A childhood spent glued to National Geographic finally paid off the day Kenya stamped my passport and said, “Welcome to the real thing.”
Harish Chandra
Over ten indulgent days, Sopa Lodges turned a wildlife-obsessed daydreamer into a very pampered safari junky, who now believes that bush dinners, verandah with a panoramic view, and surprise flamingo sightings should be a part of everyday life. Wildlife around you is a constant presence.
‘Karibu Kenya’, checking into warmth
The journey began with a smooth IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Nairobi, where the screen said ‘Karibu Kenya’ (Welcome to Kenya) and my heart replied, ‘Its About time.’ At the airport, Ms Shelie, Marketing and Communications Manager, Sopa Lodges, greeted us with a warmth that felt like being adopted by a very efficient, very hospitable African family.
Sopa Lodges, founded in 1986, operates five properties across Kenya’s prime wildlife destinations, but what impressed me most was; how quickly ‘lodge staff’ turned into people who remembered my tea preferences and asked about my day like old friends. From the very beginning, it was clear that at Sopa, hospitality is an instinct.
Amboseli Sopa Lodge: Kilimanjaro views with cozy luxury
Highlights of Amboseli (separate box in between the article, to be designed in a way that it shows the property demographics clearly)
Location: Edge of Amboseli National park, 250 Km by road from Nairobi
Access: 4 hour drive from Nairobi, 30 min flight from Wilson Airport to Amboseli airstrip. 1 Hour transfer from the airstrip to the Lodge.
Accommodation: 84 cottages, includes 1 honeymoon suite, 1 Presidential suit.
Conferencing: 2 conference rooms, largest accommodation 110 people.
Activities: Game drives, Bush and Outdoor Dining, Nature Walk
Attraction of Game drive: among all big wild animals, watching pink flamingos was truly an amazing experience, Kilimanjaro Balloon Safaris ride over national park is beyond imagination.
My first hideout was Amboseli Sopa Lodge, dramatically set against the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the kind of view that makes you suspicious your life has been upgraded to a screensaver. A ceremonial tribal welcome with music and dance made our entry so grand that for a moment, I expected someone to roll out a red carpet for my suitcase.
The cottages here feel like a sweet compromise between ‘I’m in the wild’ and ‘I refuse to give up hot water and plush beds.’ Thoughtfully spread out across the grounds, they offer privacy, soft lighting, and an unspoken promise that even if you spot a lion on the game drive, your room will still be the star of your day.
Beautifully done verandas perfect for early morning coffee and late-night stargazing. Spacious interiors that allow you to unpack as if you’re moving in. Well-appointed bathrooms that prove safari and comfort can peacefully coexist. The lodge staff operated with that magical blend of efficiency and warmth: bags disappeared from the jeep and reappeared in the right room, welcome drinks appeared just when the African sun started feeling too enthusiastic, and every ‘How was your game drive?’ sounded genuinely curious. Between curated game drives, bush dining, and nature walks, the rhythm of the stay felt intentional, never rushed, never idle, just gently guided.
The game drive hero moment was the sight of elegant pink flamingos casually decorating the landscape while Kilimanjaro watched from a distance. A hot-air balloon safari over the park with Kilimanjaro Balloon Safaris added an almost surreal layer; floating above the savannah, I decided this is the only kind of traffic jam I ever want to be stuck in again, one made of clouds, sunlight, and elephants.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort: Where Zebras Share Your Lawn
Highlights of Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort: (separate box in between the article, to be designed in a way that it shows the property demographics clearly)
Location: 90 Km from Nairobi with a 1.5 hour beautiful drive.
Accommodation: 82 rooms, Includes 6 interconnecting rooms on the ground floor, 2 suites Conferencing: 6 conference rooms, largest accommodates 70 people.
Facilities: Bars, lounge, restaurants, outdoor boma dining area, swimming pools, gym, gift shop. Large ground to host weddings, events etc.
Activities: boat rides, biking, bird watching, nature walks.
If Amboseli was about wide skies and mountains, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort was about curves, architectural curves, to be precise. The resort seems to have grown organically between indigenous trees, with flowing lines and soft forms that make even the buildings look relaxed. This lake Naivasha is one of the largest habitat for over 1800 Hippos.
