Seventeen suites on elevated walkways above spring-fed pools, named for the aristocratic safari pioneer immortalised in Out of Africa, in Kenya's oldest and largest national park.
01 / 06
Overview
Denys Finch Hatton's Namesake
Built in 1993 on a 35-acre concession around three natural spring pools, Finch Hattons takes its name from the aristocratic safari pioneer whose life with Karen Blixen inspired Out of Africa.
Tsavo West is Kenya's oldest and largest national park — ten million acres of volcanic landscape, ancient lava flows, cloud forest and open savanna, with a fraction of the visitor traffic found in the country's more famous reserves. Seventeen tented suites sit on elevated walkways directly above the spring pools, open-plan and fully air-conditioned, built from canvas, wood and stone in a design that nods to the golden age of safari while adding every modern comfort. The springs themselves, fed by snowmelt from Kilimanjaro, draw a constant procession of elephant, buffalo and hippo past the camp's private decks.
Part of the Virgin Private Reserve Collection. Finch Hattons carries none of the Virgin branding on site — it remains devoted entirely to its own history, one of only nine properties worldwide in Sir Richard Branson's exclusive Private Reserve Collection.
17
Tented Suites
35ac
Private Concession
1993
Camp Established
10M
Acres of Tsavo West
Suites
Above the Spring Pools
Every suite is arranged along elevated walkways facing the water, open-plan and fully air-conditioned, built from canvas, wood and stone.
Tented Suite — Deck Above the Springs
01
Open-Plan, Fully Air-ConditionedPolished stone or hardwood floors, vintage safari furnishings and canvas walls that invite the breeze off the water, with air conditioning throughout — a rarity on safari in Tsavo's lowland heat.
02
A Private Deck on the WaterA large deck with daybed and armchairs faces the springs directly, with Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills visible on clear days.
03
A Maxibar, ComplimentaryHomemade snacks and full-sized bottles of gin, rum and whisky, each with its own mixer, restocked throughout the stay at no charge.
04
Family & Presidential SuitesTwo family suites include a sitting area with fold-out sofa beds for children, while the Presidential Suite adds a private plunge pool and its own kitchen.
Experiences
Lava Flows, Cloud Forest & Red Elephants
Tsavo West's volcanic landscape is unlike anywhere else in Kenya — a place of near-empty game drives, ancient craters and a rhino sanctuary all its own.
Day & Night
Game Drives
Drives across ten million acres of savanna, lava flow and riverine thicket, tracking Tsavo's famous red-dust elephants and resident lion prides.
Underwater
Mzima Springs
A day excursion to Mzima Springs, with an underwater viewing hide for watching hippos and crocodiles in crystal-clear water.
Volcanic
Shetani Lava Flow & Crater Climb
A hike across the black volcanic Shetani Lava Flow, with a crater climb and Chyulu cloud forest walk for the more active guest.
Conservation
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
A visit to one of Kenya's key black rhino conservation programmes, reachable directly from camp.
Wellness
Spa & Wellness Centre
A hammam, two outdoor massage pavilions, a spa pool and a yoga pavilion looking out toward the Chyulu Hills.
On Foot
Bush Walks
Guided walks through Tsavo's riverine thicket and open savanna, well away from the standard game-drive routes.
Dining
A Library, A Boma, A Bush Table
Finch Hattons offers more places to eat than most camps twice its size, from the formal dining tent to a full table set on the Chyulu Hills ridgeline.
01The dining tent, for formal candlelit evenings
02The open-air terrace, for breakfast and lazy lunches
03The Karen Blixen Lounge Bar, for sundowners and a well-stocked wine cellar
04A full table on the Chyulu ridgeline, for breakfast after the morning drive
The Karen Blixen Lounge — Sundowners & a Wine Cellar
Location
Tsavo West, Kenya's Original Park
Finch Hattons sits inside Tsavo West National Park, Kenya's oldest and largest, with the Chyulu Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro forming the backdrop to every game drive.
Tsavo West spans roughly 9,065 square kilometres, split from Tsavo East by a central road and railway.
The camp operates within a private concession that contributes park fees directly to Tsavo's conservation budget.
Spring pools fed by Kilimanjaro snowmelt sit at the centre of camp, drawing wildlife past the suites day and night.
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Mzima Springs and the Chyulu Hills are all reachable directly from the lodge.
Fly
A short flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport lands at Finch Hattons' own airstrip, four kilometres from camp.
Transfer
A ten-minute transfer from the airstrip, included in every stay, brings guests directly to the lodge.
Arrive
Check-in opens onto the spring pools, with the Karen Blixen Lounge Bar as the natural first stop.
A Living History
Thirty Years of Old-Safari Spirit
Named for the aristocratic pioneer of Out of Africa, Finch Hattons has spent more than three decades proving that a safari camp's greatest luxury is the wilderness it sits in.