Samburu, Kenya, Samburu, Kenya9/20 Plane landed in Samburu around 11:00 at the Kalonld Airstrip, which is on the opposite side of the Samburu National Park from the Lodge we will be staying.
Michael (Guide/Driver) & Jonathan (Spotter/Samburu warrier) from the Sasaab Lodge were there to greet us.
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GAME DRIVE from the airport through the Samburu National Park on way to Sasaab Lodge for about two hours. Another great guide explaining and showing us so many new things.
--Grevy Zebra - Their black/white stripes are much narrower than those of the plains zebra. The horizontal stripes on the legs are all the way down to the hooves. A wide black stripe along the back is very distinctive and is bordered by white on the rump. The ears are white-tipped.
--Weaver bird nests - look like Christmas ball decorations in the trees
--Doum Palm tree - unique branching; quite unlike our palms in Florida that do not branch
--Blue Hawk eating a snake--our first "kill"!
--Gerenuk - so weird to see these long-neck antelope standing on two legs to eat the leaves on the trees
--Reticulated Giraffe - in Kenya only found in northern part.
There are 8 giraffe subspecies; reticulated are the most distinctive with the big blocks resembling a net
--Oxpecker birds on the animals eating the bugs
--Oryx - such beautiful face markings and horns!
--Secretary bird - the long quill-like feathers on its head look like quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear
--Elephants - right next to the road; can't believe how they ignore the truck allowing us to get so close
--Lion - Lois' first sighting; didn't even move with the truck right next to it. Because it's so hot here, male lions do not have big manes.
Other sightings: Dikdik, Red-Billed Hornbill bird; Ostrichs all in a line; Grant Gazelle; Tawny Eagle; Dark Chanting Goshawk, Guineafowl, Python about 15-feet, Olive Baboons, Velvet Monkeys, Yellow Neck Spurfowl, Blue Heron, Egyptian Goose, Warthog, Hippo
--Weaver bird nests - look like Christmas ball decorations in the trees
--Doum Palm tree - unique branching; quite unlike our palms in Florida that do not branch
--Blue Hawk eating a snake--our first "kill"!
--Gerenuk - so weird to see these long-neck antelope standing on two legs to eat the leaves on the trees
--Reticulated Giraffe - in Kenya only found in northern part.
There are 8 giraffe subspecies; reticulated are the most distinctive with the big blocks resembling a net
--Oxpecker birds on the animals eating the bugs
--Oryx - such beautiful face markings and horns!
--Secretary bird - the long quill-like feathers on its head look like quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear
--Elephants - right next to the road; can't believe how they ignore the truck allowing us to get so close
--Lion - Lois' first sighting; didn't even move with the truck right next to it. Because it's so hot here, male lions do not have big manes.
Other sightings: Dikdik, Red-Billed Hornbill bird; Ostrichs all in a line; Grant Gazelle; Tawny Eagle; Dark Chanting Goshawk, Guineafowl, Python about 15-feet, Olive Baboons, Velvet Monkeys, Yellow Neck Spurfowl, Blue Heron, Egyptian Goose, Warthog, Hippo
Very hot by noon; headed to the lodge for lunch.
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SASAAB LODGE - What a JAW-DROPPING place!!
What a sensational lodge in the northern part of Kenya nestled on the hillside above the scenic Ewaso Nyiro River.
Very difficult to describe this wondrous facility and its fantastic staff and food.
The mammoth size of the lodge's dining and lounge area with no front or back walls makes you feel like you're outside all the time.
Staff: Ivan and Jessica, the managers during our stay here, were so organized and personable. How they kept track of people constantly coming and going and scheduling their activities was mind-blowing. The staff can't do enough to accommodate your every need!
We wanted to stay in places that give back to the local community, and Sasaab is part of the conservancy that was established in 2004 to preserve the endangered animals and supports the Samburu culture assisting in their conservation and education efforts.
What a sensational lodge in the northern part of Kenya nestled on the hillside above the scenic Ewaso Nyiro River.
Very difficult to describe this wondrous facility and its fantastic staff and food.
The mammoth size of the lodge's dining and lounge area with no front or back walls makes you feel like you're outside all the time.
