Luxury experiential and conservation company, &Beyond, has extended its lodge circuit in Kenya with the announcement of an Exclusive Tourism Concession over the Suyian Conservancy in partnership with global conservation charity, Space for Giants.
The multi-decade long-term lease and partnership gives &Beyond exclusive access to approximately 18 000ha of prime wilderness land on Suyian Conservancy in north-western Laikipia.
As the sole luxury lodge and tented camp operator on the conservancy, the lease enables &Beyond to use its extensive lodge operating experience to build and develop, over time, a lodge, tented camp, sky beds, and mobile camping experience in Kenya on this private wildlife conservancy.
“Our expansion into Laikipia is the culmination of a long-held desire to increase our impact and lodge operating footprint in Kenya. Laikipia is a prime wilderness area that is home to a greater population of wildlife than anywhere else in Kenya outside of the Masai Mara. This includes a large number of globally threatened mammals that make it particularly important from a conservation perspective,” explains Joss Kent, &Beyond CEO and Executive Chairman.
“Representing a critical piece of the Kenyan circuit, it not only offers a world-class game experience but also aligns with many of our ambitious impact objectives in terms of securing and protecting endangered wildlife and habitat ecosystems, as well as enabling conservation through empowered communities,” adds Kent.
Space for Giants was founded by Dr Max Graham ten years ago, off the back of research into the conflict between people and elephants in Laikipia, home to the second-largest population of elephants in Kenya and one of the largest free-roaming populations on the continent.
“Space for Giants has grown immensely and now operates across eleven countries in Africa. If Laikipia is the heart of the organisation, Suyian is its soul. Last year, through the generosity of the former owners of Suyian and a transformational gift by American philanthropist Louis Bacon, we were able to support the transition of ownership of the 18 000ha to the Suyian Conservancy Trust, a Kenyan not-for-profit. This will ensure Suyian and its wildlife are protected in perpetuity for the benefit of Kenyans and, indeed, the world,” says Graham.
With its wildlife and varying landscapes, Suyian is the ideal destination not only for an exclusive safari experience but also less commonly found activities such as walking safaris, camel safaris, and horse-riding safaris on a neighbouring conservancy.
The diversity of flora lends itself to engaging botany walks and the rich cultural history includes evidence of cave paintings and artifacts from as far back as the Stone Age.
Guests will also be able to interact with local pastoral tribes such as the Samburu and Pokot, as well as participate in conservation and research activities.
Accessible by air or road from Nairobi, Suyian is also a gateway to more remote adventures, such as helicopter safaris and visits to the Northern Frontier region of Kenya, including Samburu, the Matthews Range, and the Endoto Range, Lake Turkana, and Suguta Valley.
The conservancy can also be used as a base for scenic flights or fishing trips to and around Mount Kenya.
Suyian also shares borders with the research conservancy of Mpala, which is run by Princeton University and offers the option for &Beyond guests to learn about and become involved in a multitude of conservation topics.
“Suyian offers the perfect potential for &Beyond to contribute to community and conservation efforts in Kenya while creating an exceptional experience for our guests. Its untouched nature and wild spaces, combined with our strict conservation ethics, will make this the ideal exclusive wildlife viewing destination, far from the large tourist numbers that can often be found in other parts of East Africa,” concludes Kent.
&Beyond Suyian Lodge is expected to open on July 1, 2025.
