Life, Wild and Beautiful -
The Olepangi Way
If this speaks to you . . . just come.
Welcome to Olepangi Farm - a place for those who believe that many things can be true at the same time.
A place where life is wild and beautiful, full of small pleasures, honest work, and moments of unexpected magic.
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Kenya, Olepangi is not a hotel or a safari lodge. It is a way of life. An invitation to step into the rhythm of the farm, connect with the land, and discover the beauty of living simply.
Some come to ride horses across the farm and out into the community. Others to lie in the long grass with a book and let the days unfold as they will. Some come in search of adventure: long walks through wild landscapes, flowing rivers, star-filled skies. Others come to eat: to taste the soil in every bite, to share long, lazy meals around a big table with strangers who feel like old friends by the end of the night. And then there are some who come for some of the finest safari adventures in Kenya . . . on our doorstep.
However you come, you come as you are. And you meet Olepangi exactly where it is: in motion, unfinished, always becoming.
Life on the Farm
Days at Olepangi unfold slowly, with the sun, the seasons, and the small rituals that tether us to this place.
The first milking. The smell of coffee on the verandah. Fresh eggs collected by hand. The daily rhythms of the garden. The choir singing as they fold napkins. The thump of Jack Russells chasing shadows across the lawn. Gin and tonic as the mountain turns pink.
If you want ice cream, you'll need to milk a cow, particularly if you're a child. That's only fair.
We don't stage any of it for show. This is simply life as it is, with all its beauty and rough edges.
There are no curated moments here, only the gentle, steady pulse of farm life.
Safari Days
Kenya, most people are told, is wildlife. Game drives at dawn, game drives at dusk, the long dusty hours in between. And it is glorious. We would never say otherwise.
But ask anyone who has done a proper safari, honestly, and they will tell you the truth. It is exhausting. Wonderful, but exhausting. Everyone is up at 5.30am. Everyone is back in the vehicle by 4pm. By day four, most normal people are quietly begging for a morning that starts later than sunrise.
Olepangi is where you come to breathe, without leaving the wildlife behind. We sit twenty minutes from the Lolldaigas, one of the most beautiful conservancies in Kenya, a stretch of land most tourists never see, quiet, uncrowded, and every bit as wild as the places everyone has heard of. From here, you can also strike out for day trips to Ol Pejeta, Ngare Ndare Forest, Mount Kenya, and Samburu, returning each night to the quiet embrace of the farm.
Come for a farm morning and a safari afternoon. Come for three farm days and one perfect game drive. There is no itinerary to keep up with here. You build the days you actually want.
Come with friends and family. Fill the farm with your people. Or come alone and find your own rhythm.
Whichever way you choose, come home to Olepangi at the end of every day.
Food & Gin
We believe that food should taste like where it comes from, and that everything starts with the soil.
Our kitchen is powered by the farm: eggs from our own hens, vegetables and herbs from our gardens, cream from our Jersey cows, honey from our bees. When we can't grow it ourselves, we source from our neighbours. What we can't find locally, we simply go without.
We grow snapdragons, dahlias, sunflowers, and lavender in quantities that could only be described as gloriously unnecessary. Not because we need them, but because life is better with too many flowers.
Horses, Dogs & All the Essentials
A few things we know for sure:
- Life must have Jack Russells in it: small dogs with big personalities.
- Horses are essential to the soul of humanity, even if they don't make a penny.
- You can never have too many books or too many flowers.
- Kier believes you can never have too many tractors or too many power tools.
- Singing together keeps us in harmony with each other.
- Gin is better than whisky.
- It's hard to hate up close, and the best way to break down barriers is to simply sit around a table together.
At Olepangi, the dogs rule the roost, led by Dame Gertrude Bell (Gertie) with Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (Monty) in hot pursuit, while Lady Clementine Churchill (Clemmie pictured right) and Zsa Zsa take the more refined approach of simply staying out of the way.
Nothing makes economic sense here. And yet everything makes perfect sense.
The Olepangi Invitation
Come as you are.
Come for horses, for food, for the flowers, for the wide open landscapes. Come for the silence. Come for the stories. Come to feel small beneath the stars. Come to simply be, and let Olepangi meet you exactly where you are.
As one guest once said, Olepangi is perfectly imperfect. It is wild and beautiful.
And we'd love to share it with you.
Watch these videos to get a little feel for what our farm stay is like . . .
"In a world where everything is the same, Olepangi is a one off!"
What our guests say
Go there! Wilderness, horses, a huge truly memorable garden and each room, cottage unique and inspires unlike any of the other safari places I’ve seen in the many decades I w lives in Kenya. Hosts and staff could not be better. And it is safe. Elizabeth has collections from around s the world and her feet happily planted on this earth.
Channa C
It’s been a while since I enjoyed a holiday the way I enjoyed my stay at Olepangi. To begin with, the staff are INCREDIBLE-never have I experienced such care and concern from hotel staff the way I did at Olepangi. Special mention to Edwin the bartender and Jennifer the waitress-stellar service! The owner Elizabeth is a visionary. She’s also an amazing human being who makes it a point to get to know all her guests and to share the Olepangi story. This makes the experience personable and intimate. I stayed at the Markham and it was small and intimate, with a spectacular view. I went on lovely walks, which they organised and managed to spend an admirable amount of time being one with nature. I cannot recommend Olepangi enough! Pack your bags and go TODAY!
Natasha K
This property is unbelievably charming and unforgettable! When my friend and I arrived at Olepangi Farm, Edward greeted us with the biggest, warmest smile that I will never forget! For the reminder of our stay, Edward made sure we felt so well taken cared for and he treated us like family. George took us on farm tours and was incredibly knowledge and personable. Our cottage was impossibly adorable and cozy. The grounds are stunning and the FOOD was unforgettable! Kuddos to chef Martin for creating meals that I still daydream about! I can't wait to return!
Amanda D
My son got married at Olepangi Farm and Elizabeth and her team made sure all of the details were taken care of. From the beautifully kept grounds, large tastefully decorated rooms, world class views complete with visiting elephants, giraffes, zebras etc., and a staff as friendly, competent and helpful as you could find, Olepangi is just exquisite.
Scott W
Brigid G
We had a very enjoyable 3 day stay in the Round House spending a lot of time relaxing by the pool with a book. The fantastic food served couldn't be any fresher from the inspirational vegetable and fruit garden which it's well worth taking a tour of. I went out on a couple of sunrise runs with one of the staff, George, which were a real highlight. It was great chatting and being able to get some exercise in to refresh the mind during a busy trip.
James G
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