Saruni Samburu is a ‘designer’ lodge located 7km north of Samburu National Reserve, in Kenya’s wild north. Surrounded by 95,000 hectares of private wildlife conservancy, and perched on top of a spectacular viewpoint, its four rooms and large swimming pool overlook several waterholes where the famous Samburu elephant, leopard, reticulated giraffe, Oryx and Grevy’s zebra gather to drink.
The vastness and purity of this African landscape, combined with the traditional local culture, make your safari a unique experience. Saruni Samburu also features an area for massage and beauty treatments called Samburu Wellbeing Space. Samburu traditional 'herbal medicine' is used in combination with the latest western spa and well-being techniques.
As well as game drives that include Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve and West Gate Conservancy, the traditions and semi-nomadic heritage of the local Samburu people are an important part of the experience. Led by professional Samburu guides, our guests enjoy a new dimension of this rightfully popular region: the feeling of exclusivity, of having an incredibly large area to themselves, and a high level of comfort and tailor-made service. The lodge has two 4x4 game viewing vehicles (a 6 seater and a 9 seater), both with canvas roofs and open sides.
There is a 'Warrior for a Week' programme, where guests can spend a few days learning the survival skills of world class warriors - trained and taught in the same way that the junior Samuru's learn, tracking animals and make your nomadic home on the plains of Samburu.
The design of the lodge is unique in this region and indeed in Kenya. It blends a fusion of bold and dramatic African details in large spacious 'cottages' - the first and most exclusive lodge of it's kind in Kenya.
Scheduled flights link the main Samburu airstrip (1 hr away) several times a day with Nairobi or there is a private strip about 15 mins from the lodge for charters.
Saruni Samburu is situated in the heart of Samburuland, offering the opportunity to enjoy the wonders that Samburu has to offer, but without sharing them with others as the lodge has exclusive use of a large private concession of 240,000 acres, bordering Samburu National Reserve. The lodge is positioned close to Samburu’s “sacred mountain”, with its spectacular views and habitat. Night game drives (which are not allowed inside the National Reserve) are a highlight, with viewings of leopard, striped hyena, and many other animals after dark. The conservation area has no commercial roads (apart from safari tracks), no human settlements and no cattle grazing: it’s pure Africa. Thanks to the availability of water brought to the lodge site with a pipeline, the waterholes around it are the only source of water in a large area, and attract excellent wildlife; clients can view large herds of elephants drinking right in front of the lodge. There is a high density of leopard and striped hyena, a large population of the endangered Grevy zebra, and all the Northern species (reticulated giraffe, greater and lesser kudu, gerenuk, oryx, etc.) are abundant.
Fair Trade / Responsible Travel:
Saruni Samburu works together with the Northern Rangeland Trust to improve the life conditions for the 2,000 people who own the Kalama Conservation Area, and is providing them with income generated by tourism for the first time in their history. The lodge will eventually be owned by the community and operated by Saruni on a commercial basis. Saruni Samburu is committed to employing most of the staff from this small and impoverished community. At least 90% of the employees are local Samburu men and women and trained by the lodge. The lodge has been built to achieve minimum impact on the environment.
