Saruni Safari Camp is a luxury retreat perched majestically in the Saruni Hills with spectacular views along the valley and out across the Kilorti Plains. Saruni Safari Camp was set up by Italian owner, Riccardo Orizio aiming to provide the exclusivity and tranquillity of a camp while not compromising on elegance and security.
Saruni Safari Camp comprises six uniquely decorated cottages furnished with colonial antiques, African art as well as artefacts produced by community projects. Each cottage has hot and cold running water, electricity, elegant Italian bathroom fittings, polished wooden floors, and large bathrooms where the canvas front can be totally open to offer you an amazing shower with a view. The large verandas provide private views of elephant, leopard, waterbuck, bushback and impala traversing freely and peacefully in the grounds of the camp as well as the distant Mara plains
Kuro House is the common dining area and is a mixture of old-fashioned Africa and modern design. Its huge fireplace is the focal point of life at Saruni and it is here that guests can exchange memories of the day's safaris. Meals are served dinner party style with the cuisine having a strong Italian influence while also including local ingredients and dishes. Particular favourites include Chilled Carrot and Ginger Soup, Chicken filled with sun-dried tomatoes, and Black Cotton rum slice. Alternatively meals can be taken in the bush, or by candlelight on the cottage veranda.
A unique feature of Saruni Safari Camp is its extensive collection of books and its library. With thousands of rare books Saruni's library is a place to think, rest and relax. Saruni also runs the Maasai Well-being Space, a unique feature in the Masai Mara where guests can enjoy massage and wellness treatments in the most serene and relaxing environment.
Fully-open Land Rovers specially designed for maximum visibility are used during game drives, with guests enjoying the services of both a professional guide and a tracker. Foot safaris explore both the Masai Mara plains and the mountains and hills that surround Saruni incorporating local Maasai knowledge. In both cases the intention is to not only take in the famous spots but also to discover secret corners.
There is also an opportunity to meet the neighbours where guests can visit and share in the local Maasai way of life, how the Maasai live, why they protect the environment and in what way they are different from the other African tribes.
Saruni is part of the Mara North Conservancy and has a unique location next to the only indigenous forest left in the Mara, with a private concession of 10,000 acres and good populations of Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and several species of buck. The only population in the Mara of Sykes and Colobus Monkeys also live nearby. The wide open plains areas are to the south of the lodge.
Fair Trade / Responsible Travel:
Artefacts and crafts used in the rooms and sold in the shop are sourced from community projects across Kenya. The lodge supports the Koiyaki Guiding School, which was set up to provide local Maasai with employment opportunities within the tourism industry. By the end of the year around 50 students will have achieved the bronze award Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. Additionally the lodge provides funds for Ngoswani Primary School to develop their stocks of books and writing materials. All hot water and electricity is provided by solar panels.