The welcome by General Manager, Mr Jerry Were and his team set the tone: warm smiles, efficient check-in, and the subtle but unmistakable feeling that these people have been running a masterclass in hospitality for years. The lobby is grand without being intimidating, and the kind of place where you could happily get ‘lost’ for an hour just people-watching and sofa-testing.
The rooms are destinations in themselves, each beautifully appointed with tranquil lake views and just enough luxury to remind you you’re on a premium safari, not a camping trip with delusions of grandeur. Step out onto the balcony and the first thing you notice is that the ‘lawn’ is shared real estate between humans, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, deer, monkeys, and occasionally hippos who believe in dramatic entrances at dusk.
Dining at Naivasha deserves its own visa stamp. We were joined by Mr Kennedy Ayoti, Chief Operating Officer, East Africa and Ms Rosemary M. Kuria, Director of Sales, Sopa Lodges. The cuisine is exceptional, and discovering authentic Indian food in the middle of Kenya, courtesy of Chef Toby, trained at the Taj in Mumbai, felt like a culinary plot twist written just for homesick travellers. Between lake-fresh dishes and perfectly spiced Indian fare, the only real challenge was deciding what not to eat.
Resort life came with temptations: Swimming pools that looked like they’d been auditioning for a luxury magazine spread. Bars and lounges ideal for post-safari storytelling and pre-dinner ‘just one drink’ rituals. An outdoor Boma dining area that turned evenings into theatrical, fire lit experiences, as zebras grazed a respectful distance from my window and birds orchestrated the soundtrack, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort quietly made a case for the wilderness being the most luxurious neighbour one could have.
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge: Flamingos, city lights & culinary theatre
Highlights of Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge: (separate box in between the article, to be designed in a way that it shows the property demographics clearly)
Location: 165 km from Nairobi, 21 km on all weather road from the Park gate to the Lodge with a 2.5 hour drive from Nairobi
Accommodation: 60 rooms
Facilities: bar, lounge, restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop Activities: game drives, bird watching, nature walks, By the time we reached Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, I had upgraded my expectations from nice lodge to surprise me. The lodge, perched on elevated terrain overlooking Lake Nakuru and its surrounding forests, did not disappoint.
From the room balcony, the view stretched across shimmering water, acacia-dotted landscapes. The cottages here respect your need for both immersion and retreat, walls sturdy enough to keep out the wild, windows large enough to let all of it in visually.
Lake Nakuru is famous for its dense flamingo populations, rhinos, buffaloes, and big cats, but at the lodge, hospitality stole a large share of the attention. The team greeted us with the now-familiar Sopa signature: genuine smiles, thoughtful touches, and that uncanny ability to anticipate needs before we voiced them.
The culinary highlight was an interactive cooking session led by the in-house chef, which was equal parts cooking lesson and comedy show. Chopping, stirring, and tasting together turned dinner into a collaborative performance, and for a brief moment, everyone in that place felt like a contestant on a very well-organised, very delicious reality show.
Evenings were reserved for cocktails and dinner with an unexpected bonus scene: the twinkling lights of Nakuru city in the distance, like a reminder that civilisation still exists, just in case you’d forgotten while staring at zebras and rhinos all day. The lodge manages to blend serenity, spectacle, and comfort with understated confidence.
Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge: Legacy wrapped in red & gold
Highlights of Masai Mara Sopa Lodge: (separate box in between the article, to be designed in a way that it shows the property demographics clearly) Location: 250 Km with 6 hour drive from Nairobi.
Accommodation : 101 rooms, including 4 inter connecting rooms, 1 honeymoon suite & 12 Suits.
Conferencing: 1 conference room accommodates 70 people
Facilities: Bar, lounge, restaurant, outdoor boma dining area, swimming pool, gift shop
Activities: one of the best game drives, bush dining, bird watching, nature walk, hot air balloon safaris, Prime location to witness the Great Migration (best between July and October)
Stepping into Maasai Mara National Reserve is like walking into a global wildlife documentary and realising, with mild shock, that you are on the right side of the camera for once. At Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge, Sopa’s oldest and most iconic property, this feeling is multiplied by a strong sense of place and history.
The welcome was nothing short of theatrical. Men in striking reds, yellows, and blacks and women adorned in deep red with silver and crystal jewellery greeted us with a powerful traditional performance that felt like an opening ceremony just for our arrival. If first impressions are everything, Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge made sure we had none left to spare.
