Editors' Picks

Segera Retreat

High-design, conservation-minded, luxurious

Laikipia County, Kenya

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Indagare Adored

At a Glance

Located in the heart of Laikipia, Segera is a 50,000-acre retreat that blends stylish comfort, adventurous activities and a strong commitment to conservation. Five villas on stilts and five houses, including a former farmhouse, are positioned to ensure complete privacy, with views facing the plains and wildlife, and showcase contemporary African art from the owner's personal collection—Jochen Zeitz is also the founder of Cape Town’s Zeitz MOCAA and CEO of Harley-Davidson. Itineraries at Segera include game drives, beading workshops at a women’s cooperative, and joining the anti-poaching and canine units for a tracking session. Dinner is served in such beautiful dining venues as the Wine Tower or the Stables—with giraffes in the distance. Guests here come away with a deeper appreciation of the beauty and challenges of modern Africa.

The Standout: The exceptionally personal feeling that comes when you’re a guest at someone’s passion project

Don’t Miss: An overnight in the bird’s-nest-like tower room with a special “star bed” experience

Indagare Loves

  • The stylish, light-filled villas, with thatched ceilings, French doors and double-height window walls
  • The commitment to the four Cs: community, conservation, culture and commerce
  • The collector’s touches, including the vintage plane used in Out of Africa

Review

Opened by Jochen Zeitz, the ex-CEO of Puma and developer of Cape Town’s Zeitz MOCAA art museum, Segera Retreat is an elegant property that has been filled with modern art. Jochen Zeitz is also the co-founder of the Zeitz Foundation, which supports the 4C’s (conservation, community, culture and commerce). His commitment to conservation is evident at Segera, where guests can visit a local beading cooperative and learn about the first-ever all-female anti-poaching ranger unit.

Originally an old home and stables, Segera has been converted into a design-focused hotel. You can find works from emerging contemporary artists alongside antique pieces, including a letter from Ernest Hemingway and a part of the engine from Denys Finch Hatton’s plane in Out of Africa.

The stilted villas all have an understated explorer aesthetic with earth tones and lots of leather and brass. Accommodations range from one- to three-bedrooms in size, but guests who want to immerse themselves in nature can book an under-the-stars overnight experience in the hotel’s spectacular bird nest–like structure.

Segera accepts children of all ages and offers classic safari activities such as game drives, walking safaris and local school visits, as well as specialized activities, including tracking the endangered Patas monkeys. There are no rhino in the area surrounding Segera, but guests might be able to see them on excursions further afield.

Segera has a movie room, spa, swimming pool, gym, conservation center and botanical garden. The property implements its own fresh produce at meals, which can be had by the pool, in the wine tower or at the Paddock House. The property has a private airstrip, so is most easily accessed by a chartered flight. Segera makes a great last stop on a safari (as the area around it is not as animal-dense as other places in Kenya but that doesn’t mean you won’t have great animal sightings).

Who Should Stay

Couples and families who want an upscale home base for incredible experiences with a conservation focus

Written by Lizzie Eberhart

What's Nearby

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