Reteti House

Sitting right across from the Mathews Mountain Range amidst the pristine 850,000 acres put aside for the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy Trust Land, Sarara is a down-to-earth safari camp that is all about showing you the treasures of northern Kenya and the Samburu. What makes Sarara extra special is that it is 100% owned and hosted by the community it serves.

Built on the site of Joy Adamson’s tented home, Joy’s Camp is a really warming place to stay. The story of Elsa the Lioness is recounted in the small museum of Joy Adamson memorabilia and each of the ten chic tented rooms have unique interior designs with handmade glass and fabrics that reflect the culture of the local people.

Located within the Shaba National Reserve within the larger Samburu ecosystem, the lodge is exposed to true African wilderness and overlooks a natural spring that draws in the traffic of the African animal kingdom. With only one other lodge in the area which does not have access to the Shaba reserve, the game drive experience here is very exclusive.

With all this gorgeous land around the lodge to explore, Joy’s Camp gives you the opportunity to indulge completely in the game experience. Game drives with bush breakfasts and sundowners are on a daily itinerary, or you could make the most of a guided bush walk where you might see the small five (the lion ant, buffalo weaver, leopard tortoise, elephant shrew and the rhino beetle). Cultural visits to Boran villages are seasonal due to the nomadic nature of the tribes, but can also be a real highlight at this very unique camp.

Located on the edge of the Ewaso River in a pristine wilderness within the Westgate Community Conservancy, the lodge boasts some fantastic views and is perfectly located to give you some amazing game sightings. If you want to get involved in activities, there is a huge variety of things to get involved with but otherwise, ‘Spa Saab’ will look after you in calming treatment rooms and it even offers yoga. What’s more, Sasaab is involved in many projects with the local Samburu tribe and runs many sustainability initiatives.

Each of the nine distinctive open-walled rooms are furnished with a Moroccan flair with simple but elegant trimmings. They are extremely spacious (over 100sqm each) with west facing verandas and their own private plunge pools overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River. You’re higher up and closer to the Sahara here, so it can get very warm, but the lodge has been built to provide respite from the heat. The open tented rooms are airy and your plunge pool is just a short stroll from your bed.

The family unit is ideal for two couples travelling together as well as families. This luxurious suite is spacious, featuring one en-suite double room and one en-suite twin room with a communal lounge and private plunge pool.

The main dining area is reminiscent of a souk and is great for a lazy afternoon watching the game frequent the river below.

The lodge has a strong relationship with the hundreds of families that live on and own the conservancy and they are very proud to give guests to the lodge a special insight into their daily lives. These cultural experiences are non intrusive and if you’re lucky, they might even invite you to see a genuine traditional ceremony in the village. Trips to the local Samburu markets take place twice a week and are not to be missed.

High up on a perch on top of the Kalama Mountains with spectacular all round views of Northern Kenya, sits Saruni Samburu. This design lodge is extremely unique and offers an exclusive game experience with 95,000 hectares of wildlife conservancy to traverse and hunt out the game. Leopards can sometimes be seen visiting the waterholes near the lodge, and the landscape attracts huge amount of plains game followed by the stealthy predators.

The very stylish Saruni Samburu comprises six luxury villas and is a magnificent place to experience both game and culture on the cusp of the Samburu ecosystem. The rooms are all on open decking with magical views spanning the horizon and are decorated to the highest of standards. The lodge is actually based 7km north of the National Park and guests can either visit the park or the national reserve or enjoy Kalama game viewing on the doorstep. The exclusivity that this lodge can afford is extremely attractive and makes it very special indeed.

Besides the private game experiences, you could spend a few days learning the survival skills of Samburu warriors and go back to the hunter gatherer ways that these ancient people still live by. You can learn to track animals and trace your way back home across the stunning plains. Each of the guides are trained to the highest professional guiding standards and provide you with true insight into some of nature’s wonders. Saruni Samburu is a two hour drive from Saruni Rhino where you can track black rhino on foot for the ultimate adventure.