What Olepangi Farm does

Olepangi Farm is a privately held boutique farm-stay lodge founded in 2014 by Elizabeth Loker and the late Clinton Lucy on previously unfertile land in Timau, Laikipia County, Kenya, at the foothills of Mount Kenya. The property operates entirely off-grid with solar power and drip irrigation, and comprises six to eight architecturally distinct cottages (Matembezi House, Little Moon House, Olepangi House, The Round House, Thesiger Cottage, Burton & Speke, Villa Gorilla, Markham Cottage) accommodating a maximum of 28 overnight guests. Buildings were designed in biophilic style by Vermont-based architect Liz Calabrese around the ancient Persian boteh symbol, and the property features a 1.5-acre organic vegetable garden, a Jersey cow dairy, an apiary, and a working herd of 10-20 horses used for riding and farm labor. The farm has planted more than 5,000 trees since inception.

The business sells full-board accommodation to affluent individual travellers and couples, with revenue augmented by day trips to Lolldaiga, Ol Pejeta, Solio, Samburu, Ngare Ndare, and Mount Kenya; private weddings and events for up to 28 guests; an Artist-in-Residence Programme running 6-18 weeks at $450 per person per week; a Young Farmer's Club for children; and transfers from Nairobi and Nanyuki Airstrip. Distribution is direct via the property's own website, email, and phone, supported by integrations with PesaPal, Safaricom M-Pesa, Wise, and GoWild Africa (I&M Bank Kenya). The farm is government-licensed for on-site alcohol service and has held a Magical Kenya Signature Experience designation continuously from 2021 to 2026.

The operating model is founder-led (Elizabeth Loker and husband Kier as of the current period) with approximately 11 employees, no disclosed external institutional funding, and payment processing routed through the related entity GoWild Africa Ltd. Marketing relies primarily on Instagram (@olepangifarm), email newsletters, direct website, and earned media from consecutive years of Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice recognition (2024, 2025, with 2026 nomination), a 2026 World Travel Awards nomination for Kenya's Leading Boutique Hotel, TripAdvisor awards (2018-2020), and a 2022 Booking.com Traveller Review Award with a 9.9 score. Strategic activity centers on deepening editorial brand equity and extending product surface (residencies, family programming, self-catered villa) rather than scaling capacity or expanding to new geographies.

Name

Olepangi Farm

Legal name

Olepangi Farm

Website

https://olepangifarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Olepangi Farm is a privately held, off-grid boutique farm-stay lodge in Timau, Laikipia, Kenya, accommodating up to 28 guests in biophilically designed cottages and generating revenue from full-board lodging, day safaris, weddings, and artist residencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Eco-Lodge and Farm Stay Hospitality

NAICS

Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Stays & Agritourism Lodges (THAMADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farmstay Rooms (Working Farms/Ranches) (THAMABAG), Farmstay B&Bs & Agritourism Inns (THAGAHAG), Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals) (THAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Boutique farm stay
• Eco-lodge accommodation
• Safari day trips
• Organic farm tourism
• Luxury wedding venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Timau

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Full-Board Accommodation: Full board accommodations inclusive of all meals, tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages. Pricing varies by cottage and season. A 50% deposit confirms bookings with balance due 30 days before arrival. Cancellation policy: 61+ days = deposit forfeited; 31-60 days = 50% of total; 0-30 days = 100% of total.
2. Safari & Day Trip Activities: Day trips to conservancies (Lolldaigas, Ol Pejeta, Solio, Samburu), Ngare Ndare, and Mt Kenya expeditions. Pricing per vehicle ranging from US$275-$360 per day plus park fees. Horse riding, community walks with Mr Kariuki, polo lessons, and massage services are additional-cost activities.
3. Transfers and Ground Transport: Pre-booked vehicle transfers from Nairobi (approx. 4.5 hours, US$250 each way) or Nanyuki Airstrip (approx. 45 mins, US$90 each way). Both priced per vehicle (max 4 people).
4. Artist-in-Residence Programme: Artists pay $450 per person per week for accommodation in semi-permanent tents with meals, communal spaces, and internet. Duration options of 6, 12, or 18 weeks. Artists are expected to engage in community projects and daily interaction with guests.
5. Weddings and Events: Intimate wedding ceremonies and events hosting up to 28 guests. Venue hire for bush dinners, pool house receptions, and garden celebrations. Bespoke packages coordinated by the dedicated team including floral decorations, catering, and photography.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Olepangi Farm is a boutique off-grid eco-lodge and working organic farm in Laikipia, Kenya that sells full-board accommodation across nine distinct cottages and houses, alongside a portfolio of experience-based offerings including safari day trips to nearby conservancies, intimate weddings and private events, an Artist-in-Residence programme, and a Young Farmer's Club for children. The farm's kitchen is powered by its own 1.5-acre vegetable garden, Jersey cow dairy, henhouse, and apiary, with all other ingredients sourced from local neighbours.

