Sarara means “meeting place” in the Samburu language. Here, the mountains meet the desert, providing vital water sources to the indigenous people and the wild creatures that inhabit the land—elephants, leopards, giraffes, and dik-dik, to name a few. Near camp, an ancient watering site known as the singing wells draws Samburu families, who meet during the dry season to dig wells for their cattle. Sarara Camp represents a collaborative venture with the local community, and the Samburu are an integral part of daily life here, serving as guides on game drives, bush walks, and village visits. And when you’re not exploring the bush with these knowledgeable guides, the lodge beckons with its infinity pool and cozy terraces, where you can gaze out at the great amphitheater of the Mathews and soak up the timeless beauty of East Africa.

Sarara is perfect for people who enjoy walking and the most popular activities here take place on foot, or with the assistance of camels. That said, day and night drives are on offer as well, and the game viewing here can be good. Bush dinners in the river bed, village visits (US$10 donation per person paid to the camp) and visits to the singing wells (no photos, unfortunately) are also organised; each party of guests gets their own vehicle and guide. At the singing wells, it’s not the wells that do the singing, but local people, who assemble to form a human chain to collect water from the deep wells and sing to keep their spirits up and their rhythm constant under the hot sun.

Sarara Camp has six en-suite luxury tents, each positioned to maximise the stunning views of the Matthews Range of mountains and the animal watering hole. Each tent is spacious with high ceilings and plenty of cupboard space, electric lighting, flush loo and 24-hour hot and cold running water and an outdoor shower.

Sarara has an infinity pool up on the cliff overlooking the animals below. The camp is powered by solar energy generated by several sets of solar panels. Fresh food is kept, not in a refrigerator, but in a specially designed charcoal store. Twice a day the charcoal is soaked with water and evaporation keeps food at cellar temperatures.

All water is fresh, pure mountain spring water – no pumps required. Bottles/glass/plastic/tins are all removed from Sarara and recycled. Solar panels run all freezers etc. Minimal chlorine is used in the pool.

In addition to offering guests an unforgettable wilderness experience, Sarara serves as a shining example of how community conservation can work. The lodge is one of six ranches within the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, whose lands are owned and managed by the Samburu community—made up of approximately 1,200 registered families. Sarara provides an essential source of revenue for the local community, with its conservancy and land lease fees paid directly to the Trust, which in turn disperses funds throughout the community to support women’s groups, scholarships for local students, and anti-poaching operations. And the Samburu are intimately involved in day-to-day operations at the camp, working as bush guides, drivers, cooks, and housekeepers.

The focus on sustainability infuses every aspect of Sarara, from the solar panels that produce the camp’s electricity to the charcoal store refrigerator that utilizes water evaporation to keep food at cellar temperatures. Fresh spring water is gravity-fed from the mountains—no pumps required—and then passed through a UV-filtration system. Organic produce is harvested from the kitchen garden, and other produce and meat are sourced from local farmers. Recycling is routine, biodegradable soaps and detergents are used, and the camp itself is constructed of naturally fallen trees and local stone.

• Guided Game Drives - Day & Night
• Visit to the Singing Wells
• Bird Watching
• Walking foot safaris
• Samburu homestead visit
• Climb to the Mathew's Range - 8000ft up the skies
• Day trip to the ‘sacred mountain’ of Ololokwe
• Scenic helicopter trips to Mt. Ololokwe
• Trout fishing
• Lake Turkana overnight fly camping
• Sarara bush pony horse-back safari