The indigenous Samburu people of northern Kenya are the driving force behind the distinctive conservation and ecotourism brand known as Sarara camp. Sarara Camp is located within the secluded Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, which encompasses 850,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness and is perched on a rocky outcrop at the base of the Matthews Range. While meeting the contemporary traveler’s needs, Sarara Camp nonetheless exudes the magic and grace of a classic safari camp. This eco-friendly, solar-powered ecolodge is completely off the grid, and every effort has been made to protect the local ecosystem.
Concerning Sarara Camp Kenya
Sarara is one of Kenya’s finest luxury tented camps in a region of unmatched nature and natural beauty. The ideal way to spend your safari is to watch elephants from the infinity pool, eat delectable meals, and unwind in the comfort of your incredibly luxurious tent.
The Mathews Range and the watering hole can be seen from each of Sarara’s six tents. This camp is wonderfully wild and romantic, and each tent has a high ceiling and plenty of space. Running water that is both hot and cold is available in Sarara. The inside restroom and sink at the back of your tent at Sarara are ideal for late-night trips, while the outdoor bathroom at Sarara offers wonderful views of the hills from the shower. Each tent has a private balcony, which is ideal for morning tea and coffee.
Sarara camp Kenya is powered by solar energy produced by many solar panel arrays, and food is preserved in a specially constructed charcoal store. No pumps are needed; all the water is pure mountain spring water. Additionally, all the materials are recycled.
The most elusive of the big cats, the leopard, is notoriously difficult to locate. Sara is also a great place to watch lesser kudu antelope up close. In the Sarara valley, African wild dogs are also commonly sighted. Day and night, like game drives, walking safaris, bush dinners, fly camping, helicopter rides, private flights, excursions to Samburu National Park, visits to the singing wells, and time spent in the hide are some activities offered at Sarara.
What Attracts Us To Sarara Camp Kenya?
On the outskirts of the spectacular Samburu jungle sits the opulent and charming tented camp known as Sarara. Each cozy tent is positioned to take advantage of the Mathews Range’s breathtaking views and the waterhole’s daytime attraction of a wide range of animals. The tents are roomy and have high ceilings. They also have private patios with a table and chairs, and you can have morning coffee and tea to be served so you may wake up slowly and enjoy the view of the mountains. An indoor toilet and sink are located at the back of the tent, and there is an outdoor bathroom with a shower that has a beautiful view of the hills.
Enjoy filling breakfasts in the mess building, buffet-style lunches under the trees, and delectable dinners served on the pool terrace or at a romantic bush dinner under the stars. It’s an absolute treat.
The coarsely hewn rock pool provides an excellent vantage point from which to observe the surrounding nature in privacy, with a view over the far-off mountains. Nature walks, mountain climbs, game drives, fly-camping safaris, candlelit bush dinners, horseback riding, beautiful flights, excursions to the Samburu Singing Wells, and a range of other thrilling adventures are available to the daring.
Elephants are known to congregate near the camp’s watering hole, and the swimming pool is the best spot to see these beautiful creatures.
Inquire of your hosts about the history of Sarara and the conservation initiatives that have helped to preserve this region.
Take a walking safari with the Samburu warrior guides for an amazing experience!
Why Did We Pick Sarara Camp In Kenya?
Within the Namunyak Wildlife Conversation Trust’s property is Sarara. a region of over 850,000 acres that wraps around the southern tip of northern Kenya’s legendary Mathews Mountain Range. The Samburu tribe, a proud people who live in this area and are semi-nomadic pastoralists, are proud of their tolerance for the wildlife that coexists with their livestock.
The Namunyak Trust has had great success with its conservation efforts thus far. By 1985, there were no longer any elephants in the Mathews Ranges due to the terrible ivory poaching crisis of the 1970s and early 1980s. Several thousand elephants are now quietly cohabitating and reproducing in the southern Mathews Range region. In addition to a wide range of other animal species like the buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, larger and lesser kudu, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, impala, and dik dik.
