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Tented Camp · Samburu, Kenya
Sasaab Lodge
A Moroccan dream perched above Kenya's wildest river, where the Samburu Special Five roam free.
Kenya’s Northern Frontier District is a place that time has treated differently — a vast, heat-shimmered wilderness of volcanic rock, acacia scrubland and dry riverbeds that stretches from Samburu to the country’s northernmost borders, where the world feels ancient and the wildlife is unlike anywhere else on the continent. It is here, perched on a rocky ridgeline above the Ewaso Nyiro River, that Sasaab Lodge has made its home.
Sasaab Lodge
Named after a local white-flowering shrub — Sasaab in the Samburu tongue — this extraordinary lodge was born in 2007 from a vision as purposeful as the landscape: to create a community tourism project that would protect and preserve this remote wilderness for generations to come. The Carr-Hartley family built it high above the river, safe from seasonal flooding, and oriented it west to capture the full theatre of Samburu light — morning gold on the Laikipia Plateau, the river’s silver thread below, and the distant silhouette of the Mathews Range turning purple at dusk.
The architecture is Sasaab’s first revelation: a grand Moroccan-inspired main lodge of high thatched roofs, Arabic arches, whitewashed stone floors and Swahili-style wooden details, opening onto sweeping views of the river and plains. Nine open-plan tented suites — each over 100 square metres — are strung along the ridgeline, each with its own private plunge pool, west-facing veranda and a rooftop sleeping platform for those who wish to fall asleep under the equatorial stars.
But Sasaab’s deepest distinction is its freedom. Located just outside Samburu National Reserve within the private Westgate Community Conservancy, the lodge enjoys privileges no park-based property can offer: game drives that venture off-road and stay out after dark, guided walks along the river, camel safaris on ancient Samburu trade routes, quad biking across volcanic terrain, and helicopter adventures to some of Africa’s most remote and spectacular landscapes — the Suguta Valley, Lake Turkana, the painted gorges of the north. A lodge for the traveller who wants the wild on its own terms.
Nine Moroccan-inspired luxury suites with private plunge pools, perched on a ridgeline above the Ewaso Nyiro River in Kenya's Northern Frontier — with night drives, rooftop star beds and helicopter adventures.
Why Stay Here
- Exclusive location in Westgate Community Conservancy — no park restrictions, full off-road and night drive freedom
- Nine spacious suites (100+ sqm each), all with private plunge pools and west-facing river views
- Rooftop star beds — sleep under the open equatorial sky with the Ewaso Nyiro River below
- Samburu Special Five territory: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, Gerenuk and Somali ostrich
- Helicopter adventures to the Suguta Valley, Lake Turkana and the Mathews Range
- Camel safaris, quad biking and fly camping — the most adventurous activity menu in Kenya's north
- Moroccan-inspired architecture — the most distinctive lodge aesthetic in East Africa
Our Commitment to Conservation
Sasaab holds the Global Ecosphere Retreat® certification from The Long Run — one of the world's most rigorous sustainability benchmarks, balancing conservation, community, culture and commerce. The lodge has reduced single-use plastic waste by 85% through a reusable water bottle programme, operates a kitchen garden fed by recycled shower water, and channels conservancy fees directly into Samburu c
Rooms & Accommodation
Sasaab’s nine suites are designed for a particular kind of luxury — one that does not separate you from the landscape but draws it closer. Each is positioned well apart from its neighbours along the ridgeline, ensuring complete privacy, and each faces west across the Ewaso Nyiro River towards the open plains and the distant Mathews Range. The open-walled design — canvas sides that can be lowered as the evening cools — means that the air, the light and the sounds of the Northern Frontier are constant companions.
Inside, the aesthetic is Moroccan with unmistakable East African soul: a four-poster Zanzibari bed hung with fine linens, low Moroccan-style seating in rich jewel tones, Arabic lanterns, a writing desk stocked with a sketch pad and watercolour paints, and a coolbox. The en-suite bathroom is a separate room — flush toilet, twin washbasins, shower — with an open-air outdoor shower that faces the bush. Step outside to your private plunge pool on the veranda and you have the river below and the whole of Samburu ahead of you. At night, climb the ladder to the rooftop star bed and surrender entirely to the sky.
Luxury Suite
Open-plan tented suite perched on the ridgeline above the Ewaso Nyiro River. Features a four-poster Zanzibari bed, private plunge pool, west-facing veranda, open-air outdoor shower, indoor en-suite bathroom, lounge area, writing desk, sketch pad and watercolour paints. The open-walled Moroccan design invites the landscape in on all sides.
Family Suite
Two en-suite bedrooms — one double, one twin — connected by a shared lounge and sharing a private plunge pool on a west-facing veranda. Ideal for families or two couples. Children over 6 years welcome; babysitters available
Star Bed (Rooftop)
Sasaab's signature experience: a rooftop sleeping platform above your suite, with a bed positioned under the open sky for sleeping beneath the stars. Available on clear nights as an optional upgrade to any Luxury Suite. Unforgettable and utterly private.
