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Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild

Saruni Wild: Our full report

Saruni Wild is located in the Lemek Conservancy, on the border of neighbouring Mara North Conservancy, close ...

... to the Mara North airstrip. The location provides a wildlife-rich experience particularly between July and September when the wildebeest migration moves into the Mara. With just five simple tents, Saruni Wild is also one of the smallest and most intimate safari camps in Kenya.

Saruni Wild is the sister camp of nearby Saruni Mara, the stylish Saruni Samburu and the newer Saruni Rhino.

Tucked into the bush in a shallow lugga or stream valley, Saruni Wild has lovely views out across the plains to the southwest. This area has resident elephant, giraffe, buffalo and impala. When we last stayed, three lions walked past our tent at about 8pm one evening, just as we were about to go to dinner, to the excitied surprise of the askari waiting nearby. Wild dogs have also been known to pass through the area, which is a rare occurrence across much of Kenya.

With just five tents, Saruni Wild is sometimes booked out privately for groups or families. We imagine that a group would have great fun in a wild bush camp like this with the main areas and the guide all to themselves. But the camp is also sold by the room, and so you don't have to take the whole camp over if you are travelling as a couple or on your own.

The central lounge and dining tent is simply furnished with a number of cream sofas set around a dark wood coffee table from the Swahili coast. The sofas are covered by colourful throws and red cushions which gives a really welcoming and homely feel. There is a communal dining table here too which is sometimes set inside, and sometimes outside for dining under the stars. Meals are sociable and usually hosted by the manager and/or a senior guide, though the managers from Saruni Mara often drive down to join you as well. There are directors chairs on the veranda in case guests want to sit outside and bird-watch. At night, a campfire is lit which is a lovely place for guests to relax, have a drink and listen to the sounds of the bush.

There are just five canvas tents at Saruni Wild, and it's this small size that differentiates Saruni Wild from other camps in the area. All the tents are decorated in the same way with woven rugs on the floor, large comfortable beds with chunky and rustic wooden frames and bed side tables. Bottled water is provided in the rooms, as is bug spray and a sound horn for emergencies. Little luxuries such as bathrobes make this a comfortable camp, though we felt that some furniture was lacking inside - at least a chair and table. There are no power points in the tents and electronics can only be charged in the communal area.

One of the tents is a family tent consisting of two adjoining tents with a zip between them. This can be opened up into one large tent – with a double and two twin beds.

The ensuite bathrooms are simple, and include a beautifully made wooden sideboard with a mirror in front, and a single wash basin with a tap and cold running water from a tank outside. This same tank feeds the surprisingly pretty flush loo that feeds into a hygienic soakaway. The shower is a traditional safari shower, in other words a bucket filled with warm water hoisted up outside your tent by the room attendant on demand. This then allows gravity to draw the water down through a shower head inside the tent. Warm water is always available – you just have to ask. Toiletries are provided.

Saruni Wild have rights to do their game drives in Lemek, Ol Choro Oirouwa and Mara North Conservancy, as well as the main Maasai Mara National Reserve (extra fees payable), which opens up a vast area to explore.


Our view

It's hard to think of a camp in the Mara that is as remote as Saruni Wild. We loved its simplicity and were impressed by the standards of guiding and hosting. Though it's larger and more permanent than a fly-camp, it has that kind of feel and works really well in combination with a longer stay at the more established Saruni Mara. The result would be a really varied experience and for those looking for a touch of adventure we think this is a really fun option.

Parita Masani

Parita Masani

Kenya expert

Geographics

Location
Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
Ideal length of stay
A night or two is perfect when in conjunction with a longer stay at Saruni Mara
Directions
Saruni Wild is a 20-minute direct drive from Mara North airstrip, from where a direct flight to Wilson Airport, Nairobi takes around 45 minutes.
Accessible by
Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
The food at Saurni Wild is the same menu as Saruni Mara and so as with the main camp, it is also influenced by its Italian owner. You can expect lots of flavour and excellent pasta dishes. Saruni Wild, Saruni Mara and Saruni Samburu operate a shared weekly menu so as to avoid repeats for guests who are doing the circuit.

Saruni Wild offers both a bush breakfast, and a breakfast in camp depending on what suits each guest. If you decide to take breakfast out with you then it is still a good spread with yoghurt, cereals, bread, boiled eggs and cold sausages. There is also coffee, juice and fresh fruit. If you have breakfast in camp you simply have more choice of all the same items as well as a full cooked breakfast.

Lunches might also be in camp or out in the bush. In the bush it would usually be a number of cold salads and pasta dishes as well as fresh bread and some sliced meat. In camp the lunch is a bit more substantial with a pasta starter, a main course and a desert.

Then the evening dinners at Saruni Wild start with nibbles, and then three courses are served to the communal table.
Dining style
Group Meals
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
Meals at Saruni Wild are usually communal and hosted by one of the guides or a manager from Saruni Mara who will often be in camp.
Drinks included
All drinks are included except for premium wines and spirits, and Champagne.

Children

Attitude towards children
Children are welcome at Saruni Wild.
Property’s age restrictions
None
Special activities & services
For children over the age of six, the “warriors for a week" programme brings Maasai boys into interaction with visiting children.
Equipment
There's a baby cot at Saruni Mara, but no high chairs are available.
Generally recommended for children
Saruni Wild, is as the name suggests - quite a wild camp better suited to older and more mature children.
Notes
This camp is unfenced and located in quite a bushy area. Parents must be vigilant, and be responsible for their children at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Saruni Wild

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Saruni Wild have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Lion

100% success

Spotted Hyena

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Buffalo

80% success

Cheetah

80% success

Hippo

80% success

Leopard

60% success

Black Rhino

25% success

Striped Hyena

25% success

Wild dog

25% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
There is no electricity in the tents, so guests charge their batteries in the lounge tent, which has power 24 hours a day.
Communications
There is limited phone signal (patchy Safaricom and Airtel, but no 3G), and no WiFi at Saruni Wild. Guests who urgently require these will have to pop up to Saruni Mara which is about a 30 minute drive away.
TV & radio
No.
Water supply
Transported in
Water supply notes
Water is brought in by bowser from Aitong spring. Hot water is brought for washing and showering via safari bucket showers. Bottled drinking water is supplied.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
All the guides at Saruni Wild are first-aiders. Aitong clinic is not far away and for serious emergencies medevac helicopters can land nearby.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
Askaris are on patrol at night at Saruni Wild.
Fire safety
Saruni Wild has no fire extinguishers at present.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Cultural excursion

    Cultural excursion

  • Fly-camping

    Fly-camping

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

  • Hot air ballooning

    Hot air ballooning

  • Night drive

    Night drive

Extras

Disabled access
Not Possible
Laundry facilities
Laundry from Saruni Wild is hand-washed and line-dried and included in the rates, but in common with most camps, ladies' underwear is not washed for cultural reasons (washing powder is provided in the bathrooms for hand-washing any items).
Money
Saruni Wild cannot offer any currency exchange.
Accepted payment on location
All major currencies are accepted in cash at Saruni Wild. Saruni Mara up the road will also take Mastercard and Visa credit cards for which there is a no surcharge.

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