Samburu, Kenya
Reteti House
Make lasting memories as you explore northern Kenya together
Deep within Samburu County, in the Namunyak Conservancy, Reteti House invites you to experience Kenya’s remote north in privacy. This land is deeply connected to those who protect it – the Samburu community, who manage the lodge as well as the conservancy, Sarara Camp and Sarara Treehouses.
Committed to leaving minimal impact on the environment, Reteti House operates entirely off the grid. Ongoing efforts to help preserve the surrounding landscape include harnessing solar energy and sourcing water from a mountain spring. The lodge itself can host up to 16 guests across a collection of standalone suites and family rooms. This layout makes it the ideal retreat for groups of friends or multi-generational families.
Staying in a suite, step out onto your private terrace for wide-reaching views across the plains and the Mathews Mountains’ dramatic peaks. The interiors mirror the wilderness outside, underscored by thatch, wood and stone. At the heart of Reteti House is the central lounge. Here, slip into the infinity pool to watch elephants drink from the waterhole below.
Only a short walk away from the lodge is the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary – the first community-owned sanctuary for orphaned elephants in Africa. During your visit, meet the keepers – including the first female Samburu keepers – and see how the young elephants in their care are being prepared for the wild. Right around the corner, the Elephant Rock inspires awe. Behold this photorealistic rock painting by artist Youri Cansell, where community Elders first gathered to discuss the sanctuary’s founding.
From Reteti House, you can also explore the savannah on foot. Experience the deep knowledge of your Samburu guide as you navigate the bush together. Guided game drives offer an exhilarating change of pace. Search for the wildlife that call this ecosystem home: Kenya’s second-largest elephant population, rare Grévy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes. For a glimpse into the Samburu way of life, you can delve into local customs through various cultural experiences. Learn about Samburu beadwork during a beading session or observe the sacred tradition of the singing wells, watching as warriors chant in harmony while unearthing water for their livestock.
Highlights
Experience privacy and seclusion at Reteti House’s exclusive safari lodge
Learn about the lodge’s efforts to help care for the surrounding environment
Take in views that stretch to the Mathews Mountains from your private terrace
Visit Africa’s first-community run elephant sanctuary
Learn about Samburu traditions through a range of cultural experiences
Join the Samburu on bush walks through the conservancy
Search for rare wildlife like Grévy’s zebras on guided game drives
Trip Inspiration
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Places to combine Reteti House with
Borana Conservancy
Perched majestically overlooking a serene lake, Borana Lodge offers a front-row seat to nature’s grand spectacle. Here, elephants and buffalos gather in abundance, drawn to the shimmering waters, while Mount Kenya stands sentinel in the distance.
Across the plains of the Borana Conservancy, large packs of wild dogs roam freely, along with the stealthy presence of leopards, lions and cheetahs.
Owned by the Dyer family for three generations, Borana Lodge pulsates with a palpable passion for conservation. Every corner of this retreat whispers tales of their dedication to preserving the wilderness they call home.
Eight rustic cottages, each a haven of tranquility, offer unparalleled views of the Laikipia wilderness and the tranquil dam below. As dusk descends and the chill of the African night sets in, gather around a crackling fire, serenaded by the symphony of the bush, and let the magic of the wild weave its spell.
In the heart of the lodge, an infinity pool beckons, inviting guests to surrender to the rhythm of the savannah.
