Sarara Tree Camp

Descending from the communal areas, a network of walkways lead through the forest canopy to eight tree tents. In keeping with its rustic roots, the tents are characterised by their forest hues and artisanal design. The tents are all the same size, and can be arranged as a double, twin or triple room depending on guests’ needs.

The furnishings are simple but stylish, made up of bedside tables, a desk and an en suite bathroom at the back of each tent with running hot and cold water 24 hours a day, but there’s also an outdoor shower where guests can have a nice soak while taking in the scenic views. All of the Tree Tents have their own private balconies fitted with comfy sofas where guests can rest and relax while submerged in the ambience of the wildlife nearby.

Sarara Tree Camp prepares all meals for its guests. For breakfast, guests can help themselves to a continental spread and order hot meals from a breakfast menu. A fantastic variety of dishes are served from the buffet for lunch and at dinner guests can enjoy their food by candlelight and under the stars. Chefs are happy to prepare picnic breakfasts and lunches for guests to take on game drives and can cater to any dietary requirements.

Game drives at Sarara’s Tree Camp have full unrestricted access to the whole Namunyak Conservancy, opening up great opportunities to see a full array of Kenyan wildlife including elephants, gerenuks, giraffes, zebras, spotted hyenas, buffalo. Sarara is renowned for its quality sightings of leopard and the usually very shy lesser kudu antelope. Early morning game drives in particular are a great time for seeing giraffe, kudu, and elephants.

Sarara also offers night-time drives so guests can see the best leopard action and also catch glimpses of the other underappreciated nocturnal wildlife. Each group of guests is guaranteed their own safari vehicle for the duration of their stay so there’s lots of flexibility when planning game drives and other activities.

Join Sarara’s naturalist guides on a walk through the forests and bush. This is an ideal chance to stretch the legs and learn all about the area and its animals, plants, trees and local lore. If guests are feeling more adventurous they can embark on hikes through the Matthews Range.

This has proved to be a really popular way to explore the conservancy. Led by an experienced guide, guests can embark on a ride tailored just to them, whether that be a gentle trek for the novice rider or a more fast-paced hack for those more experienced. The herds of the savannah are usually very relaxed around the horses, meaning guests can get even closer than they could in a safari vehicle.

Staying at Sarara Tree Camp is an unrivalled opportunity for guests to connect with the local Samburu people and their vibrant culture. Visits to the local Samburu village are available for a small fee, where guests can meet and talk with the people, learn about their ways of life, their traditions and social structures. Samburu crafts like beading and blacksmithing can be shared with visiting guests, who then get to take home their individually crafted jewellery.

They can also join the Samburu people at the singing wells, a very rare and extraordinary privilege. The singing wells are where families from the surrounding area come to meet, ‘share stories, pass on messages and water their livestock’. As they collect water from the well, the people form a ring around the well and sing together.

Glide down a natural rock slide plunge into pools of crystal clear water. (Depends on season)

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was set up in 2016 and is about a 30 minute drive from the camp. The Sanctuary rescues and nurtures orphaned elephants until they can be safely returned to the wild. A visit there is one of the best things guests can do to give back to the community and contribute to the protection of all elephants. It’s a great chance to learn more about protection of elephant populations and you’ll be able to see the young elephants be fed and play around in the mud hole.

Giving back is at the heart of the Sarara ethos. With revenue and awareness created through tourism, Sarara Camp can contribute to and support the local communities and the livelihoods of the people who live there; they can aid the efforts of the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in protecting wildlife and habitats from harmful infringements; and by supporting the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Sarara contributes to helping return thriving elephant populations to the area.

As the CEO of Sarara says: “Our goal is to inspire a global community of conservationists to help us create long term sustainability for Kenya’s magnificent cultural and natural heritage… our flagship blend of experiential travel, Conservation and Community offers a truly unique and immersive experience that gives back to the people and the land that need it the most.”

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary works to rescue and care for orphaned or abandoned elephant calves until they can be safely released back into the wilds. They embody an ever-growing movement of community-centred conservation that is transforming a once highly poached and degraded wildlife area into a thriving and sustainable conservancy.

Conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. Sarara believes in helping to equip communities with tools they need to improve and sustain their livelihoods and protecting their lands, which are fundamental for wildlife and nature conservation. For this, education is key. The Association Monterssori Internationale (AMI) organisation manages a mobile teaching team that provides accessible and relevant education to the local communities that live in the Namunyak Conservancy.

Sarara runs off of solar power which provides 24 hour electricity to the camp. Fresh clean water is sourced from the mountains. Food is kept in charcoal storage rather than refrigerators. Through practices such as these, Sarara can address and counter-act unsustainable urban developments.