Saruni Samburu is a stylish lodge located 7 kilometres north of Samburu National Reserve, in Kenya's wild north. Surrounded by 240,000 acres 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, which was developed in collaboration with Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees (Stresa, Italy) and its world famous spa - Centro Benessere Stresa. A superb spa, which is devoted to the use of local plants for beauty and releaxtion treatments. The new techniques combine sophisticated methods developed at Centro Benessere Stresa with ancient Samburu widsom and knowledge.
The lodge is positioned close to Samburu's sacred mountain, with its spectacular views and habitat. Perched on top of a rocky outcrop, Saruni Samburu features 5 spacious villas with bold and dramatic African details. There are 2 villas, one with a double and the other with a twin bedroom, both featuring ensuite bathrooms, a dressing room, a private seating and dining area as well as a private veranda. 3 villas are family villas, each consisting of 2 ensuite bedrooms with individual dressing rooms and a large seating/dining area plus several verandas.
As well as game drives that combine Kalama Conservacny, 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, guests at Saruni Samburu enjoy a feeling of exclusivity, of having an incredibly large area to themselves, combined with elegant comfort and personalised service.
There is a high density of leopard and striped hyena, a large population of the endangered Grevy zebra, and all the Northern species such as reticulated giraffe, greater and lesser kudu, gerenuk, oryx are abundant. The lodge has 5 4x4 open-sided game viewing vehicles. Night game drives (which are not allowed inside the National Reserve) are a highlight, with viewings of leopard, striped hyena, and many other nocturnal animals. The conservation area has no commercial roads (apart from safari tracks), no human settlements and no cattle grazing: it's pure Africa.
Saruni Samburu offers 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 young Samburu learn, tracking animals and making nomadic homes on the plains of Samburu.
Scheduled flights link the main Samburu airstrip (1 hour away) several times a day with Nairobi and there is a private strip about 15 minutes from the lodge for private charters.
Accolades and Comments about Saruni Samburu
Runner Up Best New Safari Camp in Africa - The Good Safari Guide 2011
Finalist Best Safari Property in Africa & East Africa - The Good Safari Guide 2010-2011
'To describe the accommodation as basic would be a little like decribing The Ritz as a B&B. All minimalist luxury and low-impact design, giant lanterns fringe the open-fronted bedroom, replete with majestic canopy bed, which boasts a 360 degree view of the surrounding plains, a view that does justice for once to the adjective 'sublime'. The panoramic vista, vast, dramatitc, truly wild and frighteningly desolate, extends for miles.' Hedge Hideaway
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. Saruni Samburu are providing the Kiltiman Primary School with a new water tank and sponsoring one of their best students for further studies. They are also paying the salaries of 2 Kalama rangers to help the community.
