Reteti House, Samburu

An Exclusive-Use Safari Sanctuary in Northern Kenya

Reteti House stands as one of Kenya’s most compelling safari accommodations — a private, exclusive-use retreat where conservation, Samburu culture, and understated luxury converge in the wild heart of Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy.

Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop overlooking a busy elephant waterhole, this intimate safari home offers families and private groups an experience that few lodges in Africa can match: direct walking access to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the continent’s first community-owned and community-run elephant rescue centre.

🔘 Enquire Now

📊 Quick Information

🏠 Property Type — Exclusive-use safari house.
👥 Capacity — Up to 16 guests.
🛏️ Accommodation — 4 suites + family room + 2-room family suite.
🐘 Key Feature — 10-min walk to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.
⚡ Power — 100% solar with Tesla Powerwall.
💰 Rates From — US$7,500 per night for 1–6 guests.
📍 Location — Namunyak Conservancy, Mathews Range.
⭐ Rating — 4.9 · Guest reviews praise exclusivity and conservation.

🏡 A Private Safari Home in the Mathews Range

Reteti House is not a traditional safari lodge. It is an exclusive-use property, meaning one group at a time enjoys complete privacy across the entire house and its surroundings.

Located in the 850,000-acre Namunyak Community Conservancy at the foot of the Mathews Range, the house accommodates up to 16 guests across four standalone suites, an open-plan family room, and a two-room family suite with shared living space.

Built from natural stone and timber, with locally crafted furnishings and soft neutral textiles, each suite features a private terrace and solar-heated outdoor shower with sweeping views across the conservancy.

The centerpiece of the property is a spectacular open-air lounge and infinity pool that gazes down upon a permanent waterhole — elephants, baboons, and antelope regularly gather below, creating a constantly shifting theater of wildlife from the comfort of your sun lounger.

The house is 100% solar-powered, with Tesla Powerwall battery storage providing 24-hour electricity, and mountain spring water supplying the property.

🛏️ Exclusive-Use Safari Sanctuary

Reteti House offers complete privacy for one group at a time. The property features four standalone suites, an open-plan family room, and a two-room family suite with shared living space — accommodating up to 16 guests in total comfort.

✨ Each Suite Features

🌅 Private terrace with conservancy views.
🚿 Solar-heated outdoor shower.
🪵 Locally crafted furnishings and soft neutral textiles.
🏗️ Natural stone and timber construction.
⚡ 100% solar-powered with 24-hour electricity.
💧 Mountain spring water supply.

🐘 The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary Connection

The defining feature of Reteti House is its proximity to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, located just a 10-minute walk from the property.

No other accommodation in northern Kenya offers such intimate access to Africa’s first Indigenous community-owned elephant orphanage.

Guests enjoy exclusive morning access to the sanctuary’s feeding sessions, when orphaned elephant calves receive their milk and interact with their keepers.

This is not a passive viewing experience — it is an opportunity to witness conservation in action, to learn the stories of individual elephants, and to understand the complex work of rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual rewilding.

The sanctuary has rescued over 150 orphaned elephants since opening in 2016, with dozens successfully returned to the wild.

🐘 The Reteti Sanctuary Experience

Available exclusively to guests of Reteti House and sister Sarara properties, the experience extends beyond the morning feeding.

Guests can follow the elephants into the bush after their feed, accompanied by a Reteti keeper and guide, observing the herd in their natural surroundings while learning about the rehabilitation process. A bush meal is arranged in a secluded area, creating a deeply immersive and respectful encounter with these remarkable animals.

🦁 Wildlife and Safari Experiences

Namunyak Conservancy is a private community conservancy, not a national park, which means guests enjoy freedoms rarely available elsewhere: night game drives, guided walking safaris, off-road driving, and horseback safaris are all permitted.

The conservancy supports Kenya’s second-largest elephant population, along with significant populations of reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich — the iconic “Samburu Special Five”.

Predators including leopard, lion, cheetah, and wild dog roam the landscape, and the dramatic cliffs behind Reteti House are home to Egyptian vultures and klipspringers, with resident leopards occasionally sighted.

🎯 Activities Available

🚙 Day and night game drives.
🚶 Guided walking safaris.
🥾 Hiking in the montane forest of the Mathews Mountains.
🐘 Exclusive visits to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.
🐒 De Brazza monkey hike.
🏘️ Village visits and cultural experiences.
🐎 Horseback safaris (advance booking required).

🎭 Samburu Culture and Community

Samburu culture is not an add-on at Reteti House — it is woven into the fabric of the experience. The lodge is Samburu-owned and operated, with guides and hosts who share their deep knowledge of the land, wildlife, and traditions with genuine warmth.

Guests are welcomed as friends, invited to visit homesteads, learn traditional skills, and hear stories around the evening fire.

The Singing Wells — where Samburu warriors perform ritual songs passed down through generations — offer a glimpse into living traditions that have shaped this landscape for centuries.

Your stay directly supports the Sarara Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Sarara properties, which funds healthcare, education, and conservation initiatives across the conservancy.

