Arijiju
Arijiju is an exclusive luxury home, ideal for families or a group of friends, with a hillside setting on the Borana Conservancy in northern Kenya. It enjoys wonderful uninterrupted views of the conservancy and into the Northern Frontier District beyond.
Accommodation & Facilities
Inspiration for Arijiju’s design comes from Ethiopia’s rock-hewn churches and it’s constructed with sustainably sourced local stone and timber. The house has five suites all with their own private en-suite bathrooms, three in the main building and two in separate private cottages. Families with young children are best accommodated in the main house which comprises a master bedroom and two smaller twin rooms. Additional beds can be added to all rooms on request.
The main house has a courtyard garden as well as large dining and lounge areas, a games room, library and cinema. Outside is a heated pool with steps which provide a shallow platform for smaller children to play on and a poolside bar. There is also The Retreat, a spa with a gym, yoga studio and a wood burning hot tub. The Retreat is also home to a traditional vaulted hamam, rain shower as well as a tranquil treatment room offering a variety of treatments designed to help you unwind using traditional Kenyan ingredients.
Eating & Sleeping
The chefs at Arijiju are happy to prepare family favourites at mealtimes which often include fish and chips, pizza, chicken and chips, and homemade pasta which the children can also help to prepare. Please advise any special/dietary requirements prior to arrival. A babysitting and listening service can be arranged adn this is normally carried out by a ‘room lady’. There is no set fee for this service but a small tip is encouraged as a gesture of goodwill.
Wildlife & Activities
Borana Conservancy has excellent wildlife including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and healthy numbers of black and white rhino. The conservancy is also home to a number of species unique to northern Kenya such as Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. There is no fence between the Lewa and Borana conservancies, allowing the wildlife to move freely across 93,000 acres. Day and night wildlife drives, walking safaris and meals in the bush are among the activities on offer at Arijiju. Conservation is a key part of Borana Conservancy’s ethos, and a large team of rangers protects the rhino and elephant population. Guests can observe some of the constant work they do, including rhino tracking on foot and community based activities to local farms, health clinics and schools. In addition, horse riding, mountain biking, fly fishing on Mount Kenya, bird watching, swimming, and guided walks through the Ngare Ndare Forest are available.
Specifically for children …
Arijiju was designed and built with families in mind, with young, energetic and family focused staff. There are a number of activities for children including:
• Cinema room
• Games room
• Tennis and squash courts (rackets supplied)
• Croquet
• Football games can be arranged against the staff team
• Tailor made walks designed to keep the children engaged
• Mountain bikes
• Horse riding (additional cost) but with suitable horses perfect for beginners
Whilst there are no strict age restrictions on activities, it is at the discretion of management to allow children to partake in activities with higher risk associated to them and this will be decided on site.
