Kenya’s Luxury Samburu & Mara

Fly in from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and your first game drive begins on the way to the lodge. It is a sign of things to come: a place of abundant wildlife, vast skies and pure silence where nature evolves around you. And just when you think your expectations have been met, you arrive at Saruni Samburu. The family-friendly lodge boasts a spectacular location, seemingly right at the edge of the world. The views are astounding and it will be hard to leave your private verandah.

If you prefer to eat there rather than at the communal dining area, the delicious Italian-inspired cuisine can be served right on your deck. After a siesta, head out on another game drive through the pristine Kalama Conservancy, before sundowners with a breath-taking view.

The sun wakes you as it splits the sky. Today is a day for exploring. First up, a game drive into Samburu National Reserve to seek the endemic ‘Special 5’ of Samburu: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and the peculiar long-necked gerenuk, all rare species that occur only in this part of the country. Samburu warriors are your guides. They are passionate about their land and their culture, and teach you about their fascinating customs and traditions, and about their ancient knowledge of the animals.

Look for the larger game, too, elephant, lion and leopard, and have a picnic lunch before heading back to the lodge to relax for the afternoon. There are the swimming pools and the spa, or perhaps a nap in the shade of your deck. Go on a walk to the caves, walls adorned with rock paintings, or to Ololokwe, the Samburu’s sacred mountain. Sundowners and dinner round off a day of memory-making. You can take an evening game drive in Kalama Conservancy, ending with a dinner under the stars in the wilderness, and a night drive back to the lodge. The Samburu warriors will dance on your last evening, lit by primal fire and candles.

Early morning and time to bid a fond farewell to Samburu before your flight to Saruni Mara, tucked away in a secluded valley in Mara North Conservancy on the Masai Mara. Without skipping a beat you are off the plane and on a game-viewing vehicle, this time guided by a Maasai warrior, who is passionate and knowledgable about his ancestral lands. With his guidance, you will not only see the big names but also the little stories: birds’ mating dances, families of perky warthogs and wily hyenas. Saruni Mara has one family villa, one private villa and five cottages, all featuring rooms en suite and showers with a view. The lodge has a luxurious and classic safari feel and Nyati House is Saruni Mara’s private villa, set in its own private valley. A picnic lunch under a tree or by the river is followed by a restful afternoon before another game drive in Mara North Conservancy, over 30 000 acres brimming with wildlife bordering the Mara. This is a completely different and less-explored corner of the Mara eco-system, giving you total privacy.

Rise with the sun to get the most out of the day; there is so much to choose from. Go on an early morning game drive to look for the big cats and other predators of the Mara, returning to camp for lunch and some time at the Masai Wellbeing Space. An afternoon game drive may take you to the biggest herds of giraffe… or elephants… or hippos. After dinner at the lodge, go on a night game drive. Sign up for the Warriors Academy, particularly if you have children. Under the tutelage of the moran, or Maasai warriors, learn survival skills, and how to track animals and craft tools. Get a different and unique perspective on the Mara, through the eyes of the people who have called this wilderness their home for centuries. Walk in the forest that surrounds Saruni Mara or take a game drive to the top of Kilileoni, the highest mountain in the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem. Hot-air ballooning is another option, a sublime way to view the plains from the intense silence of your basket in the sky. At night, dine in the middle of the wilderness under the star-spangled velvet dome, with Maasai warriors singing and dancing around the fire.

It is your last day at Saruni Mara and you pack your bags of memories. On the way to the airstrip, stop at the rhino sanctuary in Mara North to say goodbye to the hippos and the crocodiles of the Mara River. A short flight takes you to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after an unforgettable week in Africa’s wildest lands.