Saruni Samburu, Kalama

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kenya’s Northern Frontier District and Mount Kenya in the distance. The warm and welcoming hospitality makes for an intimate and exceptional experience. The lodge is revered for its innovative, eco-chic architecture and interesting design and décor, as well as its Italian-inspired cuisine. Guests can enjoy the vast panoramas from the dining and lounge area, the two infinity pools and Samburu Wellbeing Space. Saruni Samburu is the only lodge in Kalama Conservancy, which borders Samburu National Reserve, with 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to explore and enjoy exclusively. Guests are guided from start to finish by Samburu warriors who are passionate about their land and their culture, learning first-hand about their fascinating customs and traditions and gaining ancient, local knowledge about the land and the animals – a truly authentic experience.

Image Credits: Saruni Samburu

Copy Credits: Saruni Samburu

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Facilities

The Lodge:

Deluxe, eco-design and intimate lodge, situated in a private conservancy, Saruni Samburu is located 7km north of Samburu National Reserve, in Kenya’s wild North. Surrounded by 95,000 hectares of Kalama Wildlife Conservancy, and perched on top of a spectacular viewpoint, its six villas and two swimming pools overlook a waterhole where the endemic Samburu wildlife and birdlife gather to drink. The vastness and purity of this African landscape, combined with the untouched local culture, elegant comfort, and welcoming hospitality makes for an exceptional, life-changing experience. Guests can experience both the elegance and the safety of permanent accommodation with the thrill of sleeping in close contact with nature.

The lodge is revered for its innovative, eco-chic architecture and interesting design and décor – canvas-fronted stone surround villas, ‘bedouin’ in style. The lodge is comprised of six villas: 4 x luxury family villas of 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms/shared lounge (2 of which can be subdivided and rented independently as double villas) and 3 x luxury double villas. The lodge sleeps a maximum of 20 guests. All villas are spacious with its own lounge, en-suite bathroom (some with bath tubs) and all but one villa have outdoor showers.

Note that Saruni Samburu is an open lodge without perimeter fencing. Wildlife is often seen in and around the lodge. A guard or ‘Askari’ is on hand to escort guests to and from their villa after dark.

Property facilities:

2 x swimming pools
Saruni Wellbeing Space – offering treatments & massages
Photographic Hide – ground-level overlooking the waterhole
Lodge shop – where interesting local Samburu and Kenyan artifacts, arts and crafts can be found. We support Samburu women from different localities of our community by selling their creations in our shop.
Guide Accommodation
24-hour security
Battery Charging Facilities
Meals on request
Restaurant
Internet access (complimentary)
Laundry service (complimentary)
Mobile connectivity
Secure Parking
Bar
Eco-friendly
Pools
Communal Dining & Private Dining
Private Vehicle available (payable extra)
Spa
Sun beds & umbrellas

Vehicles:

At Saruni Samburu, we have a fleet of 4×4 Land Rovers for all game drives and transfers. The vehicles are open-sided for the best game viewing and have a canvas roof for shade. Guests usually share vehicles, unless exclusive use of a vehicle has been arranged at US$350 per day.

Internet:

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in-room. Communal areas of the lodge do not have access to Wi-Fi in order to maintain the ‘authentic experience’ of staying at an eco-lodge in the African wilderness.

Phone Network:

Safaricom network covers part of Saruni Samburu and guests are generally able to make and receive phone calls without issue.

Child Policy:

Our lodges are child-friendly and we are delighted to host families with children of any age. Child-minding facilities can be arranged at extra cost with advance notice.

Check In/Check Out/Late Departures:

Check In time: 11:00AM. Check Out time: 10:00AM

Late departures are available upon request, subject to availability and are payable extra.

Seasons:

Saruni Samburu is open all year round.

