Worth Traveling For
Elegant prides of lions both fierce and cuddly, exceptional memories of elephants some 40 deep, ranging from weeks-old infants to imposing grand dames and bulls, majestic crashes of rhino, coalitions of cheetah, and dazzles of zebras. Across the 50,000 sculpture-dotted acres that comprise uber-sustainable Segera Retreat in Kenya’s still-emerging Laikipia region — owned by conservationist and art collector Jochen Zeitz — truly incomparable wildlife experiences are de rigueur.
But as phenomenal as Mother Nature’s gifts are at this vast protected reserve where environmental efforts include the planting of some 1.8 million trees in partnership with local women, a devotion to exceptionally warm, gracious hospitality feels equally memorable. The unimaginably wide smiles that brighten the faces of Segera’s all-Kenyan staff are only matched by guests’ own once they’ve spent hours on property soaking up the singular architecture and covetable interiors, sublime cooking, awe-inspiring African art collection and, now, twinkling stars from the new observatory and heavenly treatments in the refreshed spa. Segera was a cattle ranch before Zeitz began regenerating the land and tearing down fences to reopen wildlife corridors.
Hotel Highlights
Segera is one of those anything-you-dream-can-come-true places, made possible by the ever-accommodating team who truly excel at making each and every guest — including and especially the littlest — feel special and seen. This is not a one-size-fits-all itinerary approach but a truly bespoke one that caters so intimately to preferences that a family-style lunch will include multiple versions of the same dish so that each member’s dietary requirements are met.
Kids are whisked away to the kitchen for cheeky scoops of just-churned ice cream (the pastry chef is out of this world talented) while adults are plied with free-flowing top-ups of delicious wines, and interested parties may be taken to the reserve’s permaculture garden or stables-turned-gallery for a tour. And that’s when it’s not time for a game drive, horseback safari, or wild walk, which of course are entirely private and adjustable.
Down time is also well spent in the Edenic accommodations of which there are 10, split evenly between one-of-a-kind houses and garden villas, which encircle a lush free-form swimming pool made even more paradisiacal by the presence of an al fresco bar and pizza oven. Meals are movable feasts in a way, tailored to each party and emphasizing private experiences across a handful of different venues — including a wine tower, colonial-era paddock house, chef’s table, and even bush pop-ups — so there’s no overlap of guests during multi-course extravaganza of international fare that will compel you to ask for multiple recipes.
Rooms & Experience
Somehow Segera is both a totally dreamy honeymoon-worthy experience and an impeccable place for families incorporating quite literally all ages. Because the accommodations are well spaced amid verdant landscaping and giant trees and guests so rarely cross paths in communal zones, the experience is malleable and all encompassing. For the latter groups, the generous four-bedroom Family Villa with its own elevated pool or grand Segera House are fantastic choices, with the owner’s own ranch-style farmhouse — complete with an eye-popping art collection and idyllic interiors by South Africa’s LIFE Interiors, Architecture & Strategic Design, a prized reservation for those who appreciate aesthetics.
Romance seekers will find abundant privacy, hushed quiet in the sunlit garden villas with outdoor tubs and verandas that look out to salt licks and water holes for wildlife viewing with a bottle of complimentary vino at any time of day.
What to Know Before You Book
Included with every stay is the option to get even closer to Segera’s pulsing wilds with an overnight in the Bird Nest, a collaboration with Nay Palad and architect Daniel Pouzet that stands 20 feet above the savannah with a mosquito-netted bed on the open roof of woven tree branches, and it should not be missed.
After a game drive and sundowners, thanks to a personal butler and unencumbered bush soundtrack, it’ll be the most luxurious and wild night of camping under the stars of your life. June through October are considered the best (and driest) months for wildlife viewing, while winter is the greenest time, but truly every day at Segera has the potential and likelihood of being totally unbelievable.
Address: Nanyuki, Laikipia, Kenya
Closest Airport: A 50-minute charter flight from Nairobi lands directly in the reserve.
Featured image courtesy of Nicola Jackson and David Crookes, Segera Retreat.
