When not out in the bush guests can relax by the beautiful swimming pool with a shaded thatch pool house that has an open bar and comfortable sitting area and fireplace. For the more energetic there is a hard tennis court with extensive views across the valley.

Sosian is well known for its delicious home cooking using as many local and fresh ingredients as possible, often home grown. After the mornings activities we tend to have big breakfasts or brunch on the riverbank or on the lodge veranda, enjoying the gardens.

Lunch can be served either by the pool before an afternoon sunbathing or playing tennis, or otherwise in a nice shady picnic spot in the bush. Before heading out in the afternoons we have tea on the veranda and dinner either in back the beautiful lodge dining room or under the stars in the bush.

Guests are accommodated in an elegant 1940s farmhouse that has been beautifully renovated. The lodge sleeps 14 with more space for children if needed, in the family cottage, which has an interconnecting room to sleep another three children with their own bathroom. All the rooms are ensuite with their own private verandas. There's also a larger and more private honeymoon cottage, known as the Italian cottage, built by Italian artisans post war.

Sosian has a small bush shop in the reception with the main aim being to support the local artisans in Kenya. Some groups of people in rural areas have created an income for themselves by selling their crafts Safari lodge.

They particularly support a group of Samburu women in its nearby village, Kinamba, who have set up a business making beaded jewelry and other crafts with leather. They will bring their bracelets, necklaces, baskets and other traditional beaded goods to the lodge for us to sell on.

Another group of women is also supported by selling their goods in its shop is the Kinana Knitters. Kinana women knit all sorts of teddy bears for children from stripy zebras to pink elephants! The women take the money for what they have knitted at the end of every day and they are allowed to keep some at the workshop for savings. Now their knitted toys are sent all over the world!

The Marleen Crafts Project is set up by St. Martin's Charity in its nearby town, Nyaharuru. The project aims to train people in the community, who might have physical disabilities or live with HIV, to learn leatherwork, beading or wood in the workshop. Their crafts are then sold to provide them with an income and occupation. Sosian loves to support this cause and sell their beautiful hand-made bags, purses, baby's shoes and children's toys and pencil cases.

They also sell handmade wooden crafts from a local man who carves drawings and stories onto little stools and walking sticks.

As well as these local crafts Sosian also sell very beautiful beaded belts, dog collars and leads made by Linda Camm in Nairobi as well as Sandstorm's classic weekenders and washbags which are beautifully made and last forever.

Sosian Lodge sells Borana Boots (cozy Kenyan Uggs made by a local ranch in their tannery), Serena Mason's hand painted papier mache trays and place mats, Lulu Barkas' beaded purses and wash bags, Krafty Artz' hand painted mugs, place mats and cooks match boxes and Annabelle Thom's suede and canvas hats and handbags.

The Jewelry cabinet is filled by a jewel expert, Sally Dudmesh, who sources her jewels from all over Africa, all of which have amazing stories and meanings behind them, and a lot of which are made with ancient stones. Sosian also has an array of jewelry from local markets and there are fun things for children as well. Children will also love the lodge's maps of Laikipia and posters of the animals of Kenya, as well as Nikki Riley's 'Art of Ratting' book which comes with little 'Safari Jen Ratti' to play with on Safari.

Annabelle Pope, the famous wildlife artist, sells her originals and prints in the shop, such as beautiful studies of warthogs and elephants which are easy to roll up to take back home with you.

The lodge also has its very own Sosian fleeces, polo shirts, t-shirts and caps with the beautiful Sosian elephant logo embroidered onto them, as well as own post cards.