Newly refurbished Loisaba Star Beds also join the Elewana Collection.
On the 1st May 2016, luxury safari camp and lodge operator Elewana, opened a new luxury tented camp on the site of the former Loisaba Lodge. Elewana has been chosen by Loisaba Conservancy with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to partner with it in the development and management of its primary tourism assets in this critically important conservation area that has been recently secured by TNC for ongoing protection for the foreseeable future.
Loisaba Tented Camp is located on a 600ft escarpment where every room enjoys spectacular views stretching across the Laikipia Plains to Mount Kenya. The 56,000 acre Loisaba Conservancy spans three eco-systems offering a variety of beautiful landscapes and incredible game viewing, including the opportunity to see the rare Northern species including reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra and one of the best places in East Africa to see wild dog. Guests at the Loisaba Starbeds and Tented Camp have the entire conservancy to themselves. An area of approximately the same size as Lewa Conservancy, the Mara North Conservancy, or Samburu and Buffalo Springs combined, Loisaba has only 16 rooms in total, providing a generous 3500 acres of wilderness per room. This allows for some of the greatest exclusivity to wildlife sightings available in Africa.
The camp comprises six stylish and extremely spacious ensuite tents (three double/three convertible twin/double), three family combinations each consisting of two ensuite tents with adjoining walkway. The Private Residence houses three ensuite tents (one family combination and one convertible tent) complemented with a private bar, dining area and infinity pool. Not least of all, the property will reflect Elewana and TNC’s commitment to the environment by limiting its ecological footprint wherever possible. The new Loisaba Tented Camp will fall under the Elewana Collection – a portfolio of fourteen properties spanning the highlights of East Africa's safari and beach offerings.
The bar and restaurant allow guests to absorb the incredible landscape whilst enjoying a sundowner or choosing from the small a la carte menu where the chef endeavours to source ingredients from a 50km radius including fresh produce from the camp’s well stocked gardens. Typical dishes might include a duo of carrot and beetroot soup with basil oil and sour cream, or deep fried brie with cucumber and mango pickle followed by pea and lemon risotto with grilled baby leeks and poached egg, or crispy pork belly with roasted beets, glazed baby onions and whole grain mustard sauce.
Aside from game viewing the Loisaba Tented camp enjoys two infinity pools (one for guests in the Private Residence) and a plethora of activities including bush walks, mountain biking, camel riding, lion tracking, horse riding (for experienced riders), fishing, local village excursions and the opportunity to spend a morning with the resident sniffer dogs, Warrior and Machine.
The new Loisaba Conservancy is the result of substantial support by The Nature Conservancy and the consequential transition in the ownership of the 56,000-acre wildlife conservancy and wilderness to the Loisaba Community Trust. TNC’s move to help secure the land ensures that the conservancy delivers vital benefits and support for neighbouring communities, the wildlife, and all Kenyans for the foreseeable future. It also ensures Loisaba’s role as a critical sanctuary and corridor for elephants and other wildlife long into the future, as well as providing refuge for one of Kenya’s most stable lion populations and an abundance of other wildlife including Grevy’s zebra, wild dogs, leopard and cheetah.
Loisaba represents the single largest conservation investment in East Africa in 2014/15 and was born from a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Space for Giants and The Northern Rangelands Trust. In recognition that responsible tourism is vital to long-term conservation, a third of the investment will contribute to tourism infrastructure.
Commenting on the partnership, Karim Wissanji, Elewana’s CEO, said “The partnership with The Nature Conservancy highlights Elewana's passion and commitment to conservation, one that is reflected in its support (financial and otherwise) for this exciting new project; a project that sits at the very heart of TNC's community, wildlife and land conservation philosophies and their important collaboration with tourism."
Matthew Brown, Africa Conservation Director, The Nature Conservancy remarks, “Tourism support helps make Loisaba a self-sustaining engine for peace, community development, and wildlife conservation. This is an innovative example of how Africa can both preserve its heritage and create economic opportunities for its people. We are excited to be working with Elewana.”
The Elewana Collection is also now managing the famous Loisaba Star Beds. June 2015 saw the completion of a US$150,000 refurbishment of the Star Beds. The upgraded Star Beds now consist of four accommodation platforms (previously there were three), including one family skybed and a new dining area with a stunning stargazing platform.
The Loisaba Conservancy provides a critical and secure (this has already been mentioned)sanctuary for over 700 elephants (resident and non-resident) that have been individually identified (and named) by Daniel Lentipo, the conservancy’s resident researcher provided by Space for Giants, work that is critically important to the survival of Africa’s elephant population.
GPS tracking data has proven that Loisaba is a key corridor, enabling elephants to migrate from Laikipia (dry season range) to Samburu (wet season range), helping to maintain one of the longest elephant migrations recorded in Africa.
Loisaba Tented Camp starts from US$490 (approx. £340) per person per night sharing a twin/double accommodation including full board, soft drinks, beer, house wines and selected spirits, safari activities including day and night game drives, guided bush walks and fishing (seasonal), mountain biking, airstrip transfers, laundry and all statutory taxes.
The Loisaba Star Beds start from US$300 (approx. £210) per person per night sharing a twin/double accommodation including full board, soft drinks, beer, house wines and selected spirits, safari activities including day and night game drives, guided bush walks and fishing (seasonal), mountain biking, airstrip transfers, laundry and all statutory taxes.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
