Olarro Plains

A friend + I stayed at Olarro Plains for four days in end of July. We spent a long time researching different all-inclusive safari options and were hoping to see the Great Migration in the Mara. We had a wonderful stay at Olarro & wanted to share some more info of what to expect: Lodging: - Benjamin + his staff are all incredibly welcoming, & our guide Dominic was very knowledgable. You'll be assigned a guide once you arrive at the Conservatory; if you're a smaller group, you will likely share one (we shared a guide + car with a Canadian couple for 3 of the days). - The view of the Plains is stunning from the common area - There is no heating at night (we were there during Kenyan winter), so definitely pack down jacket + a couple of sweaters / hoodies. At night, they provide hot water bottles to sleep with. I ended up wearing either my down jacket or rain jacket most of the days, since the game drives are early morning and night. - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner is all-included and you choose before each meal from a prix fixe menu. The chef is really good & it's mostly Western options. - The rooms are nice, eco-lodge style; we had no bugs or cleanliness issues. There is also no AC (which was not a problem for us b/c it was usually cool / chilly). Safari Vehicles: - The safari vehicles are basically modified Land Cruisers. They can fit 8 px maximum; the first four seats are the best. There are no side windows; the sides are fully exposed (open-air), which is great for animal viewing. However, there is no sunroof (you cannot stand up and look through the roof). There are also no doors, so you have to climb into the vehicle each time. Safari: - Conservancy: We spent most of our days here; there are lots of giraffes, zebras, wildebeasts, gazelles, etc. a couple of lions, and one elusive cheetah. There are elephants (but we didn't see any). Important FYI: You cannot see the Great Migration at the Conservancy (we didn't know this when we booked), it's only in the Mara. - Maasai Mara: Olarro is about 1.5 hours away from the park; we did a full day trip at the Mara., would definitely recommend. - The Mara is significantly more crowded; at Olarro, it's a private conservancy so you will (1) usually see no other vehicles, (2) can go off-road and get out of the vehicle, (3) do a walking safari / ATVs. At the Mara, there will be a bunch of cars crowded around the same lion / elephant / etc. taking pictures + you will seldom be alone. Also - there's no guarantee of seeing a river crossing or large part of the Great Migration (we saw a bunch of wildebeasts running, but no crossing. We also met folks who'd been staying at the Mara for 3+ days and didn't see the Migration). Overall: It was a great experience and we really appreciated the privacy and amazing views. If I were to go again during the Great Migration, I'd probably spend a couple of days at the Mara itself first before going to a conservancy, but definitely recommend Olarro as that choice!

We had a magical experience at Olarro. It was 5* all the way. From the attentiveness of Louise who coordinates the group to Benjamin the manager; through Fred and the team in charge of food and drink to the amazing guides like ours, Dickson; the service and care taken by all to ensure we had such a memorable trip was incredible. Cant recommend highly enough the pleasure of staying on the conservancy: close enough to Mara to manage full days there to then combine with the calm, personal flavour of game drives in the conservancy. The full range of animals may not quite match the Mara, but we saw lions every day, were free to offroad (not always easy in Mara) and felt a total immersion in nature that isnt easy in the Mara, at least during migration season! with so many cars around. It all adds to a sense of exclusivity, privacy and care. Walking safari, Maasai village visit also recommend highly close to the property. Food is great, rooms are beautiful and comfortable. Massage therapist was great. Truly very grateful for a stunning time there. Louise and the team really invest in you having a great holiday and it pays off!

What an amazing location - waking up to see giraffes, wildebeest and other native animals crossing the plains every day. A truly special place approximately 1 hour from the Masai Mara National Park. The food was exceptional and the staff made you feel so special. Nothing was too much trouble and it was evident that you could have whatever you wanted, whenever your wanted it. Early morning game drives in private vehicles, quad-biking and swimming in the infinity pool were all highlights of a wonderful 4 night stay. A day trip to the Masai Mara was definitely worth the commute, and we also had an incredible hot air balloon trip which was absolutely worth the 3.30m alarm call. It was possibly too quiet when we were there, but the knowledge of the safari guides and the warmth of welcome from the hosting team were exceptional. Highly recommend.

