Reviews of Sarara Treehouses

"We had a wonderful time. This was an amazing, unique experience that combined the animals of Northern Kenya, the amazing view of the mountains, the cultural experiences, and the Retiti Elephant Sancuary. We loved it... and it was a great place to start. John our guide, Philip the general manager, and Grace the front-of-house manager, who were all from the local tribe were wonderful people, welcoming, open, and funny. They made our stay amazing and I thank each one." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

"Gorgeous setting and comfortable rooms. Excellent guiding by Ian. No complaints whatsoever. It was a wonderful first stop. Especially loved the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary." See all these reviews: 14n in Kenya

"We loved this camp! The setting is gorgeous and the staff is wonderful, friendly, professional, efficient, and so much fun! We loved Philip, Rahab, and Tilas (sp?). The tents were very nice, comfortable, with beautiful views. The food was delicious, with generous portions.

Our game drives here were not as game-rich as other camps. That said, elephants were in and around the camp throughout the day at close range, even walking below the treehouses. So great to see their interactions up close, especially at the watering hole. Giraffes were especially plentiful during the drives, more than anywhere else, which was really special. We loved our guide Jacob who was happy to answer our questions about him, his family, the Samburu way of life, the area, the animals, etc. Nice sense of humor, too!

This camp provided more of a cultural experience than our other three camps which we loved. We'd highly recommend joining the small group of Samburu women who visited and demonstrated their beading skills as they made each of us a lovely, simple bracelet. We had a wonderful exchange, trading questions through interpreter Rahab (the asst camp mgr) who is also from the Samburu tribe. So interesting. There's a small charge which goes to the women and the village.

Also highly recommend visiting a Samburu village - we were lucky to visit during a wedding. Note 1: please no pictures, at least during a wedding party. Note 2: Unlike Maasai villagers, the Samburu people do not sell their wares at the villages but there is a small shop of local crafts at the camp.

The Singing Wells excursion was unlike anything we've seen before, and so interesting. Don't miss it.

The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is also a must-see, even if you've been to Sheldrick in Nairobi. They're doing such important work and their passion for it is lovely to see. And the babies are adorable and funny to watch.

We'd definitely come back here!" See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya

"Very good throughout." See all these reviews: 16n in Kenya

"What a lovely place! The natural beauty of your surroundings are the first impact that greets you.

There is a natural empathy with the design of the main common area and the tents to their surrounds. And even the exhausting 60 odd steps up and down from the tents….leaving this 82 year old biddy panting!…. were worth the total adventure.

Our host Phillip dressed in Masai traditional costume added a sense of of place, current and past. Our Guide and Ranger accompanied us on difficult game drives in search of animals that had vanished due to the serious draught.

We saw elephants and giraffes, but none of the large cats. Though we heard them at night prowling the area under our tents." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"Philip (the manager) was a great host and we enjoyed our meals and discussions with him. The guide was knowledgable and friendly, and every night drive included a spotlight for viewing nocturnal creatures.

The activities were excellent: we enjoyed beading with the local women, and also the trip to the singing wells. We also enjoyed the two hikes we were able to do - a silver lining of the very dry and sparse vegetation. We very much enjoyed the elephant sanctuary visit, too: there were a lot of "orphans" of different species, which we got to see up close.

The game viewing was fine, but the landscape is different (much drier) from the Masai Mara and so the density (flora and fauna) is much lower. The landscape is beautiful! We recommend this site for the combination of game viewing, the activities, and the unique setting.

The food was excellent, and this site did an excellent job with their vegan options and accommodating the wide range of dietary preferences in our group." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya; 6n in Rwanda

"Perched on a rocky outcrop at the foot of the Matthews Range, Sarara Treehouses offers something different from the standard safari experience - and that isn't just the opportunity to see an elephant from above.

The design of the camp is spectacular - you start at the top of the hill, at the splendid thatched dining area, then make your way down past the small but welcome pool to the elevated walkway out to the rooms. Perched on stilts in the forest, every room is located just above elephant-height. The local tuskers are regular visitors to the camp's watering hole, so there's every chance of spotting a trunk waving around below your feet as you walk around.

The two Sarara camps are owned and run by the local community, who also manage the conservancy where they nestle; the trustees are the Samburu elders; and a stay here isn't just about Kenya's wildlife, it's also about meeting Kenyans and experiencing the local culture. It's far from being an awkward "cultural experience", however; because your guide and the staff are all members of that local community they're able to introduce you to it in a way that feels very natural. Nothing feels like it's a show put on for tourists. Our guide, Peter, was very aware of the importance of conservation and tourism in enabling the Samburu way of life to continue. If that sounds a bit worthy don't worry - you will find you learn a lot, but in the context of talking about wildlife, your lives, families and life in general. Peter and our genial spotter/man with the rifle, John, were great company.

The experience here is, to be fair, less about big game (apart from the elephants!) and more about the natural world in general. Both drives and walks are on offer, the walks perhaps more rewarding. If you feel like you've been getting fed too much cake then the hike up the mountain is definitely recommended!" See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

"Mike and his team make you feel part of the family - they think of every way of making sure you get the most out of every moment here. The whole place has a special atmosphere, and is a perfect base to head out on walks into the mountains. We were lucky - there was an unexpected storm whilst we were there, and we got to see the transformation the landscape went though in just 24 hours. Sleeping amongst the trees was a perfect contrast to the wide open vistas we experienced at the neighbouring Sarara camp. We would definitely visit both again." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"Wow, the Samburu people and the Bastards have created the MOST wonderful new camp, truly not-to-be-missed. The hillside setting for the main lodge is backed by the Mathew Range, which you can enjoy gazing up at while floating in the pool, and yet I never could spot the lodge while we out on a game drive. The treehouses are set below the hill, accessed from a raised walkway that takes you by magnificent, huge old trees and under which elephants and other wildlife can pass at night. But you won't probably won't hear any of the happening t because you are going to be so cozy and blissed out by the quiet and dark that you will be deeply asleep.

Robert, our guide, was a total delight and expert in all things natural. On our last morning we scarcely had climbed into the safari truck before he and John, our Namunyak ranger, spotted a pack of wild dogs hunting for breakfast. We waited while they zoomed in and out of sight, until suddenly popping out of the brush right in front of us. Unforgettable!" See all these reviews: 18n in Kenya