A trip to the renowned “Sarara” Singing Wells must rank among the top attractions in the Namunyak region. During the dry season, Samburu warriors regularly bring cattle to these watering places. As they transfer water up by hand for the animals, the warriors descend into the wells, which can be up to 10 meters deep, form a human chain, and recite traditional Samburu chants. This intriguing practice lasts throughout the day for several hours.
Your kind hosts, Piers and Hilary Bastard, Jeremy Bastard, and Katie Rowe, are delighted to show you around the camp’s chic lodgings and the splendor of Sarara. There are several opportunities to appreciate the breathtaking scenery and witness the wildlife, including game drives, bush walks, hikes in the Mathews Mountains, and camel treks. As their water hole is within easy viewing distance, you could also spend the afternoon lounging around the gorgeous rock swimming pool and letting the wildlife come to you.
Sara has made a name for itself as one of Africa’s premier “hot places” for spotting leopards and for up-close encounters with the typically reticent lesser kudu antelope.
The only spot in the entire world where one can witness this enchanted and age-old tribal custom is Sarara.
The visitors are welcome to observe the wonderful tradition of the Samburu people. The Samburu warriors approach our camp’s dry river bank every morning with their animals. The warriors started drilling deep wells so that their cattle could have access to fresh water.
Spend one of the nights in a mosquito-netted tent in the middle of a dry riverbed, gazing up at the stars and hearing the sounds of the leopards “sawing” all around you.
Kenya’s Sarara Camp And Sarara House
The lovely bush residence Sarara House at Sarara Camp offers breathtaking views of the Mathews Range highlands in northern Kenya. The residence is a portion of a modest lodge that is tucked into Uarges, the highest peak in the group. The resort is run by Jeremy Bastard, whose family has decades of safari expertise, and is owned by the local Samburu community. The house is a component of the sole lodge in more than 1,300 square miles of extremely lonely wilderness. The location has a wonderful atmosphere, and the Samburu people use the unique seasonal “singing” wells to water their cattle. The local community receives a portion of the lodge’s profits, supporting local households, schools, school bursaries, and other group ranch community initiatives.
Facilities & Accommodations of Sarara Camp Kenya
Beautiful, open-fronted Sarara House is a bush dwelling built with materials found nearby. This exquisite safari retreat features two tented en-suite bedrooms, a spacious, elegant living room and dining area, an upstairs tree house library, and a private pool. Famous Sarara elephants come to a private waterhole to consume the nutrient-rich acacia pods. The home has access to the main camp’s amenities, which include a sizable mess hall with a view of the camp’s natural rock swimming pool. Meals can be consumed privately in the house or at the main camp mess, with many of the foods coming from the camp’s garden.
Animals & Recreation
One of Kenya’s greatest community conservation and development success stories is the Namunyak Conservancy, which means “place of peace” in Samburu. Large elephant herds that move from Laikipia to the north now congregate there. The overall game is excellent, and leopard sightings are frequent. Once more, wild dogs have been spotted nearby. Walking in the mountains and on the plains, day and night game drives, bush in the morning and dinner, sunset, day trips to the Samburu or Shaba Game Reserves, and ascents of the revered Lolokwe Mountain, which is covered in a cedar forest and other exotic plants native to the region, are some of the activities available at Loimugi. Private flights to Lake Turkana, where you may go perch fishing, fly-camping, and helicopter camping, can be organized during your stay.
Experience At Kenya’s Sarara Camp
The three days there allowed us to:
-A trip to the Singing Wells, a wonderful cultural experience and a Sarara-only activity where Samburu warriors come daily to water their livestock.
-A visit to a nearby Samburu community in the evening to observe the return of the cows and goats.
-Spending a lot of time with her Samburu guide Mark. Mark is not only a fantastic wildlife guide but also a representative of his own culture and a keen amateur anthropologist with a wealth of knowledge about the nomadic and pastoral communities of Northern Kenya.
-Numerous wildlife drives where she witnessed Somali ostrich, lesser kudu, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and wild dogs. I saw a leopard while enjoying a gin and tonic.