We stayed at Olarro Plains for 3 nights while on honeymoon. All I can say is "Wow!" From the moment we stepped in through the doors we were given the best service and felt like VIPs for our entire stay. Olarro is a very special place. Everything is planned around what you would like to do and nothing is too much trouble. Fred looked after us so well during our visit, providing us with drinks and tea and coffee as and when we needed it. He set up a very romantic meal for us at breakfast, lunch and dinner and we never ate in the same location twice within the lodge! A highlight was definitely eating dinner beside the fire pit surrounded by candlelight. What an experience! Nora, the chef, cooked us delicious meals each day. Our guide Brian was a wealth of knowledge and took us on excellent game drives around the conservatory. We were blown away by the lions, giraffes, zebras and buffaloes (to name a few) that we saw. Brian really knew his stuff when it came to the animals and looked after us so well on each outing, supplying us with everything we needed to make us as comfortable as possible. I would definitely recommend making use of the quad bikes. It was incredible travelling through the plains surrounded by amazing wildlife. The lodge itself is absolutely stunning. The decor is impeccable and it is such a treat to return each evening for a drink in front of the fire. Our room was incredible with an amazing view of the plains. Our room was cleaned twice a day and even a hot water bottle put in our bed at night! We will never forget our visit to Olarro, and one day, we hope to be back. This was the holiday of a lifetime. Thank you everyone!

This is a special and luxurious resort set in one of the most beautiful landscapes you can imagine. If you have the opportunity, you should absolutely stay here. I booked directly with Olarro Plains, and they arranged my plane flight from Nairobi and car transfer to the hotel. They made it all very easy. From the Siana air strip, it's about an hour over very bumpy roads to Olarro Plains. From the first moment, it was such an adventure; everything I saw out the window was captivating. Once settled at Olarro Plains, the staff continued to make things feel easy. Three meals a day were served in various locations overlooking the Olarro Conservancy. The multi-course meals were indulgent and delicious. Service is top notch. Unlike my previous safari experiences, meals here are not served to all guests together. You'll be seated with just your own party. In my case that was just me, which was totally fine, but I did slightly miss the big communal meal vibe and getting to know other guests. There was an opportunity to chat with others on the daily drive through Olarro Conservancy, and at the bush dinner on my final night, though. During my stay, I mostly interacted with the staff, who are absolutely phenomenal. Special mention goes to Dominic, the most excellent guide, Fred and Benjamin, who made meal times so lovely, and Nora, the chef who created absolutely delicious dishes. My room was spacious and very comfortable, with stunning views over the conservancy. It was so quiet and peaceful, and such a joy to watch the giraffe and wildebeest wandering around the landscape. When at Olarro Plains, I really recommend doing the day trip to Maasai Mara National Reserve. You will see a lot of animals on the drives that are included in the conservancy, but the Maasai Mara National Reserve is absolutely worth taking the whole day to experience. I also highly recommend the trip to the Maasai village. This was actually the most impactful experience I had while in the area, and I enjoyed learning about the Maasai people and their traditions and current challenges. The bush dinner is also very memorable. Basically, do everything that you can while you are here. They are extraordinary experiences. The pool is lovely but was cold when I was there, at a cooler time of year. If you have your heart set on swimming, ask Olarro Plains what time of year the sun might heat the pool enough to be comfortable. An important thing to know before arriving is that you should bring a good amount of cash. You'll be asked to tip three groups of staff at the end of your stay: your guide, the dining room team, and the rest of the resort team. And believe me, you'll want to tip them well, they do such good work. I wished I'd brought more cash to recognize them generously, and once you're at Olarro Plains there is no way to get additional cash. Overall, I had an incredible experience at Olarro Plains and can't recommend it enough. Thank you to the entire team at Olarro Plains!

We had the most memorable week of our lives at Olarro Plains thanks to our amazing guide Dominic & service by Fred. Wonderful selection of daily meals thanks to Norah & her assistants excellent cooking skills. We came as guests and left as friends with all the beautiful staff. It is truly a magnificent part of the world and we can’t wait to return.