Loisaba Star Beds

Location

Loisaba Star Beds sit on one of the conservancy’s most dramatic viewpoints: a rocky kopje in the eastern valley looking directly over Kiboko Dam, a permanent waterhole and home to a resident pod of hippo. From this raised perch you look down onto a busy wildlife corridor, with elephant, buffalo and plains game regularly filtering through the valley to drink, often accompanied by a remarkably rich soundtrack of birds and nocturnal calls.

The camp lies within the 58,000-acre Loisaba Conservancy in northern Laikipia, a private reserve that anchors a critical section of the elephant movement corridor linking the Laikipia–Samburu landscape with Mount Kenya and the Aberdares. This wider ecosystem holds Kenya’s second-largest elephant population, and Loisaba has been singled out by conservation organisations as a key refuge for these herds as they move between seasonal grazing areas.

Loisaba’s topography feels very different to the classic southern Kenya savannahs. Here, escarpments fall away into broad valleys, seasonal rivers cut through acacia and riverine woodland, and pockets of thornbush and open grassland create a patchwork of habitats. This diversity supports around 50 mammal species and more than 250 bird species, including three resident lion prides, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and one of Laikipia’s more reliable wild dog populations.

Despite this biological richness, visitor density remains very low. A small number of rooms spread between the Elewana properties share the entire conservancy, so it is common to have sightings entirely to yourself, even in busier seasons. Laikipia’s position close to the equator brings relatively stable conditions year-round, while the highland elevation (roughly 1,450–1,850 metres) keeps days pleasantly warm and nights distinctly cool compared with Kenya’s lowland parks.

Rooms

Star Beds takes its design cues directly from the rocky kopje it inhabits. Each accommodation is built into the natural landscape, incorporating the granite boulders as walls and design features rather than working around them. Thatched roofs provide shelter when needed, but the defining characteristic is the raised wooden platform extending outward—the stage upon which your four-poster bed performs its nightly transformation from covered room to open-air sleeping experience.

Double Star Beds: Three platforms accommodate couples in handcrafted “Mkokoteni” beds—rough-hewn wooden four-posters with mosquito netting that encloses the entire sleeping area including the top, allowing unobstructed views of the night sky. Each unit includes a sitting area with wardrobe and safe beneath the thatched roof, and an ensuite bathroom built around the kopje’s natural rock features. Solar-heated water feeds the shower, basin, and flush toilet—proper plumbing with panoramic views over the valley. The beds roll on heavy-duty wheels; staff relocate them at dusk based on your preference and weather conditions, and can roll them back under cover if rain threatens.

Family Star Bed: The family configuration offers two double beds on separate platforms extending from a shared main area—parents and children can experience the star bed concept with appropriate separation for privacy. The bathroom sits slightly apart, connected by a short covered walkway. This unit suits families with older children who can appreciate the unique sleeping arrangement; children under 12 are accepted but not generally recommended given the open-sided design and nocturnal wildlife sounds.

All rooms include hot water bottles for cool nights, warm bedding, and the absolute darkness that makes Loisaba’s stargazing exceptional—no light pollution for hundreds of kilometres.

Communal Areas

The scale here is deliberately intimate. A single thatched lounge serves as the property’s social heart, with comfortable seating arranged around a central fireplace that becomes the evening gathering point. Log fires crackle as you share safari stories over drinks, the darkness beyond the fire’s glow punctuated by animal sounds and the occasional sweep of a torch revealing eyes at the waterhole.

The dining area opens onto a wooden deck that catches morning sun—breakfast here, watching the dawn light transform the valley below, ranks among the property’s quieter pleasures. Meals are served communally, bringing together the maximum of eight guests in an atmosphere that encourages conversation without obligation. The kitchen produces impressive results given the remote location: fresh ingredients where possible, creative interpretations of East African and international dishes, and a flexibility around timing that accommodates the unpredictable rhythm of safari days.

The lounge doubles as a refuge if weather turns—though the point of Star Beds is precisely that you are here to embrace the elements rather than hide from them.

Activities

The breadth of activities at Loisaba is one of its defining strengths, setting it apart from properties that rely solely on vehicle-based game viewing. The conservancy supports a wide range of ways to explore the landscape, from traditional day and night game drives to guided walks, mountain biking, fishing, cultural visits, and specialist conservation-focused experiences. This variety gives each day a distinct rhythm and perspective.

Game drives cover varied terrain, and the time of day has a significant impact on what is seen. Morning drives frequently focus on predator activity, with resident lion prides, leopards, and increasingly regular cheetah sightings. Since January 2024, black rhino tracking has become possible following the reintroduction of twenty-one individuals, adding a notable conservation dimension to game viewing. Night drives using spotlights reveal nocturnal species such as aardvarks, bushbabies and, at times, African wild dogs moving across the plains.

Loisaba’s anti-poaching demonstration is another highlight. The conservancy’s renowned bloodhound and tracker-dog unit showcases the techniques used in frontline wildlife protection, offering an engaging and informative look at how security teams operate.

Guided walks with Samburu guides shift the focus from large mammals to subtler details: medicinal plants, bird calls, geology, and traditional tracking techniques. Walks can be adapted to suit different fitness levels, from gentle morning outings to more demanding escarpment hikes.

Horse riding and camel trekking add a further dimension to the experience. Bush-raised horses allow riders to move quietly through areas frequented by zebra, giraffe, or impala, approaching wildlife in a way that vehicles cannot match. Camel treks offer a slower, more traditional way to traverse the plains and river valleys. Both activities are optional extras, arranged through the guiding team, and suit guests seeking a more immersive, low-impact way to experience the landscape.

Mountain biking offers a more energetic option, particularly on routes descending from the escarpment, while fishing at Kiboko Dam provides a quieter alternative, with the chance to observe hippos while trying for tilapia. Cultural visits to nearby Samburu communities give insight into pastoralist traditions and how they intersect with modern conservation; contributions for these visits are paid directly to the communities.