Northern Kenya Culture and Coast

Sarara has established itself as one of the ‘hot spots’ for quality leopard viewing in Africa, along with close-up sightings of the normally extremely shy lesser kudu antelope. African wild dogs are frequently encountered in the Sarara valley too, with elephant, buffalo, giraffe, gerenuk, impala and warthogs regularly seen on game drives, bush walks, camel and horse rides. Other unusual sightings include striped hyena, aardwolf, civet cat, African wild cat, greater kudu, grevy zebra and cheetah.

It's also the only place in the world where you can witness Samburu warriors bringing their cattle to the dry river bed near our camp. The warriors begin to dig deep wells which will provide drinking water for their cattle while singing a unique song that draws each warrior's cattle to their own well.

If you are staying for several nights, you might want to spend one of those evenings under the stars, sleeping in your own mosquito-netting tent in the middle of a dry river bed, watching the stars in the clear sky above you and listening to the sounds of the leopards ‘sawing’ around you.

Visit the wonderful Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, located in the Namunyak Wildlife. Opening in 2016 as the first community owned elephant orphanage in Africa, the project rescues, cares for and rereleases orphaned and abandoned elephant calves whilst creating much needed benefits to the local people that live alongside them, part of expanding grassroots movement of community-driven conservation across northern Kenya.

All the keepers are from the local community and are formally trained in the care, rehabilitation and release of elephant calves. The project is supported by the Kenya Wildlife Service and international partners including Northern Rangelands Trust, San Diego Zoo, Conservation International, Tusk Trust, The Nature Conservancy and Save the Elephants.

Visit one of the neighbouring villages to gain an insight into the culture of the Samburu people and how they survive in this harsh environment. A humbling and inspiring experience.

Spend your first night under the night sky in a Star Bed before spending the next two nights at the Tented Camp. Loisaba is a wonderful example of successful collaboration between conservation, communities and tourism, and the ranch is home to many elephant, a healthy population of lion, the rare wild dog and an abundance of other species. A myriad of activities to experience the wildlife and landscape are on offer, such as day and night game drives aboard a fleet of custom Land Rovers, horse riding, camel trekking, guided bush walks, fishing, mountain biking, cultural visits to Samburu villages and visits to the anti-poaching sniffer dogs.

Game drives are the perfect way to view the wildlife at Loisaba. Head out in the early morning or late afternoon and your knowledgeable guide will introduce you to the inhabitants of the plains, bush and river's edge. In addition to game, you'll also learn about birds, plants and trees.

Spend an afternoon down at the nearby traditional Maasai village for an authentic cultural experience. It's a great way to learn about how the Maasai people live. Admire their intricate beadwork, and enjoy a traditional dance performance.

Set out on foot accompanied by a traditional Samburu guide to discover the stunning diversity of Loisaba. They will share their knowledge of the local flora, fauna and cultures with you.

Sitting idyllically off the coast in aqua marine Indian Ocean waters, a string of pristine islands and islets including the four main islands of Lamu, Manda, Pate and Kiwayu offer an unspoilt and hushed up slice of Kenyan coast.

Relaxed islanders enjoy vast stretches of soft sand here, while stepping off Kiwayu provides wonderful snorkelling among coral reefs and Manda plays host to a number of water sports from sailing to deep sea fishing. What’s more, the islands are steeped in history with Lamu’s Old Town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A historic trading post rooted in its Swahili past, its boasts charming Lamu boasts a wealth of age-old sites and a unique fusion of Swahili, Arabic, Persian, Indian and European building styles. Narrow, non-motorized streets can lead to an impressive mosque or the nineteenth century fort, while the rhythm of island life can be soaked up at the bustling waterfront, donkey, dhow or foot being the main mode of transport.

Soak up the sun and relax like the islanders do down on the beach or at the bustling waterfront. The area is popular for snorkeling among coral reefs and a number of water sports from sailing to deep sea fishing.