Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy- an expansive ranch situated on 60,000 acres along Nanyuki, Laikipia County, has been ranked among the best resorts in the world.
The 2022 Readers Choice Awards, which ranked resorts according to scores representing the overall levels of satisfaction, ranked seven resorts in Kenya among the upper echelon in the tourism industry.
Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy scored 97.01 - a ranking that equalled several notable resorts in Greece.
"The Readers' Choice Awards are the most important awards in the travel industry, celebrating the ultimate places, movers and fixers on the planet – from far-flung wilderness retreats and close-to-home urban hotels to Mediterranean villa specialists and destination spas in Asia," read part of the statement from Readers Choice Awards.
Aside from Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy, the six resorts that made it to the list include Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, Laikipia, Kenya (a score of 98.02), Angama Mara, Great Rift Valley, Kenya (score of 97.49), Mahali Mzuri resort (score of 97.01)- owned by Billionaire Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic.
The hotel costs an average of Ksh300,000 a night.
Others included Sasaab, Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya (score of 96.97, Elewana Elsa’s Kopje in Meru National Park( score of 96.31) and Cottar's 1920s camp, in Maasai Mara (score of 95.66).
History of the exclusive ranch
The getaway ranch was once exclusively owned by billionaire art dealer, Alec Wildenstein for 35 years before opening to the public in 2013.
Situated 225 kilometres to the north of Nairobi, the ranch is housed around Ol Jogi's Main house. The ranch boasts amenities such as an exquisite living room connected to a veranda, a bar, a cinema room, a library, a dining room, a games room and a business and fitness centre, a Hamman spa, and a heated swimming pool complex.
Ol Jogi, which charges Ksh4.5 million a night, consists of themed cottage suites around the main house which is surrounded by tropical gardens and various water streams.
"There is no other place in Africa where you can have an entire 60,000-acre wildlife conservancy entirely to yourself. You will never see another tourist, never see another minivan," Wildenstein stated during a previous interview.
"The experience I’m trying to offer here is how you would have seen Africa maybe 20 or 30 years ago," he added.