-A morning bush pony ride through lush woodland and dry plains, including a bush breakfast.
She had plenty of time to relax and take in the tranquility and breathtaking views of the Mathews Range from the balcony of her tented accommodation and an infinity pool carved out of rock.
-Watched a vet from the Kenya Wildlife Service tranquilize and examine an elephant! I can’t guarantee that will happen to everyone; that was just luck. But if there is a remote chance that it will happen, management and staff will ensure you are informed.
What additional nights could we have added to that?
- On a dry riverbed, spend the night.
- A day spent studying traditional beadwork with the women’s group from Sarara Sabache.
- Hundreds of regionally specific bird species can be found in the forested slopes of the mountains, which can be explored on horseback or by hiking for an entire day.
- Jeremy, the owner/manager, took a scenic flight over the area in his SuperCub.
Sarara Camp In Kenya: A Luxury Retreat On Kenya’s Farthest Reach
Sarara Camp is located in Northern Kenya’s furthest extremities, where the Matthews Mountain Range and the desert’s savannah plains converge. It is the only camp for hundreds of miles, and it is situated in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. Six opulent tents are located above the stunning Mathews Mountain Range. The Samburu are as much a part of the land as the wildlife, sharing space with it on a community-owned property where cattle farmers and animals coexist. You can see the Samburu tending to their livestock in the distance from the hillside where the camp is located, and the wildlife gathered around the waterhole nearby.
Buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, reticulated giraffe, plains game, and elephant wander the 850,000-acre reserve in this picture-perfect location. But it wasn’t always like this. Due to extensive hunting, there weren’t any elephants left in the Mathews Mountain Ranges by 1985. Both the Grevy zebras and the reticulated giraffe vanished along with the elephants. But in 1995, the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust was created as a community conservation collaboration with the Samburu to safeguard the elephant and indigenous wildlife. One of the first of its sort in Kenya, this creative cooperation has become one of the continent’s most prosperous neighborhood projects. The Mathews Mountain Range is now home to hundreds of elephants thanks to the cooperative collaboration.
The elephant’s reappearance is crucial. One of nature’s “keystone species” is the elephant. By destroying trees and prickly plants, they contribute significantly to the ecosystem. Their propensity for destruction leaves grasslands for other animals and gaps in the undergrowth; the pathways they lay down serve as firebreaks and facilitate water runoff. Baboons and birds dig through their excrement in search of seeds and nuts, and their dung also aids in dispersing seeds for new tree growth. Their nutrient-rich dung fertilizes the soil, which benefits crops. Elephants advertise the safety and viability of a habitat, paving the path for other species to return. The leopard, buffalo, and wild dog followed the elephant back to the Namunyak region.
To give its visitors an unforgettable wildlife experience, Sarara depends on the local wildlife returning. The natural rock swimming pool overlooks the active waterhole where elephant takes their daily mud baths and kudu, warthog, and impala come to drink, so the wildlife is always visible from the open-air bathrooms and private patios.
The Samburu have profited from the successful relationship not just via the reintroduction of the elephant but also through leasing and conservancy fees that fund women’s organizations, local student scholarships, and anti-poaching efforts. The Samburu also play a significant role in the camp, serving as bush guides, drivers, cooks, and housekeepers.
Take A Trip To The Sarara Camp Kenya Singing Wells.
Kenya and the Namunyak Wildlife Conversation Trust seek to identify the sole location in the world where the singing well customs can be observed. This Samburu ceremony, which has gone unaltered and undocumented for millennia, is comparable to the Great Migration in rarity and allure.
The Matthews Mountain Range’s southern portion is part of the Namunyak Wildlife Conversation Trust’s property. The neighborhood of Samburu 1995 warmly received the Namunyak Wildlife Conversation Trust’s conservation efforts. Since then, locals have discovered peace with the wildlife and protection from poachers. With its central location in the Namunyak area and its exceptional proximity to the Samburu communities, Sarara Camp enhances the safari experience.
