The Kenya Guide

JW Marriott Opens Kenya's First Luxury Rhino Reserve Safari Camp

· 2 min read News
Nanyuki town on the slopes of Mount Kenya at dawn

Contents

  1. The Property
  2. The Rhino Connection
  3. Why Laikipia

A new property has opened in Kenya’s Laikipia region that combines luxury accommodation with one of Africa’s most active white rhino conservation programmes. JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp began accepting bookings in July 2026, set within the Solio Game Reserve on the foothills of Mount Kenya.

The Property

The camp has 19 luxury tented suites, each positioned to face the reserve’s open grasslands. Solio sits at around 2,200 metres above sea level, which means temperatures are cooler than Kenya’s coastal properties — mornings and evenings require a layer — and the landscape is distinctly different from the savannah camps in the Masai Mara or Amboseli.

Rates start at $4,446 per night for two guests on a full-board basis including game drives. At the upper end, this positions the property among East Africa’s most expensive new openings, and it is targeting the high-spend international market that has driven Kenya’s luxury safari growth in recent years.

The Rhino Connection

Solio Game Reserve has a strong claim to being Kenya’s most important private rhino sanctuary. It was established in the 1970s as a breeding programme, and Solio rhinos have since been relocated to restock reserves across Kenya and southern Africa. Both black and white rhinos are present.

The JW Marriott partnership formalises a conservation component: guests are involved in rhino monitoring activities alongside reserve staff, and a portion of revenue is directed toward protection and anti-poaching operations.

Why Laikipia

Most first-time safari visitors focus on the Masai Mara for the Great Migration (July–October) or Amboseli for elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro. Laikipia appeals to repeat visitors and those seeking smaller crowds, greater wildlife diversity (wild dogs, Grevy’s zebra, Sitatunga, alongside the Big Five), and a private conservancy atmosphere.

Nanyuki is the main access town for the region, with daily scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport on operators including Safarilink and Air Kenya. For more on the area, see our Mount Kenya wildlife guide and our Nanyuki guide.