Saruni Mara

Saruni Mara has 5 large cottages, each with their own unique names and styles. The Observatory cottage conjures images of the vast starry skies of Africa and features a bronze telescope and moon map. The Love Shack is the ideal choice for a secluded romantic retreat. Its soft neutral colours and beautiful antiques lend to an atmosphere of classic romance and elegance.

The Photographer’s Studio houses some wonderful photography of the Maasai Mara as well as antique photography equipment, perfect for coaxing some creative inspiration for even the most novice photographer. The Artist’s Studio cottage has a similar inspirational character and is the perfect choice for the creative soul. The Literary Room invokes the ambiance of an antique library with its selection of classic and African literature, vintage writing tools and comfy reading chairs, and is the haven of the writer and lover of literature.

Each of the cottages come with aptly stylish en suite bathrooms and private open verandas where guests can bask in the beautiful scenery. They are also equipped with a room safe, mosquito repellent and nets, a water dispenser, complimentary bathrooms and organic toiletries, and hairdryers on request.

Saruni has a further 2 villas, the Family ‘Natural History’ Villa and the Nyati House Private Villa. A 2 bedroomed villa styled in the theme of natural history, the Family Villa is ideal for families and friends. Both rooms have their own en suite bathroom and share a large dining and lounge area complete with a cosy fireplace.

Nyati House is offered in an exclusive basis, nestled away in its own little valley, and makes the perfect hideout for friends and families. There are 2 en suite bedrooms and a third attic room, accommodating up to 5 people. Guests staying here will have their very own safari guide and vehicle so they can explore the wilderness in their own time. Both villas are additionally equipped with a room safe, mosquito repellent and nets, a water dispenser, complimentary bathrooms and organic toiletries, and hairdryers on request.

Saruni believes in the importance of wholesome and delicious meals. The cuisine is strongly influenced their Italian owner yet chefs love to experiment and create new exciting blends with Kenyan ingredients. Breakfasts at the camp offer both continental and hot cooked options, and can also easily be packed as bush breakfasts.

Set menus are served at the table during lunches and feature dishes such as salads, pastas and quiches. Dinners at Saruni start with some nibbles around the fire before moving on to a hearty 3-course meal. Chefs can easily accommodate any dietary requirements and for special children’s meals.

Saruni offers morning, afternoon, all-day, and even night-time game drives throughout 2 of the most renowned wildlife areas, the Mara North Conservancy and the Lemek Conservancy. You’ll find the most activity in the early morning, when the wildlife is stirring, and the late afternoon/early evening, once the plains have started to cool down. Saruni safaris are never rushed so you’ll have plenty of time to watch the animals and ask your guide any questions you might have.

With so many picturesque sites at your door how could you pass up the chance to enjoy a bush meal or sundowners? Picnic breakfasts and lunches can easily be packed up for you to take on your game drives so you can enjoy some delicious food surrounded by the Kenyan wilderness. Then at the end of the day you can head out to a beautiful secluded spot with your favourite drink in hand as you bathe in the glow of the sunset before dining under the stars.

If you fancy a break from driving and want to stretch your legs then there are plenty of scenic walking paths to explore. Taking a walk on safari is the epitome of your chance to withdraw from the hard-trodden trails and tracks and experience the wilderness in a brand new way. There are simply some things that you can’t fully appreciate on a game drive, so once you slow down your eyes will be opened to all these new things you hadn’t noticed before. Only by getting up close are you able to fully appreciate the role of every little piece of the ecosystem.

The Warriors Academy is unique and interactive experience where you can learn bush skills, folklore and the wisdom needed to survive in the Kenyan wilderness first hand from a Maasai warrior. The culture and traditions of the Maasai people are rich and vibrant, and have endured for hundreds of years. The Warrior Academy is an unmissable chance to experience one of Africa’s most distinct peoples and understand the Kenyan wilderness from an entirely different perspective.

As the sun rises take to the skies for one of the most iconic and romantic safari experiences. Glide silently over the Mara plains and take in the beautiful scenery and undisturbed wildlife below.

