Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Kenya / Nanyuki / Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
Nanyuki, Kenya · Fairmont · Core Luxury
In 1959, Hollywood actor William Holden, Texas oilman Ray Ryan, and Swiss financier Carl Hirschmann bought the former Mawingo Hotel and created the Mount Kenya Safari Club, a private members' club straddling the equator at 7,000 feet on the slopes of Africa's second-highest mountain. Past honorary members included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, and Lord Mountbatten. Fairmont now operates the property with an attached wildlife conservancy and animal orphanage.
- 100 rooms
- Opened 1959
About Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
- The property straddles the geographic equator at 7,000 feet: guests can stand with one foot in each hemisphere, and nights drop sharply despite the latitude.
- The precursor Mawingo Hotel was built in the 1930s by American socialite Rhoda Lewinsohn and French aviator Gabriel Prudhomme.
- The on-site wildlife conservancy's orphanage has rehabilitated indigenous species including bongos, among Africa's most endangered forest antelopes.
- Africa's Leading Hotel 2025 at the World Travel Awards.
History
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club was founded in 1959 by actor William Holden, renowned chef André Tchieret, and a group of Hollywood celebrities who created a private member's club at the equator on the slopes of Mount Kenya. The club sits at 7,000 feet altitude straddling the equator, with views of Mt. Kenya's glacier-capped peaks. Past honorary members have included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, and John Wayne. The property includes a wildlife conservancy and animal orphanage. Fairmont now manages the property as a luxury safari lodge.
The setting
10 km from roadside Equator Marker. 15 km from regional Nanyuki Airport.
Restaurants and bars
- Tusks — Restaurant
- Zebar Terrace — Restaurant
Experiences
- 3-Night Safari Experience — Signature 3-night, 4-day eco-safari retreat in the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy blending luxury, conservation, culture and adventure.
- Eco Safari Experiences — Sustainable wildlife adventures, nature walks, visits to the animal orphanage and eco-friendly activities.
- Iconic 5-Day Safari at Mount Kenya — All-inclusive 5-day safari in a private wildlife conservancy with game drives, signature dining, cultural immersion and wellness. Minimum stay 5 nights.
- 3-Night Wellness Retreat — Half board retreat with morning yoga, organic breakfasts, farm-to-fork dining, a 60-minute spa massage and a guided forest walk.
- 2-Night Eco Safari Experience — Half board eco safari with immersive, low-impact adventures in the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.
- Eco Safari Horse Riding — Horse riding through landscapes and wildlife within the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Golf course
- Pet-friendly
- Horseback riding
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
- Africa's Leading Hotel 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
Open Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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Fairmont in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.