Staff: Ivan and Jessica, the managers during our stay here, were so organized and personable. How they kept track of people constantly coming and going and scheduling their activities was mind-blowing. The staff can't do enough to accommodate your every need!
We wanted to stay in places that give back to the local community, and Sasaab is part of the conservancy that was established in 2004 to preserve the endangered animals and supports the Samburu culture assisting in their conservation and education efforts.
Rooms: The nine rooms scattered along the hillside totally blend in with the landscape and have complete privacy.
We were in Room #2, which was a somewhat long, steep walk down to the edge of cliff over the river. Definitely worth the walk to be right over the Ewaso Nyiro River, especially when the monkeys came down to play right across from us. This is the most unique place with its multi-level building including a bedroom and bathroom on first level and the shower, sitting area, veranda, plunge pool on different levels.
The bedroom area can be sealed off and is so cozy with the four-poster bed wrapped in netting. The other areas are all open to the outside. Took a little getting used to showering in the open air! Having a bird join you at the sink is definitely living with nature.
What a treat having having a private Plunge Pool. It was very, very cold but quite refreshing after a hot game drive. Didn't stay in very long though.
We were in Room #2, which was a somewhat long, steep walk down to the edge of cliff over the river. Definitely worth the walk to be right over the Ewaso Nyiro River, especially when the monkeys came down to play right across from us. This is the most unique place with its multi-level building including a bedroom and bathroom on first level and the shower, sitting area, veranda, plunge pool on different levels.
The bedroom area can be sealed off and is so cozy with the four-poster bed wrapped in netting. The other areas are all open to the outside. Took a little getting used to showering in the open air! Having a bird join you at the sink is definitely living with nature.
What a treat having having a private Plunge Pool. It was very, very cold but quite refreshing after a hot game drive. Didn't stay in very long though.
Daily Routine: Wakeup call at time you chose (we always went out early).
Someone came to the hut for wakup with a tray of coffee, hot chocolate, biscuit/cookies was brought to your room. Talk about getting spoiled!
-Breakfast at camp or in the bush.
-Early morning game drive until about 1:00; it's very hot by then.
-Lunch always a good variety. lots of fresh veggies and salads. Could eat whenever ready.
-4:30 activity of your choice (we did a sundowner, camel walk, and village visit).
-Dinner around 8:00. Amazing quality and variety of food! The mix of people from different countries made for fun, interesting conversations plus lots of laughs.
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Someone came to the hut for wakup with a tray of coffee, hot chocolate, biscuit/cookies was brought to your room. Talk about getting spoiled!
-Breakfast at camp or in the bush.
-Early morning game drive until about 1:00; it's very hot by then.
-Lunch always a good variety. lots of fresh veggies and salads. Could eat whenever ready.
-4:30 activity of your choice (we did a sundowner, camel walk, and village visit).
-Dinner around 8:00. Amazing quality and variety of food! The mix of people from different countries made for fun, interesting conversations plus lots of laughs.
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Today's Lunch included beets, which we tried as children and didn't like. Don't know what they did to these beets; Lois couldn't stop eating them. Such superb food! Interesting group of people--Ivan and Jessica, the managers, young couple from San Francisco, mother and son from Australia, Russian couple.
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SUNDOWNER: On the drive, saw Verreaux Eagle, Owl, Yellow-Necked Spur Fowl, Bushbaby in tree.
Walked to the top of "Sundowner Hill" with incredible views where Michael and Johnathan made a fire and cooked pork sausages--so good! Too many low clouds for a good sunset.
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Back to the lodge for appetizers/drinks. Then dinner at 8 pm--lamb kebabs.
Lots of laughs and interesting conversation.
The attack on the big mall in Nairobi happened yesterday. Kenya relies on tourism so there is concern that this will deter people coming here. These safari areas are remote and very well protected. We always felt perfectly safe and would absolutely come again. Even the airport is far from downtown Nairobi with armed guards everywhere.
Lots of laughs and interesting conversation.
The attack on the big mall in Nairobi happened yesterday. Kenya relies on tourism so there is concern that this will deter people coming here. These safari areas are remote and very well protected. We always felt perfectly safe and would absolutely come again. Even the airport is far from downtown Nairobi with armed guards everywhere.
2025-05-22