Experiences & Activities
Every moment at Sasaab Lodge is crafted to immerse you deeper in the wild.
Game Drives
Descend from the ridgeline into some of Kenya's most rewarding wildlife terrain. Game drives operate in both Samburu National Reserve and the private Westgate Community Conservancy, where the freedom of a private concession allows greater flexibility — including the ability to venture off-road, stop
Night Game Drives
One of Sasaab's most coveted privileges. After dark, the Northern Frontier District reveals its nocturnal cast — serval, aardvark, porcupine, genet and the restless Grevy's zebra. Night drives require prior approval from the lodge manager; book on arrival.
Camel Safaris
Follow ancient Samburu trade routes on camelback through the semi-arid scrubland of the Northern Frontier. A camel safari is a profoundly slow and quiet way to move through the landscape — perfect for wildlife encounters that a vehicle would disturb.
Dining
Sasaab’s kitchen wears its Moroccan influence openly and deliciously. The mess tent — a souk of low tables, colourful cushions, Arabic lanterns and the fragrance of spiced cooking — is where meals become occasions: relaxed, convivial and deeply flavoured. Cuisine draws on the finest fresh local ingredients, interpreted through a lens of North African warmth — tagine-style braises, spiced grain salads, slow-cooked meats and vivid vegetable dishes that make vegetarians genuinely welcome rather than merely accommodated.
Meals shift location throughout the day. Breakfast arrives at your tent; a bush coffee stop punctuates the morning game drive; brunch is served in the mess or on the terrace above the river. Sundowners happen out in the conservancy — on a rocky kopje or along the river bank — with the sky performing above and the sounds of the north rising from the plains below. Dinner under the stars beside a bush fire is available on request and remains one of the most talked-about evenings guests take home from Kenya.
The bar stocks a thoughtful selection of spirits, wines and soft drinks; champagne and specialist imported wines are available at additional cost. All meals and most drinks are included in the full board rate.
Gallery
Best Time to Visit
Sasaab’s position in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District makes it a near year-round destination — the warm, semi-arid climate of Samburu is more consistent than southern Kenya’s, and wildlife viewing in the Westgate Conservancy and Samburu Reserve is reliable across all open months. The lodge closes for two weeks in November for annual maintenance.
The dry season from June through October is the prime game viewing window. Vegetation thins, the Ewaso Nyiro River contracts to its permanent channel and wildlife concentrates along its banks in extraordinary numbers. Elephant herds gather at the water’s edge in the late afternoon — sometimes visible from the lodge itself — and the Samburu Special Five are at their most accessible. July through September sees peak visitor numbers for good reason: this is Samburu at its finest, with clear skies, excellent light for photography and predator activity at its year-round high.
January and February offer a compelling alternative to the peak season: the short dry season following the short rains brings superb visibility, warm temperatures and lighter tourist numbers than the July–October window. Birding is exceptional — migratory species from Europe and northern Africa are still present, joining Samburu’s resident 365 species.
December, between the short rains and the long dry season, is one of Sasaab’s most atmospheric months — the bush has greened just enough to be beautiful without compromising game viewing, and the festive season atmosphere at the lodge is genuinely special. June rounds out the recommended months as the long rains taper off and the landscape dries into prime wildlife territory.
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Rates & Seasons
Rates are per person per night and inclusive of accommodation and meals as specified. All rates in USD.
| Season | Per Person Sharing | Single Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Jul-Oct (High Season) | $1,100 | $500 |
| Aug-Sept, Dec, Christmas New Year (Peak Season) | $1,400 | $650 |
| Jan-March, June (Mid Season) | $800 | $350 |
| Apr-May (Green Season) | $600 | $280 |
* Rates subject to change. Conservation fees may apply. Please enquire for current availability.
Location & Getting Here
Destination
Samburu, Kenya
Conservation Area
Westgate Community Conservancy
Nearest Airstrip
Sasaab Private Airstrip (on-site) or Samburu Airstrip
Transfer Time
60–75 min by scheduled or charter flight from Wilson Airport, Nairobi. 10–15 min game drive from Sasaab's
Getting Here
Daily scheduled flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport (WIL) to Samburu with Safarilink and AirKenya. Charter direct to Sasaab's private airstrip available from JKIA or Wilson. Road transfer from Nairobi takes approximately 4–5 hours via the Nanyuki–Isiolo highway — a scenic alternative for those combining Laikipia with Samburu. Sasaab is located in Westgate Conservancy on the Ngutuk
Safaris That Include This Lodge
Explore handcrafted itineraries where Sasaab Lodge forms part of the journey.
