SARUNI SAMBURU, NORTHERN KENYA

Saruni Samburu is located at the heart of the Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy, about 7 km from the Northern border of the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. It also borders Ngutuk Ongiron to the west, Namunyak Community Conservation Trust to the north and Sera Community Wildlife Conservation to the north east.

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury eco-chic villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kalama Conservancy and Mount Kenya. As the only lodge in over 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness teeming with wildlife to explore exclusively, and guided by Samburu warriors passionate about their land and culture, the safari experience at Saruni Samburu is intimate and truly exceptional.

About Kalama: Kalama lies in an area of 95,000 hectares of Girgir Group Ranch in Samburu land, west of Archer's Post. With a population of only 2,000, the main livelihood in the area is livestock, mostly camels and goats. Kalama members have coexisted with the Samburu National Reserve for over 40 years, sharing revenues and wildlife. The absence of fences makes it one of the few places left that allows for the free movement of wildlife across a vast area.

Indigenous Guides: At Saruni Samburu they are proud of their guides and trackers. They belong to the Kalama community and know intimately the land and the animals, the weather and the roads, the people and the natural elements. Being on safari with a Samburu professional guide means that you will not only encounter more animals, but you will learn how to read the book of nature through their eyes. It's the beginning of a friendship that, for many of their guests, lasts well beyond the duration of the safari.

To walk with the Samburu warriors in the African bush is a fantastic experience and you will learn how they use the environment and about their traditions and their existence.

Guests visit a genuine Samburu village called Kiltimany and because the local people are neighbours and friends, it’s a privilege to share moments of their life. They are the ancient custodians of the land that share with you, and as an integral part of the Saruni Samburu experience you will see how they live, how they protect the environment and in what ways they differ from other African tribes. Be prepared for the Samburu to ask you questions too as they will be curious about you and your lifestyle!

Tracking the Black Rhino with the Samburu: In February 2017, Saruni expanded its luxury collection of lodges and tented camps with the opening of ‘Saruni Rhino’. Located in Sera Community Conservancy, the camp offers the first rhino tracking experience in East Africa: an amazing walking safari that provides a uniquely thrilling adventure, but also allows our guests to actively contribute to the protection of this iconic species.

This ‘thrill-of-a-lifetime’ experience is a walking safari tracking black rhino on foot, accompanied by an expert Saruni guide and a highly-trained Sera Community Conservancy ranger, equipped with a transmitter correlating to the GPS whereabouts of the 11 rhinos throughout the 54,000 hectares-large sanctuary. The vast rhino sanctuary has been fenced in what is one of the most advanced conservation projects in Kenya. Operational only throughout certain hours of the day for maximum protection, the use of the transmitter allows us to game drive our guests a tracking distance away from the nearest rhino, leaving the vehicle and continuing on foot (very lightly to not give away our presence) to metres from the grazing rhino. The tension is palpable as you come across the rhino in such close proximity for the first time; heart beating, pulse racing, curiosity and excitement mounting – it doesn’t get more thrilling than this!