Sosian Lodge
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Set on a 24,000 acre wildlife ranch, Sosian pride themselves on managing a unique blend of tourism, conservation and traditional cattle ranching in Laikipia’s highlands.
At Home in the Wilderness…
The original ranch house was built in the 1940’s by Italian artisans and has been beautifully restored to accommodate up to 14 people (and more on request).
Four double cottages are dotted throughout the gardens, against a backdrop of Mt Kenya with views for miles over the Laikipia Plateau. This is true unspoilt Africa. The lodge has a beautiful swimming pool, plus a tennis court, organic vegetable garden, and a stable yard of 30 safari horses. The list of safari activities available is extensive and the ranch lies at an altitude of 5,500 ft, which makes for a perfect climate, with no record of malaria.
Facilities
There are four twin rooms (each with ensuite bathroom and its own veranda) and are three double rooms also each with an ensuite bathroom and its own veranda.
In addition, there is the Family Cottage which can either be a two or three bedroom unit, accommodating a family of up to seven people. There is a double room with an interconnecting twin or triple, which has its own bathroom with tub. Lastly, there is the Italian Cottage (honeymoon cottage), which is set in its own private garden area with extra privacy. It is the largest of all the rooms, with a bedroom, walk-through closet and large bathroom with twin basins, shower, and bath.
Experience & Activities
The wildlife on Sosian has flourished. They are fortunate enough to have a diverse cross section of habitats that hosts a long list of birds and mammals, including elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, oryx, impala, warthog, plus many smaller predators such as bat-eared foxes, genet cats, and serval cats.
Go out & see wildlife on day & night game drives in custom designed 4x4 vehicles, or on walking safaris with an armed guide. You can also explore on horseback for a few hours, or experience a week-long horseback safari, alternatively cycle through the ranch up close to the wildlife, & see all the small things you may have missed on a game drive.
Some of the other activities available include camel treks, fly camping (either with or without horses) fishing, waterfall jumping, river tubing, kayaking, and cattle ranching. Enjoy beautiful African sunsets around a warm fire, out in the bush or on our stunning treehouse deck.
Sosian Horse Safaris: With prior arrangement, we also offer longer riding safaris from Sosian. There are three other lodges and camps within a half day ride from Sosian and riding out to these properties is a fantastic way to see more of the area and sample some different lodges. Starting and ending at Sosian, our horses become our transport and together with our team of grooms and guides we can offer a really exhilarating riding safari experience, with plenty of wildlife and excellent riding.
Read MoreThe Team
Sean & Charlotte Outram| General Managers
Sean's family has a deep-rooted history in Kenya spanning 5 generations, initially farming and pioneering safaris.
Sean pursued education across Kenya, Zimbabwe, and the UK before returning to Kenya to embark on an agricultural career. Since 2006, he has overseen the management of Sosian, a bustling 24,000-acre ranch and conservancy. He is particularly passionate about developing Kenya's largest Boran cattle breeding stud, which houses 680 breeding cows and a collection of esteemed stud bulls. Despite his extensive responsibilities, Sean finds his greatest joy in bush walks and fishing adventures with his two young sons.
Sean's wife, Charlotte played a significant role in establishing horse riding safaris at Sosian over the course of 15 years before transitioning to sales and marketing in 2020.
Sierra 1 (Saimon)| Head of Conservation & Security
Saimon, Sean’s trusted deputy, has been an integral part of Sosian since 2004. Beginning as a farm driver, he has risen to lead our security and anti-poaching teams. His dedication to wildlife protection is unmatched. In 2017, Saimon was honoured by ‘ForRangers’ in London, where he met HRH Duke of Cambridge for his exceptional service as a wildlife ranger at Sosian. This moment filled us with pride and strengthened our resolve to advance crucial wildlife conservation efforts across Laikipia.
Darren & Emma Geary| Lodge Managers
Darren and Emma joined us in 2023, bringing extensive experience from the tourism and safari industry. They spent 11 years managing a luxury safari camp in the Masai Mara and more recently two years at a lodge in northern Kenya. Both are passionate food enthusiasts, having owned restaurants previously, with Darren hailing from a highly successful baking family in the UK. While they enjoy traveling worldwide, Africa holds a special place in their hearts as their home base.
