Eleven Swahili and Moroccan-style tented suites above the Ewaso Nyiro River, each with a plunge pool and a view to Mount Kenya.
Samburu is a different Kenya from the Mara: hot and arid, cut through by the Ewaso Nyiro River, with animals you will not see further south. Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich are the local specials. Sasaab sits on a ridge above the river in the Westgate Community Conservancy, and elephants often come down to drink below the rooms.
Because it is in a community conservancy rather than the national reserve, you can walk, ride a camel along the river, go out on night drives and quad bikes, and still drive into Samburu National Reserve about 25 minutes away. The architecture is thatch, canvas and polished concrete, open-fronted to let the breeze through, with four-poster beds and a plunge pool on every veranda.
It is a strong choice for families and for anyone who has already done the Mara and wants something new. Most staff are Samburu from the villages nearby, and the cultural visits are arranged with the elders rather than staged. The honest caveat is heat: the middle of the day here is for the pool, not the vehicle. Three or four nights is right.
An open-fronted tented suite of over 100 square metres with a four-poster bed, a large bathroom, a private plunge pool and a rooftop star bed.
Two bedrooms, one double and one twin, joined by a large lounge and a veranda running the length of the suite, with a plunge pool and a rooftop star bed.
Twin and double en-suite bedrooms opening onto a veranda with a private plunge pool and a spacious lounge, suited to families or two couples.
Fresh, seasonal cooking using produce from the lodge kitchen garden, with Moroccan and Kenyan dishes alongside international ones. Expect bush breakfasts by the river in Samburu National Reserve, sundowners on a rock above the plains and private dining in your room.
A spa offering massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, a gym with a lap pool, and a main infinity pool on the hillside above the river. Treatments are best booked ahead.
Families are well catered for, with two family suites and activities tailored to each child's age, from a Samburu warrior school with spear throwing to quad biking for older children.
| Accommodation | Eleven tented suites, including two family suites |
|---|---|
| Setting | Ridge above the Ewaso Nyiro River, Westgate Community Conservancy |
| Getting there | Scheduled or charter flight to Sasaab airstrip, a few minutes from the lodge |
| Activities | Game drives, night drives, walks, camel rides, quad bikes, fly camping |
| Extras | Helicopter flights to Lake Logipi and the Suguta Valley |
| Suggested stay | Three to four nights |
Westgate Community Conservancy, Samburu, Kenya
A few of the things we plan for guests in Kenya.
From about July to October, wildebeest and zebra mass on the banks of the Mara River and plunge across past waiting crocodiles. Crossings are unpredictable, so give yourself at least four nights and a guide who will wait patiently. Camps in the north of the reserve or in Mara North are well placed.
The conservancies are leased from Maasai landowners, so your stay supports local families directly. Vehicle numbers are capped, and guides can go off-road to follow lions, leopards and cheetahs. Walking with Maasai guides and night drives are included in many camps. They are good all year, not just in migration season.
Laikipia is a high plateau of private ranches and conservancies north of Mount Kenya. Lewa and Ol Pejeta protect black and white rhinos, and Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth. Horse riding, camel walks and fly camping are all possible, which makes it a good choice for families.
A safari for people who would rather walk than sit in a vehicle. Three nights on a camel-supported walking safari in Laikipia, three in Samburu country for the northern species, and two on the Laikipia Plateau to finish.
Five nights in a private conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara, then a short hop to the Indian Ocean for five nights on Zanzibar's quieter north-east coast. A night in Nairobi on arrival breaks the long flight.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
