Samburu, Northern Kenya – where the true spirit of safari still exists
African safaris once evoked a sense of wonder – one that’s become increasingly hard to find.
In days gone by, printed maps traced solitary roads winding through vast, unbroken landscapes – leading to fewer camps, fewer people, and a deeper sense of wilderness. Wildlife moments unfolded by surprise, experiences were raw and unplanned, and days without schedules distilled into memories that lasted a lifetime.
Over time, the march of tourism, technology, and infrastructure reshaped the safari world, and what was once simply attuned to the rhythms of nature has become much more structured, orchestrated, and often overshared. Today, unhurried and intimate safaris in a wild landscape far from other travellers are not only coveted, but rarer than ever.
At Sarara, a remote safari destination set within Namunyak Conservancy in Northern Kenya, our vision and values ensured that the essence of an authentic safari experience was never lost. Shaped by this land, its people, and an unwavering commitment to one of the continent’s last true wilderness areas, a journey into the heart of Samburu remains rooted in nature, connection, and the freedom to explore.
A wilderness off the beaten track: Namunyak Conservancy
With a maximum of just 60 guests across all four of our properties at any one time, Sarara offers a rare sense of space and exclusivity. Our three ecolodges – Sarara Camp, Sarara Treehouses, and Reteti House – are set within Namunyak Conservancy's 850,000 acres, while Sarara Wilderness, our mobile tented camp, sits on the edge of Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. Small, intimate, and each entirely unique to its surroundings, they evoke the magic of safaris of yesteryear, balanced by thoughtful comfort, heartfelt hospitality, and the ease of deeply restorative stays.
“Within such a vast wilderness and alongside the Samburu community who have lived here sustainably for generations, we’ve been able to design Sarara in a way that works with nature rather than around it. We’re entirely off-grid, powered by solar energy, and use quiet electric Land Rovers – making Sarara one of the most sustainable safari experiences in Kenya. Our menus are inspired by local culture and seasonal availability – avoiding imported or resource-heavy ingredients.”
Jeremy Bastard, CEO of The Sarara Foundation
Timeless safaris in Samburu: Walking, horseback riding and the freedom to explore
Without any rush, agendas, or rehearsed itineraries, Sarara offers a quiet suspension of space and time that resets the senses.
At wildlife sightings, there's no need to move on before you're ready; watching elephants pause to drink at the waterhole below camp, a beautiful stillness descends. Whether hiking through the Matthews Range with your Samburu guide as ancient stories come alive, crossing endless plains on horseback with the wind in your hair, or enjoying sundowners with nothing but miles of Kenyan wilderness stretching in every direction, you'll discover a timeless kind of safari that's unfiltered and free.
And while technology has become a welcome constant in the safari world, from supporting conservation to navigating the landscape, at Sarara we harness what’s useful, with a deeper reliance on something older and more meaningful: the knowledge and intuition of those who’ve known this wilderness and its wildlife for generations. “Spending time with the Samburu makes for an incredible and extremely unique experience – they know these deserts and mountains intimately,” says Jeremy.
“I was raised in close connection with the land, wildlife, and our traditions of observing and respecting nature,” says Sonia Legei, one of Sarara’s first female guides. “And from a young age, I learned to read animal tracks, understand behaviour, and listen to stories about the bush that Samburu Elders shared.
“Samburu guides have an inherited ‘literacy of the land’, enabling them to read subtle shifts in birdsong, tracks, wind, and movement that reveal what is happening long before it is seen.
“It’s a deep instinct for timing, for understanding wildlife, and for safety. But it’s also cultural knowledge – a doorway to stories and ways of seeing that go well beyond what can be taught in textbooks.”
A chance to safari through Northern Kenya’s raw natural beauty
Over the years, safaris have been mass-popularised through film and social media, and many guests arriving in Africa have already seen iconic wildlife moments and bucket-list settings countless times. Creating preconceived ideas, it’s a familiarity that could dull one’s sense of wonder, and rob new experiences of the element of surprise.
Which makes it all the more special to peer out of a small plane flying over this landscape to Sarara, then seemingly step into the middle of nowhere – where nothing feels familiar or expected, yet it’s everything you wanted, and more.
It's a return to the true spirit of safari – filled with discovery and wonder, and the rare opportunity to experience this Northern Kenya wilderness as intrepid travellers once did.
“This place is more than just land. It is home, identity, and heritage. It holds the stories of our ancestors and our connection to nature. And we are responsible to share its spirit, so others can understand why it matters so deeply.”
Sonia Legei, Sarara Guide