Despite its remote location, the cottages are remarkably well-appointed, blending rustic charm with modern comforts so seamlessly that you quickly forget how far you are from the nearest city. Under the leadership of General Manager Ms Ludi Ogot, the lodge not only offers luxury stays but also a meaningful introduction to Maasai culture.
Evenings unfolded as carefully choreographed events: Sunset cocktails in the bush. Cultural performances under a slowly darkening sky. Open-air dinners that made the Milky Way feel like part of the décor. The visit to a nearby Maasai village turned the experience from a safari holiday into a cultural exchange.
The lodge’s focus on community engagement, local employment, and support for artisans through handicraft sourcing makes it an example of how hospitality can be both luxurious and responsible without turning preachy.
Samburu Sopa Lodge: Stars, Silence And Samburu Style
Highlights of Samburu Sopa Lodge: (separate box in between the article, to be designed in a way that it shows the property demographics clearly) Location 350 Km from Nirobi with 6 hour drive
Accommodation : 60 Rooms,
Conferencing: 1 conference room that can accommodate upto 45 people
Facilities: bar, lounge, restaurant, out-door dinning area, swimming pool, gift shop.
Activities: Game drives, bush dinning, bird watching, nature walks, board games.
Just when it seemed the safari story could not possibly add a new chapter, Samburu Sopa Lodge appeared and changed the genre entirely. Located in Northern Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve and set on elevated ground, this lodge offers sweeping views of rugged shrubland and distant hills that look like they’ve been painted in layers of brown, gold, and silence.
Architecturally, Samburu Sopa Lodge is a love letter to traditional Samburu homesteads; cottages are authentically styled yet equipped with all the modern comforts needed to prevent urban visitors from fainting at the sight of a missing plug point. With no physical barriers around the lodge, wildlife moves freely through the property, turning every stroll to the restaurant into a low-key game drive with a side of adrenaline.
Two things here deserve special mention: the sky and the stars. Samburu’s night sky is so clear that it feels almost intrusive, as if the universe has decided to lean in a bit too close for conversation. Sopa has cleverly turned this into an experience through guided stargazing sessions and a planetarium, making astro-tourism feel like a perfectly reasonable reason to cross continents.
Dinner under the stars followed by bonfire storytelling created some of the most unforgettable moments of the trip—part campfire, part masterclass in local stories and traditions. A game drive with Lodge Manager Mr. Walter Muriithi sealed Samburu’s place in my memory, especially when it ended with a champagne bush breakfast that made it extremely difficult to respect the concept of “normal breakfast” ever again.
Service, soul & why Sopa stands out
Across all five properties, one thread remained constant: a culture of genuine hospitality that never felt scripted. Staff remembered names, dietary preferences, and half-formed wishes; questions were answered with patience, and special requests were handled with the kind of grace that makes “no problem” sound like a promise, not a phrase.
For MICE travellers and leisure guests alike, Sopa Lodges offer serious infrastructure, conference rooms, event-friendly lawns, and seamless logistics, but it’s the soft power that wins hearts: warm greetings, attentive service, and the ease with which they turn a group of travel professionals into wide-eyed kids spotting their first giraffe. Sustainability, community engagement, and cultural respect are not decorative tags here; they are quiet, consistent undercurrents in how the lodges operate.
Last night at Novotel, Nairobi – Could not have asked for a better conclusion of my trip to Kenya with my one of the best stays so far at Novotel hotel in Nairobi. Right from the location, property, restaurant and bar, accommodation and hospitality, everything about Novotel was near-perfect. Highly recommended.
“Kwaheri kwa sasa, tutaonana tena Kenya”
Ya, just wanted to say in Kenya’s Swahili language “Bye for now, see you again, Kenya”
As the IndiGo flight finally lifted off from Nairobi for Mumbai, my camera was full, my suitcase heavier, and my heart quietly protesting the return to reality. Somewhere between Kilimanjaro’s silhouette, Naivasha’s hippos, Nakuru’s flamingos, Mara’s legacy, and Samburu’s sky, Sopa Lodges had rewritten my definition of a ‘luxury safari’ – warmth, soul, and hospitality that follow you long after you’ve checked out.
