Lengishu House is an exclusive-use family home offering unparalleled luxury accommodation in Laikipia at the heart of Kenya’s 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy, the country’s newest and most successful rhino sanctuary. The retreat is owned by Joe and Minnie MacHale.
The exquisite resort adds to the list of luxurious hospitality facilities that dominate Kenya’s tourism industry, strategically located in some of the country’s leading wildlife conservancies.
Lengishu House is nestled into a ridge with panoramic views of the Laikipia plains and the Northern Frontier. The multi-million luxury home can accommodate up to 12 guests at a time, offering sustainable tourism and safari adventures.
The house boasts 6 beautifully appointed bedrooms within 4 cottages, which are situated apart from the main house. All rooms face East over the valley below, offering spectacular views of the sunrise.
Fish Eagle and Goshawk are standalone double rooms, perfect for couples. The Upper and Lower Cottages work well for guests travelling with young children or couples on safari together, with the bedrooms leading off a shared sitting room that is found at the centre of the cottage.
All bedrooms are spacious with fireplaces or wood-burning stoves for the cooler evenings and have en-suite bathrooms with rain showers and freestanding copper bathtubs. Floor to ceiling windows provide majestic views of the undulating plains beyond, perfect for bathtub game viewing
Lengishu House is built with locally sourced materials and designed to blend in with the surrounding environment. Expertly crafted by local artisans, the house features beautiful exposed Kenyan timber work while stone for the floors and intricate design features were excavated from the site itself. The interiors are tastefully decorated in neutral tones with splashes of red in a nod to the owner’s Scottish heritage and that of their neighbours; the Maasai community.
The main house is central to the design with a large entrance hall leading to a study and dining room with two inviting fireplaces and an impressive vaulted ceiling. A covered veranda with a pizza oven is a delightful hub for al fresco breakfasts or sundowners under an African sky.
Lengishu House also offers a wealth of game drives and other safari adventures on land, by air and on horseback, along with hands-on conservation experiences, accompanied by private guides.
It also has a wide range of facilities to enjoy when you simply wish to relax and unwind at home. These amenities include; a gym, billiards table, infinity pool, studio and pétanque pitch, and an in-house masseuse, making it a peaceful escape from everyday life.
According to the company, all conservation fees paid by Lengishu’s guests are invested into the sustainable conservation of land and wildlife, notably the endangered black rhino and its habitat.
Visitors are also treated to learn how Borana Conservancy supports the conservation of wildlife and how its a difference-maker within the local community.
History
Joe and Minnie MacHale’s love of Kenya began over 40 years ago when they lived in Nairobi for 4 years, and fell in love with the beauty of Kenya and the friendliness of its people.
20 years ago, they embarked on their first family safari holiday in Kenya. Their three children also volunteered to work and teach in different schools across the country before they went on to join university.
During one of their visits to Kenya, they learned that the Dyer family was looking for one last shareholder to help support their vision for conservation in Laikipia, presenting too good an opportunity to miss. Three years later, they built Lengishu House and it became their home in Kenya.
Joe and Minnie’s primary focus was to make as little impact on the surroundings as possible by using sustainable and local building materials. They wanted to create an authentic Kenyan home, all the while providing the utmost in luxury and style.
In addition to the dream of having this wonderful home for their family in the midst of Africa’s most inspiring wildlife reserve, Joe and Minnie wanted to open their home to like-minded guests with a passion to experience and support rhino conservation at the Borana Conservancy.
“We are delighted to offer truly sustainable safari holidays as an exciting alternative to the usual luxury safari lodges in Kenya. With Lengishu House as a luxurious base for unforgettable wildlife experiences, we are able to create magical adventures for our guests which will help to change the region’s fortunes for the better,” the family states on the company website.
Rates
New Bookings
To book, send an email to reservations@lengishu.com. Your booking will be held provisionally for 5 working days. The expiry date of the booking will be noted on the reservations summary. Provisional bookings are required to be confirmed
before the expiry date or it will automatically expire.
Expiry dates may be extended on request.
A booking will only be con#rmed on receipt of a deposit and of the following information:
• Date, time and method of guests’ arrival and departure.
• Number of people travelling and room requirements.
• Names and ages of all guests travelling.
• Special dietary requirements or requests.
• Proof of residency if the guests request the Kenyan resident rates.
A 20% non-refundable deposit (of the total cost inclusive cost) is required to con#rm the booking. If for any reason you are unable to travel, you can postpone your dates for up to 12 months. The remaining 80 % balance is due 45 days prior to the arrival date.
