The story of the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club/Kenya

The story of the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

is truly captivating—a blend of romance, Hollywood glamour, and the development of safari and conservation concepts. It all began in the 1930s. American socialite Rhoda Lweinsohn (also spelled Lewinsohn, a New York socialite) became famous for her role in the early history of the Mount Kenya Safari Club. Rhoda Lweinsohn was in her mid-fifties, married to a New York financier, and the mother of two daughters when she first traveled to Kenya during the interwar period. She came from a wealthy background and was part of New York high society; some sources describe her as a "glamorous American socialite." During a safari vacation in Kenya, she met the French aviator Gabriel Prudhomme, who had fought for the Free French in Algeria. The two fell in love, and Prudhomme later followed her to the United States, where their relationship ended—allegedly because she missed the "sparkling air of the Kenyan highlands." The love story between Rhoda Lweinsohn and Gabriel Prudhomme is considered one of the origin stories of what would later become the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki. The area became known in the 1930s as an exclusive meeting place for international guests and adventurers within Kenyan colonial society. Both shared a passion for adventure, and this laid the foundation for the future location. The property was originally called Mawingo (Cloud). In the 1950s, Mawingo was a small but picturesque hunting lodge with approximately 40 hectares of land at the foot of Mount Kenya. In 1959, three people acquired the property: Hollywood actor William Holden, oil and real estate magnate Ray Ryan, and Swiss financier Carl Hirschmann. According to one version of events, the impetus for the purchase was a hunting trip during which Ryan suffered a minor injury from shotgun recoil. The others showed solidarity, stayed to entertain their friend, and gradually everyone became captivated by the place. The new owners renamed the property Mount Kenya Safari Club. In the 1960s and 1970s, the club became a meeting place for billionaires, intelligence agents—and members of the Italian Mafia, particularly the Chicago Outfit, once led by Al Capone. According to reports, several high-ranking Mafia figures received membership in the club, including: Gerardo “Jerry” Catena, a member of the Genovese crime family Tommy Eboli, who was shot and killed in July 1972 Pasquale Eboli, a drug trafficker and close associate of the Genovese crime family Marshall “Johnny Shoes” Caifano, a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit When the FBI learned that Chicago Mafia bosses frequented the Mount Kenya Safari Club, it launched an investigation. In 1969, a California court subpoenaed the business records of the Kenya-registered companies Ryan Investments Ltd. and Mawingu Ltd. to uncover the Mafia connections. Ray Ryan subsequently destroyed the membership lists and was convicted in July 1970 of “altering business records to conceal evidence that he was providing free club memberships to Mafia members.” Ray Ryan died on October 18, 1977. It is widely believed that he was killed by the same Chicago gang he had once associated with—in retaliation for "double-crossing" them. The club attracted not only Mafia figures but also Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, who bought the club from Ryan in 1977. Western intelligence officers, who called themselves the "Safari Club," frequented the club with the aim of curbing Soviet influence in Africa. Later, the club was sold to Tiny Rowland, who was described as "the unacceptable face of capitalism." Holden and his partners invested heavily in developing the club, building luxurious cottages and stables, as well as manicured gardens. William Holden also added a unique golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The club quickly became a popular vacation destination for the elite: guests included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, Conrad Hilton, Lyndon Johnson, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, and later Kenyan politicians such as Presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki. After William Holden's death in 1981, the club changed hands several times. It was eventually acquired by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. The new owners undertook a comprehensive and costly renovation, modernizing not only the infrastructure but also striving to preserve the historical heritage—colonial architecture, antiques, and photographs. One of the most significant chapters in the club's history is linked to wildlife conservation. During Holden's lifetime, the foundation stone for an animal sanctuary was laid on the grounds. After his death, actress Stephanie Powers established a non-profit sanctuary in his honor. Today, it is a central part of the complex: it houses Africa's only bongo breeding ground (a rare antelope species) and also provides habitat for other wildlife such as caracals, cheetahs, and primates. The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club continues to evolve. It blends colonial charm with modern comforts and offers guests safaris, horseback riding, golf, and other activities. At the same time, the club maintains its reputation as a historic place where luxury, adventure, and conservation go hand in hand. In 2024, the club was awarded the prestigious World Travel Award as Africa's Best Hotel.