Singing Wells
Only in Namunyak may one see the distinctive Samburu customs at the singing wells. The Samburu mine is the dry riverbed next to Sarara Camp for water almost daily. The warriors will dig wells along the riverbank until they find water in order to feed their cattle. The Samburu form a human chain at the singing wells during this rite to access the water in frequently quite deep holes. The warriors sing in unison to maintain the rhythm of the digging throughout the entire operation, and they also maintain harmony while passing the water up to their livestock.
The warriors are naked as they dig, sing, and pass water, yet this age-old custom is a routine part of life for the Samburu in this area. As a result, each trip to the singing wells is incredibly unique. The singing wells do not accept photography. The visitors and employees of Sarara Camp abide by the community’s request without question.
Early in the morning is a common time for the singing wells experience, leaving the rest of the day free for touring the Namanyak region. Set off on a game drive or a trip into the Matthews Mountains with a guide. A large main room at Sarara Camp offers a calm spot to unwind in between activities. The pool carved into the escarpment’s edge is another option; it has one of the nicest views at the camp.
The closest water hole and hidden hide are only a few minutes walk from camp, and the location is perfect for game drives, bush hikes, and camel treks. Excellent leopard populations and sizable populations of lesser kudu and African wild dogs are notable features of Namunyak. The destruction caused by the 1980s and 1970s ivory poaching has been reversed, and thousands of elephants are now thriving. Safari tourists can find the various residents, including lions, cheetahs, buffalo, gerenuk, and reticulated giraffe, with the assistance of skilled trackers.
Consider extending your hike and taking advantage of Sarara Star Camp’s mobile camping alternatives. Your safari starts inside the forest, more than two hours away from Sarara Camp and only reachable on foot. Along the walk, guides will point out interesting plant life and uncommon Colobus and De Brazza monkeys in the branches above, among other sights. Camels are used to transport supplies and equipment to the campsite under the direction of their Samburu caretakers, allowing for a free day of exploration.
While they aren’t exploring, relax in the natural rock pool supplied by a mountain spring and think about the mountainous terrain of Northern Kenya. Sleep in your personal tent with mosquito netting and wake up refreshed and ready to continue your mobile camping adventure.
F.A.Q.
What is the cost of a stay at Sarara Camp?
The Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, an area of 850,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness in the Mathews Range, is located on Kenya’s northern border.
The safari lodges’ level of safety
You will be informed of these once you arrive at the resort. All reputable lodges and camps have great safety protocols. The camps are constantly well-guarded, and some offer escorts for traveling around the grounds. Since animals might go very close to the campgrounds, it’s crucial to exercise caution.
Is going on safari in Kenya safe?
The wonderful safari locations in Kenya are safe to visit, and the friendly, hospitable locals will make your safari an experience you won’t forget. Our Great Adventure Safaris Experts have substantial first-hand knowledge of the locations they recommend, are well-trained, and have a permanent base in East Africa.
What if you require the restroom while on a safari?
Make careful to use the restrooms at the visitor center as soon as you enter each park. There are no restrooms to use once you’re in the wilderness. If you ask to use the bathroom while on a safari, you can’t go to a tree for some peace; you have to stay close to the Jeep.
Do safari guides have firearms?
I’ve been on a few of the latter, and sure, the guides do carry big-bore rifles for the obvious reason. The big game is curious and wild, even though they often see cars and inhabitants as one enormous inedible feature.
How are safe walking safaris?
One of the most frequent inquiries regarding walking safaris is this one. Furthermore, walking safaris are risk-free. There’s nothing to panic about as long as you do as your guide instructs. These guides and trackers can take immediate action to protect you and the animals.
What is the most secure nation for a safari?
The Safest Safari Destination in Africa is Botswana
Botswana is one of the most rewarding safari destinations and is also rated as the safest safari destination in all of Africa. Although it is not the cheapest, it is also not the most costly country in Africa for a safari.
How long should a safari last?
The recommended length of time for a safari vacation is between 7 and 15 days for a comprehensive and enjoyable safari experience. While this is an excellent starting point for safari visitors, individual travel needs may dictate other factors.
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