Sirikoi Lodge — Hotel in Meru County

Wow!

We stayed here as part of our package with Abercrombie & Kent.

ATMOSPHERE: The lodge consists of several outrageous cottages and 4 tents (similar to Tortilis Camp but more luxurious.) There's a main outdoor dining area under the shade of a canvas canopy and trees, complete with fire pit. It has great views of the greenery of the property and the wild just on the other side of an electric fence.

CHECK IN: We were greeted cottage front, got shown around & briefed, and filled out a simple form.

COTTAGE: The one we were in had 2 bedrooms with sky high ceilings, connected in the middle by a huge common area with dining room, living area with fireplace, kitchenette, and a spacious wooden deck with fire pit. There is a flat panel TV and a collection of DVDs. The refrigerator was on the blink so they stored our beverages of choice (which is inclusive and you preorder at check in) in a cooler with ice.

BEDROOM: The humongous bedroom we were in had a firm & comfortable king bed, fireplace, sitting area and desk. The second bedroom was identical but with different bedding. The beautiful ceiling is equally as high with up lighting over the bathroom section which makes it feel like one big room though they're separate.

Evening turndown was so nice. They place two hot water bottles camouflaged in a furry bag under the covers, draw the curtains, and lit the fire pit on the deck and 3 fireplaces. So heavenly.

BATHROOM: Equally as humongous, with soaking tub, shower with great water pressure, dual basins, and all the amenities. Hot water is available 24/7 which was awesome. The concrete ceilings to me mimic curved tent sections with exposed wood trusses and tree trunk supports which do double duty as towel hangers.

The one thing I didn't like was that we couldn't completely seal the tent-like zippered windows in the bedroom & bathroom from the inside as the coverings were rolled up from the outside. Nor could we close the huge windows that lead out to the deck, which resulted in a small monkey entering the living area at night. Only a heavy curtain could be drawn so the cottage was cold especially in the mornings. The fireplace didn't really help either except to add ambiance.

AMENITIES: All the usuals were there. The blue bar of soap was very drying on the skin.

LAUNDRY: They do all the laundry you have for free. Awesome, again!

F&B: There is no traditional restaurant, just a common dining area with preset menus. All the meals were great.

CHECK OUT: The housekeepers came in quite early to clean the cottage while we were still getting ready. A bit rushed but not in a rude manner.

SERVICE: Everyone was pleasant & accommodating, especially the woman in charge of the lodge, Natasha. She always greeted and checked on us throughout our stay.

Our safari driver Legai and spotter Mr. B were awesome. Funny, down to earth, very skilled and excellent guides. We had a blast with them.

TIP: You are discouraged from walking the grounds at night by yourself due to possible animal encounters. There is a flashlight in each room which you use to summon a night guard who will escort you. They're on duty all night long protecting the property.

OVERALL: Top notch facilities in the Lewa Conservancy. Good food and...

I’ve seen the word “magical” used this describe Sirikoi and it truly is the best descriptor for it. After more than 7 safaris in Kenya, it is my favorite lodge of all.

So many great things to highlight, including the gorgeous property that’s perfectly maintained and the friendly team that treats you like family. We were blessed to meet Sue, the owner, while there and she’s a lovely person that makes you feel like you’re visiting friends. As someone who likes to work out, I LOVED the gym and how well stocked it is, plus tons of space that lets you get a real workout if so desire it. If you like pools, you’ll love the one here! The food was consistently superior, with varied options and a daily schedule that allowed you to look ahead and make special requests as needed.

Our guide Legey was outstanding, as he was patient about meeting my photographic needs while being just the right amount of dialoguing. The guides here don’t have the unlimited access to other guides with radios to call in sightings, so they have to be really good on their own accord. His ability to spot two baby lion cubs in the distance with just his eyesight showed what a skilled guide he is. I also appreciated how during sundowners, he’d be available but give us space/privacy which made it more enjoyable.

The camp manager, Greg, was filling in for the main camp manager and he was the absolute best camp manager we’ve seen in 10 years of travel to different African countries.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the “back house tour” offered by Susan, their sustainability officer, because it shows how what you finely tuned operation they run and the enormous effort they make to ensure your experience is seamless.

We have a policy of enjoying/loving a camp once and trying not to return as to avoid tarnishing the great memory of a first visit. I can confidently say that I am not hesitant to return to Sirikoi and will add it to future visits to Kenya. This place...

Sirikoi was a wonderful first stop on our Kenyan adventure. We loved our tents and the intimate size of the camp. Don't skip the tour of the farm where you will be amazed by the massive agricultural endeavor and have a whole new appreciation for the food you are served at the camp. The food was lovely and sitting by the roaring fire pit with cocktails was a wonderful evening ritual before dinner each night which allowed us to connect with both staff and other guests. Caroline was the consummate host and made sure that we were always taken care of - she was the first person we saw in the morning and usually one of the last we saw at night.||The animals are always nearby camp - we were astonished by the volume of animals who came so close to the tents in the early evening. The grassy area was filled with impala and zebra grazing right by the tents and we would hear impalas and baboons vocalizing throughout the night. Having the water hole right across from the camp was also spectacular as it attracted a huge assortment of animals throughout the day. ||By far the highlight of our trip though was being fortunate enough to be matched with Ngila as our guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, but even more important was his wonderful energy and passion for his job. Ngila did not just meander around, he always had a strategy and a mission for each ride. Our rides were filled with so many sightings - the highlights of which included watching the sunset with three male lions, seeing a fresh kill in the first light of day, tracking a cheetah and getting super close to a herd of elephants and so many rhinos! We learned so much during our time spent together - it is no wonder that other staff members referred to Ngila as "the professor." The only bad thing about having Ngila as our first guide in Kenya was that none of our guides later in the trip could live up to his expertise combined with a sense of humor and...