Product overview

Olepangi Farm is a boutique eco-lodge and farm stay in Laikipia, Kenya offering accommodation across nine distinct cottages and houses. The property features Matembezi House (5 bedrooms), Little Moon House (2 bedrooms), Olepangi House (3-5 bedrooms), The Round House (1 bedroom with optional Bunk Room for 6), Thesiger Cottage, Burton & Speke family cottage, Villa Gorilla, and Markham Cottage. Beyond accommodation, the farm offers an Artist-in-Residence Programme, wedding and events hosting (up to 28 guests), day trips to regional wildlife conservancies, and a Young Farmer's Club for children. All stays include full board with farm-to-table dining using produce from the 1.5-acre vegetable garden and dairy herd.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Board Accommodation Full-board accommodation across nine distinct cottages and houses (Matembezi House with five bedrooms, Little Moon House with two bedrooms, Olepangi House with three to five bedrooms, The Round House, Thesiger Cottage, Burton & Speke family cottage, Villa Gorilla, and Markham Cottage), all decorated with the owner's curated collection of antiques and textiles, and inclusive of all meals from the farm's own organic produce. Maximum capacity across the property is 28 overnight guests.
• Safari Day Trips and Adventures Per-vehicle day trips to Lolldaiga Ranch, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Solio Ranch, Samburu National Reserve, Ngare Ndare Forest canopy walk, and Mount Kenya helicopter tours with partner Tropic Air, including driver guide, picnic, and soft drinks. Pricing ranges from US$275 to US$360 per vehicle per day plus conservancy park fees.
• Weddings and Private Events Boutique wedding and event-hosting service for intimate ceremonies and receptions of up to 28 overnight guests, with reception venues including the Pool House (up to 60 guests), garden spaces, and bush dinners. Bespoke packages include floral decorations, catering, and photography coordinated by the dedicated team.
• Artist-in-Residence Programme Residency programme for artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and scholars priced at $450 per person per week, including semi-permanent tent accommodation, all meals, communal power and internet, and expected community engagement and daily interaction with guests. Available duration options are 6, 12, or 18 weeks.
• Young Farmer's Club Children's educational programme for guests aged 5 to 14 that teaches farm-life skills including cow milking, horse riding, vegetable and flower harvesting, egg collection, bread making, butter and jam production, and nature adventures, recently recognised as a Magical Kenya 2021–2026 Signature Experience.
• Farm Activities and Wellness On-farm activities including horse riding lessons and farm or conservancy rides (priced $35 to $60), cow milking, vegetable and flower harvesting, bird watching, farm walks, swimming pool access, yoga, community walks with Mr Kariuki ($15 per person donation), massage with locally grown oils and lavender, and other wellness offerings.
• Airport and Airstrip Transfers Pre-booked visitor transfers from Nairobi (approximately 4.5 hours, US$250 per vehicle each way, max 4 people) and Nanyuki Airstrip (approximately 45 minutes, US$90 per vehicle each way, max 4 people) to Olepangi Farm, coordinated through the reservation team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Award winner 2024 and 2025; nominated for 2026
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Liz Calabrese (Architect)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Liz Calabrese, a well-respected architect based in Vermont, USA, and one of the world's experts on Biophilic Design, partnered with Olepangi Farm from 2012. She designed the Round House, Party House, Olepangi House (built entirely on a curve), and the pool and pool house inspired by the 'boteh' (ancient Persian symbol representing fertility and the tree of life). This biophilic design is a core differentiator of the farm's architecture.
• Tropic AirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTropic Air is the partner operator for helicopter tours from Olepangi Farm. They offer tailor-made helicopter safaris throughout Kenya including the Lakes of the Great Rift Valley, deserts of the North, and Maasai Mara. Tropic Air provides expert pilots, and Olepangi can arrange door-on or door-off options for guests.
• GoWild AfricaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoWild Africa is the business entity through which Olepangi Farm receives bank transfers. Account Name: GoWild Africa, Bank: I&M Bank Kenya, Karen Branch. Ksh Account: 00800949231210, USD Account: 00800949231211.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Segera Retreat: Luxury boutique retreat in Laikipia, Kenya, combining conservation, art, and rural farm-landscape experiences. Closest direct peer given shared geography, founder-led brand, and farm-plus-safari positioning.
• Babylonstoren: Iconic South African wine-farm estate with gardens, farm-to-table dining, and luxury cottages. Among the most established global 'farm stay' benchmarks and a direct comparable on the agricultural-hospitality hybrid model.
• Delaire Graff Estate: Luxury boutique lodge on a Stellenbosch wine estate with gardens, art, and farm-to-table dining. Comparable on design-led, art-and-collectibles-curated, estate-stay experience.
• Wilderness Safaris (Lewa Wilderness): Operates Lewa Wilderness and similar conservation-led luxury lodges in Laikipia. Comparable boutique eco-lodge proposition, premium pricing, and conservation-aligned guest experience.
• The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille: Small luxury lodge in Laikipia combining conservation, community engagement, and bespoke architecture. Comparable on founder-led, community-tied, ultra-small boutique model.
• La Residence: Boutique vineyard estate hotel in Franschhoek with curated interiors, gardens, and estate produce. Comparable on small-scale, design-led, garden-and-architecture-driven accommodation.
• Ol Pejeta Bush Camp: Mid-size boutique tented camp inside Ol Pejeta Conservancy, one of Olepangi's preferred day-trip destinations. Compares on conservancy-based wildlife access and small-guest experience.
• Borana Lodge: Family/founder-owned luxury lodge on a working ranch in Laikipia, Kenya. Shares the farm-ranch heritage, small-scale luxury, and safari-conservancy adjacency with Olepangi.

Broad incumbents

• Singita Sasakwa Lodge: Ultra-luxury lodge on a working farm/estate in the Serengeti. Shares the farm-ranch heritage, sustainability ethos, and high-end positioning, though Singita is a much larger multi-property operator.
• Sanctuary Olonana: Sanctuary Retreats' flagship luxury lodge in the Masai Mara. Comparable high-end boutique safari lodge with full-board premium pricing, though part of a larger multi-property portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/olepangifarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olepangi-farm

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olepangi Farm