&Beyond has officially opened the Suyian Lodge, a new tourism offering located in the 44,000-acre Suyian Conservancy in Laikipia, northern Kenya.
Designed in collaboration with Nicholas Plewman Architects, Michaelis Boyd, and Fox Browne Creative, the lodge offers 14 suites, including a family unit, and aims to integrate conservation, community development, and experiential travel into a single property.
The opening marks a key step in a partnership with conservation charity Space for Giants and the Suyian Conservancy Trust, a Kenyan not-for-profit that owns the land.
The Suyian Conservancy, once a cattle ranch, has undergone a long-term rewilding process, with a goal to support biodiversity and coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
The land is now a habitat for species such as African wild dogs, Grevy’s zebra, Laikipia hartebeest, reticulated giraffe, and the elusive black leopard.
Tourism at the site is managed under a plan approved by the Kenya Wildlife Service, with oversight from Space for Giants. &Beyond holds exclusive tourism rights to the land, ensuring that the lodge is the only accommodation on the concession.
“The opening of &Beyond Suyian Lodge marks a major milestone in Space for Giants’ mission to make Suyian Conservancy a self-financing engine for nature conservation,” said Dr. Max Graham, founder and CEO of Space for Giants.
“We are proud to partner with &Beyond to demonstrate how world-class tourism can sustain vital conservation efforts while delivering tangible benefits to local communities.”
The lodge places emphasis on curated guest experiences that go beyond traditional safari formats. Visitors can participate in guided walks with local herders, horseback safaris, night drives, and conservation-focused activities.
Helicopter excursions, yoga sessions on rock platforms, and community engagement opportunities also form part of the experience.
The design and layout of the lodge reflect what &Beyond describes as an “Afro-Wabi-Sabi” aesthetic, which features handcrafted textures, local materials, and architectural elements inspired by the natural rock formations of the area.
“Suyian Conservancy brings the full breadth of Laikipia to life through layered storytelling, meaningful interaction, and a lodge that feels as though it has grown organically from the ground it rests on,” said Joss Kent, &Beyond executive chairman & CEO.
“What sets Suyian Conservancy apart is not just what it offers, but how it feels. It’s a lodge built not just for safaris, but for those seeking space to breathe, to learn, and to feel part of something larger.”
&Beyond has positioned the lodge as a model for low-density, conservation-driven tourism, aiming to balance ecological integrity with economic sustainability. With no other tourism operators on the conservancy, the site offers a degree of exclusivity that is increasingly rare in safari destinations.
The lodge opened in July 2025 and is now accepting guests. Its launch represents a potential case study in how hospitality developments can support large-scale conservation while also offering immersive, culturally grounded experiences.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Suyian Lodge illustrates a growing trend in destination development: leveraging design, conservation partnerships, and community integration to create high-value, purpose-driven experiences in remote environments.
Featured image by andBeyond