Sasaab — Local services in Wamba West ward

Sasaab highlighted the best of the park and helped us access the best definition of Samburu possible.

From panoramic views, amazing food, Night Safaris (an expedition to observe or locate animals in their natural environment), Walking Safaris, Camel Safaris, bush breakfasts, river crossings, extremely knowledgeable and skilled tour guides, Gabriel and Jacob, fantastic staff, we left with a deeper understanding of the Samburu culture and lifestyle and of course we got to see some of the special game up close... Seriously close (Ellie's, Reticulated Giraffe's, Grévy's Zebra's, Gerenuk Gazelle, Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, a Leopard-200m where we were walking). We had an abundance of cute Dik-dik's both Kirk's and Günther's all over the lodge as well as Rock Hyrax.

This trip was different to our other ones where we used to go where there is an abundance of game. We learnt to appreciate the topography more, and enjoy the space away from seeing a car in all horizons. We enjoyed the experience of authentically looking for game via footprints and foliage placements and exploring it during the night by car, and walking (Most reserves do not allow this due to safety from having abundance of dangerous animals around).

With regards to our experience whilst at the lodge, our room was beautiful. Each rooms designed as if they are in a corner of their own, we had our butler who was great. kept the drinks for my husband stocked at all time, and brought in our preferred drinks for wake up call and was just around the corner if needed. The interiors were stunning, bed and furnishing extremely comfortable. They had sun hats (I forgot mine at home), sunblock, blankets for warmth etc to make our stay as homely as possible.

There was a bit of issue with bug transcending on any light, however. as we had read about it for the time we were visiting (November 2020), we came mentally prepared and kept brighter lights away from us to divert the onslaught.

There was one issue with regards to Camel rides, which we read about on tripadvisor, strongly clarified with management before the activity as it had happened to one of the other guests with us, and still got slightly shafted during the activity when we couldn't do anything. It was once again turned around by their exceptional guide Gabriel. The Overall Management Team wrote back to apologise and we accepted. Regardless of that particular incident and the manager avoiding us since the incident, we still rate this a 5 star stay because it was really worth it.

It still feels a like an unreal experience. Shout out to the park, the teams and donors that preserve this beautiful, harsh, wild heaven and @thesafaricollection for making our visit...

We went to the world renown, The Safari Collection's Sasaab Lodge in Samburu! Read on for my experience...

Pros: Service is top notch! Room service, restaurant service is all on point! Guides, spotters and rangers are so knowledgeable and friendly.

Our tour guide Gabriel was very pleasant. We really enjoyed the ONLY Camel Safari experience available in Kenya as part of the Sasaab package.

The included sundowners on both days were absolutely breath taking. One on a high rock over looking the conservancy and the other by the river after a guided safari walk in the wild!

With multiple trips to Masaai Mara, Tsavo, Nakuru and other Kenyan parks, I saw a leopard up close for the first time! We also saw lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and many other animals. Game was good and ofcourse our tour guide was on a mission to have us see it all!

We had a lovely morning game drive and a full bush breakfast set up in the wild with fresh omelettes, pancakes and sausages cooked right there by our tour guide! Love that they are so well equipped with knowledge and skills!

And the views from the room were SO SPECTACULAR! The rooms are VERY pleasant during mornings with opportunity to enjoy the incredible views. However during the afternoons it gets VERY hot and cannot really relax on the verandah. Therefore Tip: enjoy drinks or breakfast in the room if you get the opportunity! The staff are more than willing to make you as comfortable as possible.

We enjoyed most of the meals and the kitchen staff are very accomodating to food needs.

Cons :( The room, despite all its fancy did not live up to expectations. Despite all the heat, the indoor pool was TOOOOO COLD to enjoy.

The bigger problem for me however was having to live with the bugs. The bathrooms are not fully closed off from the outside which invites gigantic flies into the bathroom during the day and lots of bugs get attracted to the lights at night. The bathroom is therefore rather unpleasant to use after dark. The rooms despite being closed off with nets are also are not entirely bug free... the tiny ones find their way in and even manage to get through the mosquito net into the bed area. Surely enjoying the wild does not mean we have to put up with bugs especially if we have bug-phobia. Not criticising the service though, the room staff tried their best to eliminate them, however with the current room design, only so much can be done.

Over all, we really did enjoy. The service and experiences offered at Sasaab all live up to the hype. With all my other Safari experiences, I most enjoyed the out door activities at Sasaab! Keep up the good work! Hope to visit...

Sasaab Lodge is located in the midst of the exceptionally grand landscapes and wildlife of Samburu, Kenya. The lodge itself is an exceptional property – very brightly appointed furnishings accompanied by spectacular relics representative of the local people and animals. The food and beverages were magnificent. The room stewards and food servers were brilliant and exceptionally friendly. But, hands-down, our guides Daniel & Mauricio, and Spotter/Tracker, Charles, carved out momentous games drives and other life-altering events for our family in our ‘way-too-short’ stay in Samburu.

Among the activities were: An impromptu visit to a local village (where they speak Maa- and only Maa!) where we [tried to] milk a goat, played ‘gesture-based games’ and sang with the children and women, and toured the inside of one village home. Breathtaking interactions with the villagers! A hand-cooked, 47-course breakfast (well, that might be a slight exaggeration) down on the river, mid-game-drive, with the elephants, giraffes, and baboons. Oh, did I mention that the guides happened to find us – not 1, not 2, but a pack of about 25 critically endangered wild dogs out on a hunt? We also loved finding the Somali Ostrich, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Reticulated giraffe, and Oryx. Somehow Daniel, Mauricio and Charles managed to arrange it so we were RIGHT THERE AMONGST them all! A camel ride and hike up Baboon Rock for a Sundowner complete with Gin and Tonics, Tuskers, and freshly cooked sausage snacks (“snake bites”). Remember dear reader, all of these supplies were carried up a rock mountain, then a fire was lit (in 30+ knot-winds), THEN the sausage was cooked UP ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel, Mauricio and Charles, while our family merely stood - with jaws dropped - viewing a 360-degree landscape of the Samburu.

“Ashoyling” to our new friends at Sasaab and Samburu. You were brilliant! We will never be able to repay your kindness. But we will be...