Saruni Mara Camp,Masai Mara-Kenya
Nestled into the hills of northern Mara North Conservancy, overlooking a gorge populated by elephant and buffalo Saruni Mara is a deluxe and intimate Camp with wide-open game plains to the south and forest to the north. Therefore clients have the opportunity to walk in lush forest looking for Colobus and Sykes monkeys, as well as following the big game on the plains below
With accommodation for only 12 guests in six spectacular cottages, Saruni Mara is set in a remote valley in the heart of the most exciting wilderness of Kenya. Saruni Mara offers a new concept of safari: a real African adventure experienced in harmony with Maasai warriors and coupled with high standards of style and comfort. The Camp rooms are furnished with colonial antiques, Persian carpets and African art. The atmosphere of the camp is informal but elegant.
Each of the Saruni Mara cottage has hot and cold running water, 220-volt electricity, elegant Italian bathroom fittings, polished wooden floors, and large bathrooms with canvas fronts that can be opened to offer you an amazing "shower with a view". Décor is unique to each cottage and from the large verandas one can enjoy a unique view of the Mara plains and watch the many wild animals that come to the nearby waterhole. The camp offers its own private spa treatment centre, the “Masai Well-Being Space”.
Safari Activities at Saruni Mara Lodge
- Day & Night Game drives
- Guided Bush Walks
- Bush Meals
- Sundowners
- Masai Well-being Space (Massage and Spa Treatments)
- Library
- Drawing Safaris, led by a Professional Artist (book in advance)
- Warrior for a week programme
- Shop
Access:Getting To Saruni Mara Lodge In Masai Mara Kenya
Ngerende airstrip – 1 hour drive from the lodge.
- Three times daily in high season and Twice daily in low season - Air Kenya flights to the Masai Mara departing Nairobi Wilson at 09h15, 12h15 and 15h15.
- Twice daily scheduled Safarilink flights departing Nairobi Wilson at 10h00 and 15h00
- Twice daily scheduled Fly 540 flight departing Wilson at 10h00 & 15h00
- Once daily scheduled Air Kenya flight from Samburu / Lewa at 08h30 and Nanyuki at 09h15
- Once daily scheduled Safarilink flight from Shaba at 09h10, Samburu / Lewa at 09h30 and Nanyuki at 09h45
- Once daily scheduled Mombasa Air flight departing Mombasa at 07h30 and Amboseli at 09h15
- Private charter from anywhere
Malaria:minimal malarial risk. Those higher than approximately 4000 ft including Saruni can be considered malaria free
Communication Services:
- Internet: The Saruni WiFi system provides 24-hour wireless connectivity (through a direct satellite link) to all cottages within camp. There is also a laptop computer available for use in the library.
- Mobile phones: Phone signal is available at all times (Celtel and Safaricom).
Additional Information
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Saruni has established a women’s group, whose members come from the local community. The ladies are allowed to sell their artefacts directly in the Saruni shop, and the lodge makes sure that the group remains in charge of the income generated by this activity.
Saruni also supports the Kibera Paper project. Kibera is a large slum in Nairobi, and many of the women who live there are HIV-affected single mothers. Their beautifully hand made cards are for sale in the Saruni shop.
More than 80% of Saruni’s 45 employees are Maasai from the local communities. They are given training and jobs, and encouraged to rise through the ranks, so that the local communities can have direct benefit from the lodge’s presence in the area. Saruni also sponsors young Maasai to train as guides at the Koiyaki Guiding School, to make sure that the future generations of conservationists and safari guides will see the Maasai people in the forefront.
Saruni pay park fees directly to the 50 owners of the land around Saruni, and to the Koiyaki landowners, making sure that the money does go to the true owners of the land.
The lodge protects the Northern corridors of the Masai Mara eco-system, around the Lemek-Ngoswani area, with community rangers paid by Saruni.
Saruni have invested significant amounts of money to produce electricity through solar panels, instead of burning firewood. The lodge also heats its water with solar technology.
KEY WILDLIFE & SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE AREA
- Unique location next to the only remaining indigenous forest in the Masai Mara, with a private concession of 10,000 acres and large local populations of elephant, buffalo, leopard, waterbuck, bushbuck.
- Forest walks and night game drives, frequent bush dinners.
- The only population of Sykes and Colobus monkeys in the Mara.
- Interaction with more remote Masai communities giving a lively and unspoilt community interaction.
- Game drives and walks in the concession: total exclusivity of the area, without any other vehicles.
