Borana Lodge
BORANA LODGE lies on the edge of the Samangua Valley. It has panoramic views of Mount Kenya, across the Lewa Plains to the Ngare Ndare Forest.
Borana Lodge was built is 1992 by local artisans. Only local building materials and dead wood from the ranch were used in its construction. The result is a supremely comfortable and luxurious lodge which is totally in keeping with its surroundings; it seems to have grown organically from the rocks on which it was built.
Borana lodge overlooks a dam which fills with the floodwater flowing off the surrounding hills. It is the local watering hole for all the wildlife in the area so there is constant activity for the guests to watch. There is also a game blind built right on the edge of the dam so that visitors may go down and see the activity at close range: elephants swimming is a favourite.
Borana Lodge is built primarily for privacy; each cottage is exclusively sited with its own special view, totally secluded from its neighbour. This ensures guests have a chance to appreciate the wilderness and loneliness of Africa.
There is a central eating and sitting area: comfy leather sofas surround a huge fireplace with picture windows looking onto the valley below. A massive rosewood table in the dining room is where meals are served by friendly and attentive staff. Local artists' paintings and sculptures decorate the lodge, and are also available for sale.
All food is freshly prepared in the kitchen; vegetables and farm produce from the farm, freshly squeezed juice from our orchard and wines from around the world.
Borana Cottages
There are six cottages at Borana. Three have large double beds and three have twin beds - both of which are queen size.
Each cottage has its own veranda except for the family cottage, where two cottages share a spacious veranda that has a phenomenal view over the dam.
Each cottage also has an open-fireplace lit every afternoon by the room stewardess; a basket of firewood is kept in each room.
The bathrooms are the epitome of luxury: spacious, clean and with exceptional views over wildest Africa.
Borana - A Working African Ranch
Borana is not just a game sanctuary it is also a working ranch.
Many guests have found that spending a day on the ranch is equally as interesting as looking at the animals. Michael Dyer - who runs the ranch - is happy to take guests on his rounds.
He shows guests the challenge of ranching in these hostile conditions - elephants in the vegetable patch, lions in the cattle bomas, flood, drought, famine.
It all goes to show why Borana is the place where cattle sleep with one eye open.
LIVESTOCK
Borana Ranch has over 2000 head of cattle. The cattle are kept for beef production though we also have our own dairy herd for ranch consumption. The cattle are primarily of the 'Boran' breed; this is for their ability to withstand droughts and pests, though we do a single with the 'Sementhal' breed in order to improve the body form.
SEVEN ELEPHANTS TREE NURSERY
The Seven Elephants Tree Nursery was founded in 2000, inspired by what Michael had seen at the Seven Ravens Tree Nursery in Rongai in Kenya's Rift Valley.
DISABLED TANNERY AND LEATHER WORKSHOP
In 1966 Will Powys began an ambitious project to employ the local handicapped people of the area.
IRRIGATION
Land bordering the Ngare Ndare River on our eastern boundary has been fenced and irrigated.
