We’ve long considered the bowerbird (native to Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia) the uncontested master builder of nests. For the seemingly romantic and undeniably creative male bowerbird is driven by a unique courtship ritual that compels him to build a structure of such fantasy that it comes complete with its own entrance and lawn and is typically adorned with color-coded flowers and all manner of detritus such as coins, plastic and glass—the express intention being to create a nest of such beauty that he will easily nab himself a mate. "Suffice it to say if I were a female bowerbird..." says Deborah Calmeyer, CEO and founder of ROAR AFRICA. ‘...it would be a case of hook, line and sinker."
So, imagine our collective delight when we clapped eyes on the debut Nay Palad Bird Nest, a one-of-a-kind luxurious bush retreat offering at Kenya’s award-winning Segera Retreat on the Laikipia Plateau. The visual feast of this two-story, 20-foot by 20-foot nest is as extraordinary as the experience it offers as it takes the concept of sleeping in the bush to heady new heights, literally. Made from farmed wood and actual tree branches, the suite has indoor and outdoor beds prepared with luxurious linens and hot water bottles, a bathroom with solar-heated water and a 360-degree-view terrace. The idea is simple. After an exhilarating game drive or bush walk, as the sun begins to set, guests are brought to the Bird Nest, aglow with lanterns and laid out with all manner of Champagne and culinary delights for a quintessential picnic-style dinner in the luxury of their very own open-air nest. Whether you choose to sleep outdoors beneath a star-studded African sky or indoors with the sounds of the bush as your auto-repeat soundtrack, you will be transported. The following morning, you can expect a surprise breakfast delivery on your doorstep that must be enjoyed whilst watching elephants, giraffe and other wildlife gather at the river.
