Arijiju Retreat

The accommodation

Arijiju is a stylish private villa that was built and designed to blend seamlessly into the bedrock and hillside, with a wild grass roof and walls clad with local Meru stone. Inside, you’ll find exposed stone and polished concrete walls, with inspiration taken from famous Ethiopian monasteries, along with splendid western-style furnishings and luxurious furniture, including beautiful chandeliers, huge French mirrors and indulgent copper bathtubs. The central courtyard is cloistered much like an ancient French Abbey, with suites and sitting rooms arranged around it.

The villa is in the heart of the Borana Reserve where wildlife abounds (think Africa’s ‘Big Five’, along with wild dogs and cheetahs). You’ll also find nomadic Maasai tribes as they manage their herds. Exploration of the area is encouraged by mountain bike, on foot or on horseback, and of course no stay would be complete without a game drive safari or two.

After a day of exploration, enjoy the wide range of experiences on offer at Arijiju as part of your stay. There is a gym, spa, Hammam, yoga deck, tennis court and squash court, all skilfully blended into the valley, and there’s a highly skilled masseuse and beauty therapist at your disposal to ease those tired muscles.

• Five stylish and generously sized suites, three in the main house around the central courtyard and two in adjacent cottage suites
• All suites have private bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, as well as freestanding bathtubs
• Enjoy a wide range of delightful healthy food and drink. A farm-to-table approach is taken with Ottolenghi-style cuisine that combines modern, classic and local
• Meals can be taken in the beautiful dining room, or on one of the decks and patios, or you can dine further afield in the bush if you prefer
• Excellent range of facilities including tennis and squash courts, gym, yoga deck, hammam, and spa
• Relax on a lounger by the stunning 25-metre infinity pool
• Families are welcome and babysitting facilities are cheerfully provided 
• Relax and enjoy the Sonos multi-room music system, Apple TV and movies in the home cinema (with popcorn provided if you wish)
• 5 hours per day of spa and beauty treatments with an expert therapist are included