Nestled in the foothills of the Mathews Forest Mountain Range lies Sarara Camp, boasting some of the most spectacular views in all of northern Kenya. Located within 850,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, Sarara Camp has become one of the most renowned private wilderness camps in all of Africa.
The camp is fully owned by the Samburu community, and there is a concession agreement signed by the lodge and Namunyak conservancy. By supporting Sarara, who in turn support education, conservation and water projects in the local communities as well as provide employment, guests staying here are directly contributing to community initiatives. Visitors also pay conservancy fees which go toward the annual operating costs of the conservancy.
Guests are housed in six luxury tents, each with its own private indoor and outdoor bathroom and individual terrace looking out onto the surrounding mountains. There is an open-air central sitting and dining area that looks out over the pool and waterhole where all varieties of wildlife come to drink. Meals can be enjoyed from the dining area or under the shade of a nearby acacia tree. Sarara also offers guests ‘dinner in the bush’ at the nearby dry river bed, the “ultimate combination of wild nature and elegant indulgence”.
While staying at Sarara, guests can view wildlife on foot with local Samburu guides, game drives, scenic flights, or bush ponies. The ‘hide’, a concealed platform next to the watering hole, offers guests the chance to stand safely only a few feet from elephant, giraffe and other large game. For those wishing to explore the extraordinary surrounding mountains, Sarara offers a mobile star camp, where guests sleep under the starts in mosquito net tents and enjoy drinks and food around a campfire.
Another popular activity is visiting the ‘singing wells’ where guests can view a timeless tradition of the Samburu people. In synchronized song, the warrior Samburus sing naked while digging wells in the dry riverbed for their cattle.
Access to Sarara Camp is by daily scheduled flights on SafariLink or Air Kenya from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Lewa Downs, followed by a short private charter flight to Sarara. Access by 4×4 vehicle from Nairobi is possible, although sometimes difficult, and takes approximately eight hours.
For more information and rates, please visit Sarara’s website at www.sararacamp.com.
To make a booking, please email jeremy@sararacamp.com or katie@sararacamp.com.