Every Thursday guests can travel to the weekly market in Aitong and see the merging of Maasai traditions and modernity. Local people come from all over the Mara region to gather and trade, particularly in livestock.

Kilileoni is the highest peak in the entire Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. As you drive up you’ll get the chance to encounter a rare species of antelope that prefer higher altitudes. Then, once at the top, you’ll be privy to a breath-taking panoramic view of the Mara plains and forests and the Tanzanian border on the horizon. You may also be lucky enough to encounter grazing elephants and buffalo.

The Ol Chorro Rhino Sanctuary resides in the Ol Chorro Conservancy and is about 30 minutes away from the camp. For the past 20 years they have been protecting white rhinos, who roam freely on the mountain slopes and are happy to be approached by visitors.

Tucked away in the valley’s forest of olive and cedar, guests will find Saruni’s Maasai Wellbeing Space where they can treat themselves to a range of soothing, refreshing treatments while basking in the ambiance of the outdoors.

Saruni are proud founding members of the Mara North Conservancy (MNC). Created in 2009, the MNC is a partnership between 13 member camps and over 900 Maasai landowners, and covers 30,000 hectares. It is committed to low-density tourism and having minimal impact on the environment. It’s their vision to create a world-class conservancy with long-term mutual benefits for the environment, local communities and wildlife through a partnership with sustainable tourism.

Since Saruni’s foundation in 2003, they have nurtured close relationships with the indigenous communities that own lands where the protection of wildlife and natural habitats are key to their conservation initiatives. Their investment in Kenya was inspired by the country’s tradition of community-based tourism and the way Kenyan safaris are made unique by their cultural dynamics. Saruni believes in creating wealth ethically through working with communities and believe that it is the way forwards for Africa and for conservation.

That is, creating a model where wildlife and the environment are protected on the foundation of creating income and jobs for the surrounding communities. At Saruni Mara, all of the guides and 80% of the staff are from the local community. Rather than uniforms they wear traditional Maasai clothes and love to share their culture with guests.

The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) was set up in 2004 as a community-led organisation with the mission of developing community conservancies in order to protect natural resources, wildlife and benefit the community. So far there are 35 of these conservancies spanning across 4.5 million hectares of Kenya’s northern and coastal regions.

The NRT works to empower communities to develop governance structures that are managed locally, to run security programmes, take the lead in managing natural resources and sustainable businesses with conservation policies.

Because of Covid-19 tourism has all but collapsed in Kenya and this has had a devastating impact on the conservancies supported by those like Saruni. Funding for the conservancies and all the wildlife that live within them, the wages of employees and the welfare of the local Maasai and Samburu communities all depend on tourism.

This is why Saruni has implemented the ‘Adopt an Acre’ initiative. Donations will go straight to funding the conservancies’ land and communities so that families can have some form of income and the conservancies can continue to fulfil their purposes.

Saruni is partnered with Seedballs Kenya so they, and you, can help plant new trees and re-green Kenya. A box of seedballs costs only $2 from Saruni’s camps so when you’re on a game drive you can throw out your seedballs when going past an area that looks like it could use a little more green!

Saruni Mara Camp is partnered with the Mara Meru Cheetah Project. Since the beginning of the 20th century the cheetah population has fallen dramatically because of human activity, meaning it’s vital to understand the impact of human interference on cheetah populations in order to mitigate the damages done and protect the remaining cheetahs.

Solar energy is the main source of power for the camp and its facilities.  This has a really beneficial impact on the environment because solar energy is the most efficient renewable energy source, reduces air pollution in replacing fossil fuels and it doesn’t require water to make energy.

Saruni Mara is mindful of how it disposes of all its waste. Water waste from laundry and showers is managed using soak pits, and waste from the kitchens is filtered through a grease tap before also being drained into a soak pit. Solid waste is separated and carefully monitored so the camp can keep track of the volume and types of waste they’re producing so that they can set smart waste reduction goals. Organic waste is composted and used for the kitchen’s gardens, whereas non-biodegradable waste is transported to Nairobi for recycling.