Room Facilities:

Complimentary Wi-Fi
Fan
Outside Shower (excepting villa #5)
Room Safe
Private verandah
Dressing gowns/bathrobes
Bath (in some villas – request at time of enquiry)
Electrical outlets
Fridge with refreshments
Private living/lounge area
Internet Access (complimentary)
Laundry service (complimentary)
Mini bar (complimentary – excluding premium spirits)
En-suite bathroom
Organic soaps & lotions
Hair dryer available on request from management
Mosquito nets
Pure cotton linen
Wake-up service
Hot & cold water
Water dispenser

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Activities

Included:

Birdwatching
Bush meals, picnics & sundowners
Cultural performances (as arranged from time to time)
Day and night guided game drives (shared)
Guided bush walks and hiking
Photographic Hide by waterhole
Samburu Wellbeing Space treatments (1 x 30 mins Back & Neck Massage complimentary per room per stay)
Saruni Gift shop
Scorpion safari
Seedballs throwing – forest re-generation
Stargazing
Swimming pools x 2
Thumb Rock mini-hike
Visits to local Samburu caves featuring traditional rock art
Warrior’s Academy (bookable in advance) – family educational activity
Yoga & exercise

Excluded:

Exclusive use of vehicle
Helicopter excursions & scenic flights (payable extra)
Mount Ololokwe hiking excursion – ‘The Sacred Mountain Trek’ (bookable in advance & payable extra)
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary visit (bookable in advance & payable extra)
Samburu cultural village & local community visit (payable extra)
Samburu Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra)
Traditional weddings & blessings (payable extra).

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Directions

Directions

Lodge GPS Coordinates: N 0°42’21”, 37°31’52” E
Lodge Google Earth Coordinates: 00.705275, 037.531111
Lodge elevation: 993m

Flights:

Nearest airstrip: Kalama airstrip for daily schedule flights.
Daily scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Kalama airstrip in Samburu, approx. a 1-hour flight, followed by approx. 40 mins transfer drive to the lodge – included in daily rate)
Private charters to Kalama airstrip.
Kalama airstrip GPS coordinates: N 0°41’39”, 37°36’45” E
Kalama airstrip Google Earth Coordinates: 00.6941667, 037.61250
Kalama airstrip Elevation: 875m

Driving: Driving directions from Nairobi to Saruni Samburu. (approximate time 5-6 hours). Approximate distances between towns along ‘the Chinese Highway’.

Nairobi (CBD) to Thika – 44 km
Thika to Makuyu – 28.6 km
Makuyu to Karatina – 64.3 km
Karatina to Nanuyki – 68 km
Nanukyi to Isiolo – 79.5 km
Isiolo to Archer’s Post – 34.6 km

From Archer’s Post, follow the below instructions to Saruni Samburu

At Archer’s Post stay on the highway and keep North; do not enter the Samburu National Reserve and do not go through the Archer’s Post gate;
At exactly 8 km after Archer’s Post, down on the left‐hand side, you will see a sign that reads: ‘Kalama Conservancy/Saruni Camp’, leave the main road and go through the Kalama Conservancy gate;
The distance between Kalama gate and Saruni is 12 km, follow the main dirt road, keeping the distinctive ‘Thumb Rock’ as a reference point;
Drive STRAIGHT down the road and you will soon see a stone signage ‘Saruni. Welcome to Saruni Airstrip’, with a road off to the right. Pass this and continue STRAIGHT;
At the next junction turn RIGHT. There is no sign;
Continue STRAIGHT down the main road (following our tractor tracks towards the lodge);
A seldom used road will form a crossroads with your road. Ignore this and continue STRAIGHT;
You will then have to cross a large dry river bed/lugga;
When you come to another junction with a stone signage ‘Saruni. The Loop’ continue STRAIGHT along the main track (veer LEFT);
You will soon come across a sign saying ‘Saruni 2 km’ at the next junction. Go STRAIGHT (veer RIGHT);
From here, follow the most used road all the way to the lodge which should appear on a rocky hill, in front of you to the LEFT.

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Costs

Click here to view current Saruni Samburu rates, inclusions & exclusions. Enquire about our current Resident rates by contacting our Reservations team at reservationsteam@saruni.com or by calling on +254 (0)735 950 903