David Macharia| Head of Lodge
David has been part of the Sosian family since 2001, starting as a gardener and swiftly rising through the ranks due to his exceptional dedication and skill.
Integral to the lodge's operations and guest experience, David oversees a team of cleaners, waiters, and gardeners. His intimate knowledge from restoring the original ranch house makes him invaluable, knowing every pipe and wire, which proves invaluable. David is versatile and adept, equally at ease guiding guests on a game drive, grooming horses, or maintaining the swimming pool. His enthusiasm for keeping busy ensures every task is handled with enthusiasm and expertise.
Milka| Head of Housekeeping
Milka's meticulous attention to detail propelled her to the role of head of housekeeping, where she leads a team of four dedicated women who ensure the rooms and lodge are immaculately cleaned every day. In addition to their daily cleaning duties, they manage our laundry service and perform evening turndown service, including preparing beds and mosquito nets.
What makes our housekeeping team even more special is that all the ladies are trained massage therapists—offering an experience you won't want to miss out on!
Nicodemus| Head Chef
Since 2003, Nico has proudly served as Sosian's head chef, where his culinary mastery shines through in every dish. His passion for innovation drives him to continually explore new recipes and techniques, ensuring each creation is a work of art.
Nico's commitment to sustainability is evident in his use of our own homegrown, organic produce from the farm and kitchen garden, infusing every dish with love and freshness. Inspired by chefs like Darian Allan (Ballymaloe), Yotam Ottolenghi, and Mary Berry, Nico caters to every palate, delighting in crafting exquisite vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Beyond his culinary talents, Nico is a philosopher at heart, known for his wisdom and humor. His warm demeanor and can-do attitude ensure that every guest leaves with a smile.
Cassia Rowsell | Activities Manager
Armed with an Oxford Media & Business distinction and a Leiths Food & Wine Diploma, Cassie made her way to us from the UK post-COVID and never looked back!
Hailing from rural England, she thrives outdoors and finds her joy on horseback. Since joining us, Cassie has seamlessly integrated into our dynamic team, bringing boundless energy and enthusiasm to every facet of life at Sosian. Whether guiding horseback rides, biking through the wilderness, leading fly camping expeditions, or navigating waterfall jumps, she remains at the heart of our adventurous pursuits.
Cassie's role extends beyond adventure; she expertly curates each guest's experience, ensuring every day is bespoke and unforgettable. Her dedication ensures that every guest leaves Sosian with cherished memories and an enriched experience.
Simon Achuka| Head Guide
Simon joined Sosian in 2018 with a rich background in guiding across Laikipia. Since then, he has seamlessly integrated into the Sosian family, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and boundless enthusiasm.
Simon is dedicated to ensuring our guests have unforgettable experiences and consistently goes above and beyond, especially when searching for lions, leopards, or wild dogs. In addition to his role as a driver guide, Simon has undergone rigorous training as an armed walking guide, encouraging guests to explore the bush on foot and connect more deeply with the wilderness.
Megan Hodgson| Horse Safari Manager
Megan grew up on her father’s cattle farm near the Drakensberg Mountain in South Africa, where she developed a passion for horseback riding. She later moved to Australia to study Equine Science and gained experience working on various professional competition yards, becoming an accomplished rider.
In 2016, Megan combined her love for Africa and its wildlife by joining Offbeat Riding Safaris in Kenya, where she worked for five years. In 2021, she moved to Sosian, where she now manages a bustling yard of 30 safari horses and assists Darren and Emma at the lodge.
Boni| Head Guide
Boni exhibited a wonderful natural calmness with the horses, handling them with exceptional care. Over the years, Boni has learned to be a farrier and has taken on all veterinary responsibilities for the horses.
Boni has also become a first-class rider and guide with the keenest eyes in the bush. He knows every horse and every inch of Sosian, making him a fun and knowledgeable horse riding guide.
Location
Where We Are
Sosian Lodge is situated within a private conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau.
Where to stay