Sarara Wilderness
OUR MOBILE CAMP IN THE WIDER SAMBURU ECOSYSTEM
OVERVIEW
Experience the wilderness like never before – at Sarara’s coveted mobile tented camp
Set in one of Africa’s last true wilderness areas, Sarara Wilderness immerses guests in a tailormade adventure in the heart of the bush.
Located in the wider Samburu Ecosystem, the setting of this campsite is informed by the Samburu’s deep knowledge of their land. With the mighty Ewaso Nyiro River flowing through this magnificent landscape, the area teems with some of the continent’s most iconic wildlife species.
The warmth of Sarara’s highly personalised hospitality forms the foundation of Sarara Wilderness – and your dedicated Samburu hosts will welcome you into this ancient land’s wonders through riveting fireside stories, guided explorations, mouthwatering food inspired by the season’s abundance, and more.
You’ll spend your evenings mesmerised by Africa’s starlit skies, before being lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of the bush. While featuring a range of modern comforts – from soft bedding to heated indoor bucket showers – an old-world charm weaves through this carefully considered tented experience.
Highlights
POOLS
The camp’s refreshing mobile swimming pool and cold plunge machines are just the ticket in the heat of the day!
BESPOKE CAMP SETUP
Six spacious en-suite tents with indoor heated bucket showers – set up in the heart of the wider Samburu Ecosystem.
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
The area is known for epic wildlife sightings as it attracts iconic species like lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, and buffalo.
MEDIA & WELLNESS TENT
The beautifully appointed relaxation areas include a specially curated library and relaxing wellness treatments.
CULTURAL IMMERSIONS
Unscripted encounters in a Samburu manyatta (homestead) to learn more about the land’s rich cultural history.
An intimate camping experience in the heart of an ancient wilderness
Evoking the nostalgic romance of an idyllic adventure in a raw and remote natural setting, Sarara Wilderness is reminiscent of the idyllic mobile camps of yesteryear. Featuring custom-made canvas tents – complete with every modern comfort – the camp is positioned to align with the movements of the region’s remarkably dense populations of sought-after wildlife, including lions, leopards and cheetahs.
Discover the extraordinary wildlife of the Samburu Ecosystem
Sarara Wilderness offers a front-row seat to an exceptionally dense concentration of wildlife in a coveted setting. It’s the perfect springboard for discovery and epic sightings – as well as inimitable photographic opportunities.
From exploring ancient elephant corridors from this base camp with your Samburu host and guide, to sharing fireside stories and stargazing with the nocturnal sounds of the bush all around.
Immersive & authentic activities at Sarara Wilderness
game drives
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Bush dinners
Stargazing
Beading with the Samburu ladies
Indulge in the rich birdlife
Visit a manyatta (homestead)
Experience a Ngoma (samburu Dancing)
Learn from Samburu's Blacksmith
Heli Rides
Camp
Information
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This tented camp is completely off the grid, providing 24-hour solar-powered electricity.
Six en-suite tented suites – with flush toilets and heated indoor bucket showers.
Starlink WiFi and intermittent Safaricom phone signal.
Children of all ages are welcome, but the camp is more suitable for those 5 years and older.
Sarara Wilderness is within reach of both Kalama and Buffalo Springs airstrips. Guests can opt for scheduled flights with Safarilink or Air Kenya – or make use of private charters.
Sarara Wilderness is set within the wider Samburu Ecosystem in Kenya’s northern frontier.
For guests also staying at Sarara’s other ecolodges, the travelling time to Sarara Camp, Reteti House, and Sarara Treehouses is 2.5 hours.
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Explore the wider Samburu Ecosystem and its wildlife on unrestricted guided game drives.
Enjoy outdoor bush meals and sundowners under Africa’s wide open skies.
Spend a morning beading with Samburu ladies and hear more about the cultural importance of their vivid jewellery.
Immerse yourself in Samburu culture during a visit to a local manyatta (homestead).
Cool off in the camp’s mobile swimming pool or refreshing cold plunge machines.
Enjoy a relaxing massage.
Be captivated by the age-old tradition of the Ngoma – a mesmerising combination of vivid rhythm, song and dance.
Head out over extinct volcanoes and sweeping savannahs for a transformational helicopter adventure.
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Accommodation includes all meals and beverages.
Fresh, healthy meals are prepared on site to meet every dietary need, showcasing regional produce blended with Samburu flair.
A fully stocked bar in the lounge area with soft drinks, local beers and non-premium wines and spirits.
Laundry service.
Local airstrip transfers (Kalama and Buffalo Springs).
Transfers to all other Sarara properties.
Starlink WiFi and intermittent Safaricom phone signal.
Plug points in each tent.
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Sarara Wilderness is off the grid, providing 24-hour solar-powered electricity.
All the water in the camp is from mountain springs.
Sarara has eliminated all single-use plastic from our camps.
All our fresh produce comes from small scale farmers in Kenya – supporting the local economy.
Our honey is sourced from the Samburu honey gatherers who live in the Mathews Range.
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Check-in / -out times: Check-in is at 11am and check-out is at 10am
Season: Sarara Wilderness is closed from 1 November - 1 December
Altitude: The camp is approx. 800 metres above sea level
Temperature: Warm climate all year round. Nightly lows: 20-25°C; daily highs: 30-35°C
Child policy: Children of all ages are welcome but the camp is more suitable for children over 5 years.
Phone signal: Intermittent Safaricom signal
WiFi: Starlink WiFi
Power: 24-hour solar power. Please note: Electronic devices can be charged but voltage not strong enough for hairdryers
Plugs: Charging points in tents (plug type G) and in the main area. Please note: No adapters provided.
Getting to Sarara Wilderness: Scheduled flights on Safarilink/Air Kenya or private charters into Kalama and Buffalo Springs airstrips.
Emergency cover: We encourage guests to use AMREF’s Maisha silver package for complete peace of mind while travelling in Eastern Africa. Extending beyond your Sarara stay, it’s valid for a month in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar. Contact reservations@sarara.co for more on this service.
Room Layouts
MEET YOUR HOST AT SARARA WILDERNESS
Sammy
With 15 years of experience in extraordinary guest experiences, Sammy has worked all over Northern Kenya’s coveted landscapes. At Sarara Wilderness, he says, guests truly have “a home away from home”, adding that it offers the best of both Samburu and Buffalo Springs Game Reserves – which opens the door to exceptional game viewing, cultural engagements, and guided bush walks. As an avid birdwatcher, Sammy also has an astounding knowledge of the region’s birdlife.
All Sarara’s camps are driven and managed by the local Samburu community.
Discover our other ecolodges
Sarara Camp has six beautifully appointed en-suite tents with solar heated outdoor showers. The tents overlook the majestic Matthews Mountain Range, providing a fantastic platform by which to experience the 850,000-acre wildlife conservancy. The camp’s waterhole is frequented by an array of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, kudu, impala, leopard, wild dog and reticulated giraffe.
Nestled into a forest glade at the foot of Warges Peak, the Sarara Treehouses emerge from the ancient forest canopy.
Eight beautiful tents are raised up into the forest, allowing an array of wildlife including elephants and buffalo to roam the forest floor beneath you. Each tent is en-suite, with solar-heated outdoor showers looking into the forest.
Reteti House is an exclusive and uniquely crafted ecolodge that blends naturally into the dramatic landscape of Namunyak Conservancy. Four standalone rooms, each with a gorgeous outdoor shower and private deck, offers uninterrupted views over the conservancy. A 10-minute walk from Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Reteti House provides guests with a front-row seat to the extraordinary conservation work of Reteti.