapists are also available for treatments within your cottage at an added cost.

The conservancies of the Laikipia District have varying concentrations and species of wildlife, and the below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a rhino sanctuary, and this and other reserves in Laikipia feature unique subspecies, such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and Jackson’s hartebeest and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles. Exact sightings will depend on seasonality and wildlife movements.

Country	Park/Reserve	Black Rhino	Buffalo	Cheetah	Eland	Elephant	Gemsbok / Oryx	Giraffe	Greater Kudu	Hyena	Leopard	Lion	White Rhino	Wild Dog	Zebra
Kenya	Lewa / Laikipia

Usually viewed

Frequently viewed

Occasionally viewed

Sporadically viewed

Rarely to never viewed

Safari Itineraries that include Solio Lodge

Grand Kenya	8 days, 7 nights - $9,275 – $15,475
Classic Kenya	10 days, 9 nights - $9,699 – $23,319
Classic Kenya & Uganda Safari	14 days, 13 nights - $13,171 – $30,409
Classic Kenya & Tanzania Safari (Dec-Jun)	15 days, 14 nights - $17,733 – $45,615
Classic Kenya & Tanzania Safari (Jul-Nov)	15 days, 14 nights - $17,682 – $41,231
Grand Kenya & Uganda Safari	16 days, 15 nights - $14,966 – $32,141
Epic Tanzania, Kenya & Rwanda Safari (Dec-Jun)	19 days, 18 nights - $21,153 – $54,887
Epic Tanzania, Kenya & Rwanda Safari (Jul-Nov)	19 days, 18 nights - $20,399 – $49,766
Epic Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda Safari (Dec-Jun)	20 days, 19 nights - $21,777 – $53,394
Epic Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda Safari (Jul-Nov)	20 days, 19 nights - $21,038 – $48,297
Ultimate Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda Safari (Dec-Jun)	22 days, 21 nights - $23,572 – $55,206
Ultimate Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda Safari (Jul-Nov)	22 days, 21 nights - $22,833 – $50,213

Climate

Month	Max	Min	Rainfall
January	75° F	55° F	1.89 in
	23° C	12° C	48 mm
February	79° F	54° F	1.93 in
	26° C	12° C	49 mm
March	79° F	55° F	4.09 in
	26° C	12° C	104 mm
April	77° F	59° F	10.67 in
	25° C	15° C	271 mm
May	75° F	59° F	6.18 in
	23° C	15° C	157 mm
June	75° F	57° F	1.02 in
	23° C	13° C	26 mm
July	72° F	55° F	1.06 in
	22° C	12° C	27 mm
August	72° F	54° F	1.26 in
	22° C	12° C	32 mm
September	77° F	55° F	1.18 in
	25° C	12° C	30 mm
October	79° F	57° F	8.7 in
	26° C	13° C	221 mm
November	73° F	57° F	10.59 in
	22° C	13° C	269 mm
December	73° F	54° F	4.21 in
	22° C	12° C	107 mm

Conservation

Solio is considered one of, if not the most successful rhino sanctuaries in East Africa, having relocated nearly 200 rhinos to other parks and reserves in Kenya and Uganda. Solio, along with other sanctuaries, has provided a light in the dark of illegal poaching of rhinos in Africa. The conservancy also provides a refuge to wildlife that would otherwise be deprived of suitable habitat and is an immensely important contribution to the conservation of wildlife in Kenya.