💰 Reteti House Rates Per Night

Rates in US$ for Exclusive Use

🌙 Minimum Stay: 3 Nights

🌍 Rates

🟢 Regular Season

🏠 Exclusive Use (up to 6 guests) — $7,500
👤 Extra Adult — $1,250
👨‍👩‍👧 Extra Child (5–15 Years) — $640
🐘 Reteti Compulsory Elephant Sanctuary Fee (per group) — $550
🌿 Conservancy Fee: Adult — $160 per night
🌿 Conservancy Fee: Child — $90 per night

🔴 Premium Season

🏠 Exclusive Use (up to 6 guests) — $7,890
👤 Extra Adult — $1,315
👨‍👩‍👧 Extra Child (5–15 Years) — $930
🐘 Reteti Compulsory Elephant Sanctuary Fee (per group) — $550
🌿 Conservancy Fee: Adult — $160 per night
🌿 Conservancy Fee: Child — $90 per night

📅 Seasons

🟢 Regular Season — 5th Jan – 30th Jun · 1st Sept – 31st Oct · 1st – 19th Dec
🔴 Premium Season — 1st Jul – 31st Aug · 20th Dec – 4th Jan

🚫 Closed: November.

✅ Included

🍽️ Full board accommodation.
🥤 Soft drinks, local beers, non-premium wines and spirits.
👕 Laundry.
✈️ Local airstrip transfers (Namunyak airstrip).
🎯 Activities as shown.
🧾 Statutory taxes.

🎯 Activities Included

🚙 Day and night game drives.
🚶 Guided walks.
🥾 Hiking in the montane forest of the Mathews Mountains.
🐘 Exclusive visits to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.
🐒 De Brazza monkey hike.
🏘️ Village visits.

❌ Excluded

🍾 Champagne, premium spirits, cellar wines.
⛺ Fly camping mobile.

✈️ Getting There

Fly from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Namunyak Airstrip via private charter or scheduled flight (approximately 1 hour), followed by a short road transfer. Alternatively, scheduled flights connect via Kalama or Lewa Downs airstrips.

♿ Accessibility

The property offers accessible facilities, though guests with specific mobility requirements should discuss their needs at the time of booking.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

👨‍👩‍👧 Is Reteti House suitable for families?
Yes. The exclusive-use model, family rooms, and interconnected suites make it ideal for families with children aged 5 and older. The pool, the elephants, and the cultural activities are particularly engaging for younger travellers.

✈️ How do I get to Reteti House?
Fly from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Namunyak Airstrip via private charter or scheduled flight (approximately 1 hour), followed by a short road transfer.

🐘 Can I visit Reteti Elephant Sanctuary without staying at Reteti House?
Guests of other Sarara properties can visit the sanctuary, but Reteti House is the only accommodation within walking distance, offering the most flexible and intimate access.

🌙 What is the minimum stay?
Two nights minimum.

♻️ Is the property eco-friendly?
Yes. Reteti House is 100% solar-powered with Tesla Powerwall storage, uses mountain spring water, and operates with a commitment to eliminating single-use plastics.

🏆 Why Book Reteti House with Beyond Kenya Safaris

When you book Reteti House through Beyond Kenya Safaris, you gain more than a reservation. We provide:

🗺️ Curated itineraries that combine Reteti House with sister properties, Samburu National Reserve, or Laikipia.
✈️ Seamless logistics, including private charters, road transfers, and coordination with the Sarara reservations team.
🧭 Expert guidance on the best seasons, room configurations, and activities.
🤝 Direct relationships with the Sarara team, ensuring your preferences are communicated and honored.

Our team has personally experienced the magic of Reteti House and the profound work of the sanctuary. We are committed to ensuring your journey is as meaningful as it is memorable.

🗺️ Plan Your Exclusive Northern Kenya Safari

Ready to experience Reteti House? Contact Beyond Kenya Safaris to begin planning your exclusive Northern Kenya safari. Whether you’re seeking a private family retreat, a conservation-focused journey, or a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with elephants, Reteti House delivers an unforgettable experience.

📞 +254 785 639 497 | ✉️ sales@beyondkenyasafaris.com

🔘 Enquire Now

🔗 Pair With: Tsavo

🐘 Galdessa Camp or Ithumba Camp — Tsavo East.
🏕️ Finch Hattons Luxury Camp — Tsavo West.
🏕️ Severin Safari Camp — Tsavo West.
🌿 Campi ya Kanzi — Chyulu Hills.

🔗 Pair With: Amboseli

🏔️ Tawi Lodge — Private conservancy with Kilimanjaro views.
🏔️ Ol Donyo Lodge — Chyulu Hills.
🐘 Tortilis Camp — Classic luxury tented camp.

🔗 Pair With: Maasai Mara

🏔️ Angama Mara — Cliff-top views.
🦁 Mara Plains Camp — Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
🏕️ Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp — Relais & Châteaux.
🦁 Mahali Mzuri — Virgin Limited Edition.

🗓️ Suggested Itinerary Flow

1️⃣ Start at Reteti House (Samburu) — For an intimate conservation-driven stay.
2️⃣ Continue to Amboseli/Chyulu — Ol Donyo Lodge or Tawi Lodge.
3️⃣ Add on Tsavo West — Finch Hattons.
4️⃣ Finish in the Maasai Mara — Angama, Mara Plains, or Cottar’s.