Samburu
Sasaab Lodge
Luxury and privacy in the Samburu wilderness
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.
Highlights
Nine luxurious villas
Family villa with two bedrooms and pool
SpaSaab, a purpose-built treatment haven
WiFi
Star gazing
Guided bush walks
4x4 game drives
Spa treatments
Fly camping
Camelback safaris
Quadbike (ATVs)
The impact of your stay:
- Sasaab is among the 10 properties awarded the Global Ecosphere Retreat certification, a rigorous benchmark in sustainable tourism recognised by The Long Run and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. This accreditation highlights their dedication to promoting holistic sustainability in all aspects of their business operations.
- Sasaab contributes to the Westgate Conservancy, a collaborative initiative with the local Samburu community, paying lease fees that support wildlife conservation and sustainable coexistence. Through partnerships and support for local wildlife NGOs, Sasaab participates in projects like sponsoring Rothchild’s giraffe and the Mara Predator Conservation Programme. This program focuses on researching threats faced by local predators like lions and cheetahs, developing science-based community conservation solutions to protect them.
- Sasaab’s collaboration with the community has significantly impacted culture, community, and conservation. Besides paying conservation and bed night fees to the Westgate Conservancy, Sasaab’s Footprint Foundation manages social projects. These include providing free school lunches to over 1000 children, running a conservation scholars program, and addressing community issues like HIV/AIDS prevention. The foundation also campaigns against female genital mutilation and gender-based violence.
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Places to combine Sasaab Lodge with
Lewa
Family run and cared for, this lodge invites you to be a part of the lives of the Craig family who will host you during your stay here.
A beautiful retreat surrounded by trees and located within the 62,000 acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Wilderness has just nine individually decorated cottages with private sitting areas and verandas looking over the vast landscape. The fire places in each room add to the homely feel of the place and for those who want to be outdoors more often than in, the tennis court and swimming pool are ideal ways to get some energy out.
The reserve is home to some wonderful game, and helps the conservation efforts of black rhino that browse the region in larger numbers than elsewhere in East Africa. Lion, leopard and elephant can often be seen sipping from the small wooded valley river that flows past the lodge throughout the year and provides an excellent source for prime game viewing.
If you are feeling more adventurous than most, ‘Walking Wild’ is an activity that lets you explore the wild and remote Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in the safety of a team of expert guides. Sleeping a maximum of eight, you head off on a genuine mobile safari lead by camels and each tent has its own private toilet and shower ‘room’ that adds a ‘glamping’ element to this remarkably wild experience. Three to five night options are available.
Mara Conservancies
Just north of the Maasai Mara Reserve, in the 30,000 acre private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, this Relais & Châteaux camp offers you outstanding game experiences without the restrictions that the reserve itself imposes on other lodges. Each guest’s stay helps to contribute to various conservation and community projects. This conservancy adds a huge plus factor due to the privacy and minimal vehicle traffic within it. You can easily access the Maasai Mara Reserve, but the game in the conservation area is just as excellent. Leopard are regularly spotted passing through the camp and lions can often be heard in the distance.
Stroll along walkways that wind their way through the forest between the tented suites that are built on high stilts offering you stunning views onto the Ntiakitiak Riverr or across the Mara plains. Each suite has deep canvas canopied ceilings, rough-hewn wood floors and accents of East Africa’s rich safari history. Expect thick Lamu wood doors, deep purples, and brass accents. The raised library looks down onto hippos wallowing in the river, while the wine cellar is the perfect place to unwind and sample a selection of excellent South African and French wines. You can also choose to enjoy a private dining experience here.
A highlight of the camp is the family suite, the Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, which is an exclusive-use, two-bedroom tented villa with its own team of dedicated staff.
The game drive vehicles are all completely open which helps you get some phenomenal photographs. In addition to the game, you mustn’t forget that you also have a community nearby that you can visit and witness a genuine working village. A truly marvellous experience.
