Sarara Reteti House
Location
In this network of lush mountain slopes, savanna grasslands and riverine forests, you’ll find Kenya’s second-largest elephant population, along with Grévy's zebra, leopard, wild dog, and the endangered reticulated giraffe.
Its position is breathtaking, but there’s another reason for coming here too: the inspirational Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is just 10 minutes’ walk away.
Sarara Reteti House has sister properties within the conservancy: Sarara Camp and Sarara Treehouses .
Enhancing rather than attempting to compete with the vista, expansive, light-filled inside spaces are furnished and decorated with earthy tones, golden timber, thatch and local artisanal pieces.
The communal open-sided lodge space is a dreamy, cool and airy space, with a lofted thatched roof from which rustic copper and basketry light pendants dangle. Daybeds, loungers and sofas are in plentiful supply. The terrace has those stupendous views, made all the better for its other desirable feature: a curvaceous swimming pool that’s got to be one of the most photogenic we’ve come across.
Meals and sundowner drinks here are small-scale communal and convivial affairs, and they include a few non-human guests. Why? Because just yards away downslope is the waterhole of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, a magnet for wildlife, particularly as the day cools.
- After taking in the activities going on at the elephant sanctuary from its viewing platform, you’ll pair up with a keeper, watch feeding and mudhole playtime, then have a behind-the-scenes tour.
- Take a walk to Elephant Rock, a striking and sympathetic piece of modern rock art painted by French graffiti artist Youri Cansell.
- Daily safari adventures through the conservancy will be rewarded with frequent sightings of African wild dogs, striped hyenas, aardwolves, greater and lesser kudu, African wild cats, cheetahs and, of course, elephants.
- At night, it’s time for the leopards. This is a hotspot for sightings, with a particularly high success rate when the safari vehicles head out after dark.
- Visit a Samburu village to learn about their semi-nomadic lifestyle, try your hand at beadwork and witness the late afternoon ritual of the singing wells.
- With an expert Samburu custodian of the land, a naturalist guide thanks to their way of life, walk through the Mathews Range while learning about flora and fauna close up.
- Fancy dispensing with the comforts? A night of fly camping, perhaps transferring by helicopter to Mount Orka, could be your thing.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
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