Published 28th Jun. 2021
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Sarara Tented Camp is in the enormous Namunyak tribal community wilderness area beneath the Mathews Mountain range.
The camp has six luxury sleeping tents, each with its own flush loo and open-air bush shower. Plus comfortable beds, quality bed linen, bathrobes, towels and other essentials are provided.
The camp can accommodate a total of 12 people in double tents. There is a beautiful mess banda of local thatch wood and stone overlooking a natural swimming pool and waterhole where elephant come and drink, and there are unrivalled views of the Mathews Mountains beyond.
The emphasis here is mainly on walking excursions, with local Namunyak community game scouts as guides. Lion and leopard are resident and there are two separate groups of the endangered African wild dog, with one pack numbering at least thirty individuals. Other wildlife species of particular interest include kudu, Grevy's zebra, striped hyena and gerenuk. There are black and white colobus monkeys in the forest.
Why We Love It
Sarara is a dry season refuge for several hundred elephants and these numbers increase even more dramatically in the rainy seasons.
Situated in Shaba National Reserve, the camp overlooks a watering hole where elephant and lion visit alongside with herds of buffalo and the rare desert species of Beisa oryx, Reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.
The landscape is similar to nearby Samburu with riverine forests, acacias and doum palms. The elegant canvas bedrooms are set on raised platforms with views of the surrounding hills. Each large tent is decorated with Boranan and Somalian fabrics and has its own private deck for private game-viewing and relaxing.
There is a swimming pool, and activities on offer include guided bush walks; bush meals by the Ewaso Nyiro River; cultural visits to local villages and massages.
Why We Love It
Shaba National Reserve was made famous for its association with the world famous conservationists Joy and George Adamson and the film Born Free and Joy's Camp is built on the original site of the Adamson camp.
Elsa's Kopje is situated in the wilderness of Meru National Park, seven miles north of the equator in north-eastern Kenya.
Today, Elsa's Kopje is a luxurious safari lodge, blending into the slopes of Mughwango Hill. The lodge consists of just nine open-plan thatched cottages, with en-suite modern bathrooms and private verandas. Paved paths link each cottage to the main building with its bar, lounge and dining room, and to the swimming pool with views over the plains.
In addition, Elsa's Private House is a double cottage with its own pool - ideal for families. Meru National Park has a wide variety of landscapes and habitats and is home to a more diverse range of species than in any other park or reserve in Kenya.
Activities at Elsa's include game drives (including night drives) and guided bush walks, bush breakfasts, excursions to the Tana River, fishing and visits to a Tharaka tribal village. Massages are also available, and the food at Elsa's is a blend of traditional northern Italian cuisine and local dishes.
Why We Love It
This is the place made famous by the lions of George and Joy Adamson and the film 'Born Free', and the lodge takes its name from Elsa the lioness.
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