Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
P.O. Box 35, Nanyuki 10400, Laikipia, Kenya
The Story
The actor who built a club at the foot of a mountain
The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki has been a magnet for royalty, millionaires and stars since its opening in 1959. It was founded by actor William Holden, who fell in love with the land during a hunting safari and bought the property with two partners. The club sits on 120 acres in the foothills of Mount Kenya, straddling the equator, with 120 guest rooms and an animal orphanage next door that is home to the only bongo breeding area in Africa, plus a large turtle named Speedy Gonzales who is reportedly more than 150 years old. The Fairmont group took over several years ago and refurbished the entire property, including the main building — a wonderful example of 1950s colonial architecture — while maintaining its historical polish.
" A colonial-era safari lodge run by a Hollywood actor who decided he'd rather live among elephants than studio executives. Given the choice, most people would agree with him.
Royalty, the Rat Pack and a wall of famous faces
The club is no stranger to royalty, prominent politicians and Hollywood stars. Winston Churchill enjoyed smoking his cigar in the lavish dining room with his afternoon tea. Over the years its guests have included Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, the Rat Pack, Steve McQueen and Charlie Chaplin. The Trophy Lounge is filled with starry images of past visitors, including Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, John Wayne and Marlon Brando. A glance at the sponsor wall still shows the names "Mr/Mrs Frank Sinatra" and "Mr/Ms Paul Newman" among the donors. Sinatra stayed here when he came to visit his wife, Ava Gardner.
The Mogambo base camp
The club has a particular place in the story of John Ford's Mogambo (1953), in which Clark Gable is torn between Grace Kelly and Ava Gardner. Much of the action was filmed in the wilds of Kenya and Uganda, with the cast and crew setting up camp near the Kagera River and then close to the Uaso Nyiro River. The Mogambo cast and crew — Gable, Gardner and Kelly among them — were known to visit the Mount Kenya Safari Club for drinks and entertainment during filming. Ava herself visited during the 1953 shoot. If you have never thought about going on safari before, you may well after watching the film.
Signature Experiences
The Trophy Lounge
The lounge is filled with photographs of famous past guests, including Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, John Wayne and Marlon Brando — a wall of Old Hollywood faces in the heart of the East African highlands.
The animal orphanage
Next door to the club is an animal orphanage, home to the only bongo breeding area in Africa, plus a large turtle named Speedy Gonzales who is reportedly more than 150 years old.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
As Seen In
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at fairmont.com or by phone on +254 111 135 666.
- Best Time: Year-round.
- Accessibility: Contact the venue directly to confirm access requirements.
- Tip: Rooms from around $250 per night includes the distinction of sleeping where the Rat Pack slept on safari. The Trophy Lounge is free to admire for its wall of starry photographs, and the animal orphanage next door is worth a visit for the bongo breeding programme and Speedy Gonzales the turtle.
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