“Absolute luxury, beautiful bedrooms, incredible food, and wonderful company. This is the most beautiful house, and I couldn’t fault it. We stayed for two nights and had a wonderful ride, swam in the most beautiful pool, wandered an incredible garden, and ate like kings and queens. Cindy was the most marvelous host who knew all the answers to all our eager questions! I would recommend Deloraine without any hesitation.”

Becky, UK

Deloraine House was built in the 1920s by Lord Francis Scott, a prominent early settler, and is one of the grandest remaining examples of colonial architecture in Kenya as well as a much-loved family home. The extensive estate and farm sit on the lower slopes of Londiani Mountain, a forest- and bamboo-shrouded extinct volcano on the western edge of the Great Rift Valley.

The accommodation at Deloraine is grand and imposing yet comfortable and unpretentious, the atmosphere always fun and hospitable. On the ground floor are a high-ceilinged drawing room, dining room, library, and two bedrooms and bathrooms, with three further bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. Extensive upstairs and downstairs verandas filled with sofas, armchairs, good books, and games look out across the lovely mature gardens. There are three further bedrooms in the Garden Cottage just next door.

The perfect place for a family get-together or traditional house party weekend, guests can set their own agenda and choose to be as busy or as relaxed as they prefer. There are plenty of activities and amenities on hand to occupy more energetic guests, including a swimming pool, tennis court, and croquet lawn. There are lovely walks around the estate and surrounding forest and countryside, and the birdwatching is excellent. Children love to explore the farm with its chickens, ducks, donkeys, sheep, cows, and more.

“Wow, what can I say, nothing prepared us for the stunning Deloraine House! We just wish we had spent much longer there. Just taking in the ambiance of such a historical place with the beautiful mature gardens and lovely swimming pool really allowed us to wind down. The staff was exceptional, and the food that kept being produced would rival any London restaurant! Visiting Lake Nakuru National Park was a highlight, and the flamingos were unforgettable… then again, riding up the mountain and trying our hand at polo were also pretty unforgettable…we will be back!”

The Saunders family, UK

Horse riding is a major focus at Deloraine, which is the headquarters of the Offbeat Safaris riding safari operation. The yard and stables, with approximately 80 horses, boast a string of some of the finest polo ponies in Kenya. There is an active breeding program, and the majority of the horses are home-bred from ex-polo mares.

Guests are encouraged to ride around the farm, and the nearby mountain provides spectacular views across the whole Rift Valley. There is also a cross-country course and full-size polo ground. A ride into the Koibatek Forest to search for elusive black & white colobus monkeys is a must for both novice and more experienced riders, and there are horses to cater to every level of ability.

Main House Bedrooms (5)

Room 1. This downstairs twin bedroom has views over the flower garden. Comfortably accommodating two guests in twin beds, it has an ensuite bathroom with a shower.

Room 2. This bedroom is downstairs with views over the flower garden. It is a very spacious double/quadruple bedroom with a double bed and two separate single beds and a bathroom (bath and shower) across the corridor.

Room 3. This bedroom is upstairs with views out to the veranda and garden beyond. It is a very spacious double/triple room, with a double bed and a separate single, and it can also be configured with three single beds. The ensuite bathroom is accessed from the outside balcony (bath only and separate loo).

Room 4.  The Red Room is upstairs with views out over the veranda and garden beyond. It is a spacious double/triple room (king-sized bed and separate single) with an ensuite bathroom (bath only).

Room 5. The Blue Room is upstairs with views out to the croquet lawn. This is a spacious and newly renovated double/quadruple room with a king-size double bed and two separate single beds and an ensuite bathroom (bath only).

Cottage Bedrooms (3)

The Garden Cottage is adjacent to the Main House and has three bedrooms overlooking the garden—two doubles and one twin room. The rooms are simpler in style and smaller than the bedrooms in the main house.

Room 6. A double bedroom with a king-size bed. Its private bathroom is accessed along the veranda outside (shower only).

Room 7. A twin/double bedroom. The shared bathroom is accessed along the veranda outside (shared with one room, bath only).

Room 8.  A twin bedroom. The shared bathroom (bath only) is accessed along the veranda and is shared with Room 7.