Protect & Change (How Nature Works)

Safari Information

Protect & Change (How Nature Works)

Lewa Wilderness, Saruni Samburu, Saruni Mara & Saruni Wild

A 9 nights/10 days safari in the wilderness hot spots where conservation and tourism make a difference. This is where it all started: the amazing strongholds of both wildlife and enlightened conservationism that make Kenya the elite of modern environmentalism.

A 9 nights/10 days’ safari in the wilderness hot spots where conservation and tourism make a difference.

Valid from 3rd January-19th December 2024

A unique and life-enriching journey through three of Kenya’s most celebrated conservation areas with breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife, diverse activities, and truly Kenyan cultural experiences.

Season dates above are based on those of Saruni lodges & camps.

Season dates above for Lewa Wilderness vary slightly, and upon enquiry, pricing will be adjusted accordingly to suit Lewa Wilderness’

season category: Lewa Wilderness closes in April, May & November 2024. An alternative accommodation option will be provided, and pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

LEWA WILDERNESS

Included

Full board accommodation, soft drinks, beer, spirits, non-premium wine and laundry, local airstrip transfers (Ex Lewa airstrip) and activities (Shared game drives (day & night), guided walks, horse riding, camel walks, pre-historic site visits, community crafts & visits to selected villages and schools, visit to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy HQ (educational talks, school or project visits and much more).

Excluded

Champagne, premium spirits, cellar wines, exclusive use of vehicle, subject to availability, scenic bi-plane flights; available for Lewa Wilderness guests ONLY. bookable &  payable at the lodge, visits to Il’Ngwesi cultural boma, visit to aerial walkway in the Ngare Ndare Forest and fly camping.

SARUNI LODGES

Included:

All-inclusive accommodation (full-board accommodation including soft drinks, beers, house wines and select non-luxury spirits), one complimentary Back & Neck massage (30 min.) per room per stay at our Wellbeing Space, limited laundry service, shared day & night game drives in 4x4 vehicles, guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowner & picnic excursions, Warriors Academy (where available and upon request in advance), local cultural visits transfers, all internal flights and return airstrip transfers, airport assistance, temporary Flying Doctors cover, daily conservation fees, VAT & taxes.

Excluded:

Exclusive use of vehicle, premium drinks (champagne, luxury spirits and special wines), additional Wellbeing Space treatments, any payable extra activities, entry fees to local cultural visits, childcare, transport & entry fees to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Samburu (bookable in advance), transport & entry fees to the Masai Mara National Reserve in the Mara, gratuities to staff & guides, own private guides & drivers, any payable extra services, anything of a personal nature, international flights & visa fees, late departure fees, and all statutory increases beyond our control.

Lewa Wilderness

Lewa Wilderness sits within one of Kenya’s major private conservation success stories; the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. 62,000 acres of varied African terrain, overlooked by the magnificent Mount Kenya, has as good a wildlife experience as anywhere else in Africa. Lewa Wilderness is one of Kenya’s original private safari experiences and has been the Craig family home since 1972 where they proudly continue to entertain guests giving a truly unique and personal safari experience. Being the hub of all activities on Lewa, there is an endless list of activities on offer; owning East Africa’s only open cockpit biplane and a stable yard of horses suited to all levels of experience. Guests can also camel ride among the wildlife, game drive, take guided bush walks, visit the local community enhancement projects, and much more. Natural springs, home-raised livestock, and a 5-acre organic garden is the source of the healthy and delicious cuisine served against the backdrop of passing herds of wildlife. The lodge has nine cottages tucked into the hillside overlooking Lewa’s Eastern Marania Valley, each luxuriously comfortable with the rustic character of a ranch homestead. Activities and amenities: daily game drives, guided bush walks, scenic flights in the Waco Bi-Plane, horse riding, camel rides, community visits, behind the scenes conservation activities, Ngare Ndare Forest day trips, farm visits, swimming Pool, tennis/ gym, visits to Lewa Crafts Furniture and Kifuma Weaving project.

Saruni Samburu

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kenya’s Northern Frontier District and Mount Kenya in the distance. The warm and welcoming hospitality makes for an intimate and exceptional experience. The lodge is revered for its innovative, eco-chic architecture and interesting design and décor, as well as its Italian-inspired cuisine. Guests can enjoy the vast panoramas from the dining and lounge area, the infinity pool and the Samburu Wellbeing Space. Saruni Samburu is the only lodge in Kalama Conservancy, which borders Samburu National Reserve, with 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to explore and enjoy exclusively. You are guided from start to finish by Samburu warriors who are passionate about their land and their culture, learning first-hand about their fascinating customs and traditions and gaining ancient, local knowledge about the land and the animals – a truly authentic experience. Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, photographic hide, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Samburu Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, two swimming pools, helicopter excursions (payable extra), Samburu cultural visits (payable extra), Saruni Shop, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (bookable in advance & payable extra).

Saruni Mara & Saruni Wild

Saruni Mara has one family villa, one private villa and five elegant cottages, and is the only small boutique lodge in the Mara, making it very intimate and exclusive. The beautifully decorated themed rooms have a luxurious and classic safari feel. The lodge is tucked away in a secluded valley in the private Mara North Conservancy, a prime and private game viewing area, which borders the Masai Mara National Reserve – the most renowned wildlife park in Africa. Enjoy the Italian-inspired cuisine and being immersed in nature from your private verandah, the Maasai Wellbeing Space and the open lounge and dining area. Maasai warriors will guide you throughout your stay, sharing their ancient wisdom and local knowledge of the area and the animals, their way of life and their secret corners of the most loved wildlife reserve in Kenya.

