This prestigious tented camp is named after Denys Finch Hatton, the hunter, adventurer and lover of Karen Blixen as played by Robert Redford in the movie Out of Africa.
The camp lies in the north of Tsavo West, where its namesake died in a light aircraft crash in 1931, and aims for a sort of aristocratic colonial bush atmosphere reflecting Finch Hatton's love of the African wilderness as well as his appetite for fine dining and classical music.
The camp is built around a series of seasonal and perennial pools fed by a freshwater spring and surrounded by tall fever tree forest. The reception area is built in the Swahili style, with a stone floor, whitewashed plaster roof, and poles supporting the ceiling.
It contains a small gift shop and leads through to the sitting and dining room, which are focused in period style, with chandeliers, blackened fireplace, hardwood and leather furniture and old monochrome photos evoking an Edwardian smoking club.
This leads to a wide
balcony, where guests normally dine in fine weather: a full breakfast, a three-course lunch, and a six-course dinner are served, the latter usually accompanied by the faint strains of Mozart in the background, punctuated by the occasional loud grunt from the camp's resident hippos.
There is also a large swimming pool shaped like a teardrop and surrounded by umbrellas and beds for sunbathing.
Game drives are the main activity, and the camp is well placed to explore the main circuit of Tsavo West, which is known for its plentiful elephants, mane-less lions, and large black rhino population. Hippos and monkeys are resident around camp, and other wildlife often comes to drink, while more than 200 bird species have been recorded in the immediate vicinity.
Other optional activities include guided nature walks close to camp, sundowners in the nearby Chyulu Hills (with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop) and bush breakfasts. For better views, day excursions to Amboseli National Park are also offered.
Accommodations are in large standing tents set on stilted wooden platforms and shaded by a thatch roof. The tents are spaced around the pools and all come with a balcony from where you can watch the hippos and other animal activity.
The interior of the tents is decorated is simple but elegant safari style, with double or twin beds under walk-in netting, wooden chest, writing desk and minibar. At the back of each tent is an en suite bath with a stone floor and shower, and a hair dryer.
This is the most exclusive tented camp in Tsavo West, and one of the finest anywhere in the country. Although more opulent in several respects, it has less in the way of amenities than the likes of the nearby Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, and is designed to appeal to higher paying clients seeking a genuine bush experience.
However, the proximity of wildlife to the tents may understandably intimidate some safari novices.
