A night under the African sky – Kenyan resort takes glamping to a whole new level

What are the main attractions? Kenya’s Laikipia County is home to the nation’s second largest population of ele­phants. Its lions and reticulated giraffes are the stuff of safari dreams. The night sky, when viewed from bushland, shimmers like a Habsburg crown, and now you can see for yourself at the Loisaba Conservancy, a 22,660-hectare, sustainable, fenceless, private property that stretches across the Laikipia plains to Mount Kenya. There, in the Elewana Collection’s Loisaba Star Beds (below), you can sleep beneath the stars.

Sleep outside? In Africa? You’ve got to be kidding. No joke. After a day exploring the reserve, bumping over dirt roads in a Land Rover (above), riding camels around acacia trees and watching the sun set with a gin and tonic in hand, you can tuck yourself into one of the camp’s four “star beds”.

Perched on a hill overlooking the Kiboko waterhole, these wall-free, rustic, en-suite rooms with an ample terrace are designed to embrace the vista. At bedtime, staff re-position the elevated bed, mosquito canopy in place, to the uncovered deck. Guests scramble up, snuggle in, gaze at the shimmering heavens and listen to the moonlit hippo symphony, trusting that the netting and assigned guard will be enough to prevent a nighttime bite, or mauling.

I don’t think I’d get any sleep!You may be surprised, but if you prefer a less exposed doze, the Loisaba Conservancy is also home to the Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp (below), a more classic glamp­ing-style safari lodge about 20 minutes from the Star Beds.

Composed of 12 commodious, permanent tents, perched atop a ridge, the camp also has a dining hall, infinity pool (below) and bar. Some of the tents can be reconfigured for family use, and a private residence-style enclave boasts three en-suite tents and its own infinity pool.