Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club: From Hollywood Roots to Seven World Travel Awards and ten winnings
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club which has roots in Hollywood has done it again.
The premium stay has once more been voted and crowned Africa’s Leading Hotel 2026 at the 33rd Annual World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa Gala Ceremony, which was held on 28 August 2026 at Diamonds Bijoux in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The recognition marks Fairmount Safari Club’s seventh consecutive win since 2020, reaffirming the hotel’s position among Africa’s leading luxury hospitality destinations.
The hotel won Africa’s leading Hotel crown in 2020, 2021, 2022,2023,2024, 2025 and 2026.
The winner that takes it all
Previously also, the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club won the same top hospitality title during the 2016, 2027 and 2018 World Travel Awards making a total of 10 winnings in the prestigious awards.
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is an award-winning 5 star luxury hotel that invites guests to escape and entertain in the rather wonderful Kenyan manor
Set beneath Mount Kenya and within the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, the property brings together luxury, wildlife, conservation and authentic Kenyan experiences.
Guests can encounter rhinos, discover the critically endangered Mountain Bongo conservation programme, and explore the conservancy through walking, cycling and horseback eco-safaris.
Cultural encounters with the Kikuyu and Samburu communities further connect guests to Kenya’s people and traditions.
True to Fairmont’s promise to Make Special Happen, the Acacia Horizon Deck offers an elevated setting for memorable, personalized moments against the Mount Kenya landscape.
Other signature experiences include the enchanting Fairy Forest, distinctive signature breakfast experiences, outdoor dining and nature-inspired wellness.
The hotel is also a sought-after destination for weddings, celebrations, meetings and incentive travel, with picturesque gardens, mountain views and versatile spaces for intimate ceremonies, destination weddings and corporate gatherings.
Hollywood Roots
Adding to its character is a rich cinematic heritage linked to Hollywood actor William Holden, a legacy that remains part of the Club’s story today.
According to its history, the Oscar and Emmy Awards’ winning American star actor William Holden together with his friends, Ray Ryan and Swiss financier Carl Hirschmann, founded the Mount Kenya Safari Club In 1959, a property which became the beloved premium resort in Nanyuki.
And just like the Fairmount Hotel that he founded, Holden was named one of the “Top 10 Stars of the Year” six times.
Across every stay is Fairmont’s signature service: genuine, intuitive and refined, creating memorable experiences for leisure guests, families, couples and corporate groups alike.
The latest World Travel Awards’ accolade reinforces Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club’s position as a destination where hospitality, conservation, culture and meaningful experiences come together beneath Mount Kenya.
The enchanted mountain landscape and the opportunity to engage in conservation-oriented, eco-experiences at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club inspires visitors from around the world.