Saruni Wild is a tented camp elegantly and comfortably furnished with all the necessary luxuries of a wild yet classic safari. The camp is located in the heart of the Masai Mara plains, on the border between Lemek Conservancy and Mara North Conservancy. Surrounded by tens of thousands acres of pristine, untouched wilderness, the camp has the most classic Masai Mara setting. The wildlife thrives right next to its tents. Enjoy endless views, fire-lit meals under the vast African sky, guided game drives led by Maasai warriors. Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Maasai Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, library, balloon safaris (payable extra), Saruni Shop.

Sample itinerary

Day 1 – Lewa Wilderness

• Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a Saruni vehicle will transfer you to Wilson Airport for your flight to Lewa Downs.
• Depart Nairobi’s Wilson airport in the morning*, arriving at Lewa an hour later. You are met on arrival and transferred to Lewa Wilderness, enjoying a game drive en route. Depending on your arrival time either enjoy lunch and an afternoon of discovering Lewa Conservancy, or enjoy sundowners followed by a candle-lit dinner

Day 2 – Lewa Wilderness

• Lewa Wilderness offers a myriad of activities by which to enjoy Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, from traditional game drives to horse riding and camel safaris, or guided bush walks.
• Your meals are served in the lodge while enjoying the picturesque vies, or as a picnic out enjoying all Lewa Conservancy has to offer.

Day 3 – Lewa Wilderness

• Today another action-packed day of discovery lies ahead. As well as activities bringing you closer to the wildlife, a ‘behind-the-scenes’ visit of the Lewa Conservancy conservation activities gives you an insider perspective on protecting this precious eco-system. Or for a thrilling experience, enjoy a memorable scenic flight in the ‘Out of Africa’ Waco Bi- Plane (payable extra).

Day 4 – Saruni Samburu

• Vehicle transfer departing Lewa Wilderness following breakfast, arriving in Samburu two hours later, where your Saruni Samburu guide will meet you and transfer you to the lodge, or take you on a game drive.
• Afternoon game drive in Kalama Conservancy exploring over 200,000 acres of pristine wilderness in total privacy and sundowners with a breath-taking view.

Day 5 – Saruni Samburu

• Early morning game drive into Samburu National Reserve to seek out the ‘Samburu Special Five’: the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy zebra, the beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich and the gerenuk, all rare species that occur only in this part of the country, and look for its well-known larger wildlife including elephants, lion and leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading back to the lodge to relax for the afternoon.
• Enjoy a complimentary half hour massage upon arriving back at the lodge at the Samburu Wellbeing Space.

Day 6 – Saruni Samburu

• Continue to explore the wonders of Samburu with a morning game drive and after lunch head out on a nature walk discovering animals, plants and the caves in the local area with rock paintings, led by your skillful and knowledgeable Samburu guides.
• Evening game drive in Kalama Conservancy, the 200,000-acre private wildlife conservancy in which Saruni Samburu is located, ending with a bush dinner under the stars in the middle of the wilderness, and a night drive back to the lodge. The Samburu warriors dancing, candles and fire under the vast African skies, make this a truly magical experience, and one of the highlights of your stay.

Day 7 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Depart Samburu / Saruni Wild on your flight in the morning* and arrive in the Masai Mara an hour and a half later.
• Game drive with a picnic lunch to enjoy under an acacia tree or by the river next to a pod of hippos, or head to Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild for some rest and an exclusive game drive later in the afternoon in Mara North Conservancy – over 30,000 acres of plentiful, protected land bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy a completely different and less-explored corner of the Mara ecosystem in total privacy, brimming with wildlife.

Day 8 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Early morning game drive to look for the big cats and other predators of the Mara, returning to the camp or lodge for lunch and treatments at the Maasai Wellbeing Space.
• In the afternoon, a game drive will take you to a special area where the largest tower of giraffe can be seen, followed by dinner at the lodge or camp and an optional night game drive.

Day 9 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Walk through the valleys and plains surrounding Saruni Mara, accompanied by a vehicle, or a game drive up to the top of Kilileoni, the highest mountain in the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem - led by your skillful and knowledgeable Maasai guides.
• In the afternoon you will discover more of Mara North and its neighbouring conservancies and experience first-hand what makes the Mara one of the most exciting wildernesses in the world.
• Weather permitting, experience a bush dinner in the middle of nature under the vast African sky, with Maasai warriors singing and dancing around the fire.

Day 10 – Departure

• Visit the rhino sanctuary on the way to the airstrip and once again admire the hippos and the crocodiles of the Mara River.
• The flight back to Nairobi leaves the Mara at 11:00 AM and arrives in Nairobi at 12:20 PM.
• Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with Saruni driver and vehicle. Depending on the time of your international flight, stop at the Talisman or Carnivore restaurant for dinner.

Note:

• The Saruni Sales and Reservations team can modify and tailor this itinerary to suit your personal preference. Baggage allowance on internal flights is 15kg per person, preferably in small, soft bags without wheels. Seats on the schedule flights are subject to availability at confirmation. Rates with children or single occupancy are available upon request.
• *Flight times and durations may vary depending on airline and routing, and are subject to chang