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Satao Elerai
Satao Elerai
Satao Elerai
Satao Elerai
Satao Elerai
Satao Elerai

About Satao Elerai

In the private, 40-square-kilometre Elerai Conservation Area a little south-east of Amboseli National Park, ...

... and on a slight elevation above the surrounding landscape, Satao Elerai Camp is the closest camp to the peaks of Kilimanjaro. It offers a combination of great views, good game-watching and access both to its own conservancy and to the national park.

Mid-priced, comfortable and well-managed, Satao Elerai made an instantly likeable impression and made us feel very much at home. The conservation area has good wildlife, with lots of elephants – though you are probably less likely to see predators than in the park. What you get a great sight of here, when it shakes off its habitual covering of cloud, is magnificent Kilimanjaro, towering over the savannah to the south.

Our view

Mid-priced, comfortable and well-managed, Satao Elerai made an instantly likeable impression and made us feel very much at home. The conservation area has good wildlife, with lots of elephants – though you are probably less likely to see predators than in the park. What you get a great sight of here, when it shakes off its habitual covering of cloud, is magnificent Kilimanjaro, towering over the savannah to the south.

Parita Masani

Parita Masani

Country manager: Kenya

Accommodation

17 tents and suites

Children

Good for all ages.

Open

21 May to 20 April

Activities

4WD Safari

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Guided walking safari

Night drive

Night drive

Private activities

Private activities

Traveller reviews of Satao Elerai

6 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.


87%
6 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
2
Good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
BrihatfromLancashire

Arrived 19 Oct 2024, 3 nights

"Satao Elerai review"

"excellent views of Kilimanjaro in the early mornings and just before sunset. …" Read Brihat’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr and Mrs HfromHereford

Arrived 7 Nov 2023, 3 nights

"Satao Elerai review"

"The camp in a good location with lovely views. The food and service were also good …" Read Mr and Mrs H’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

Mr & Mrs BfromHarrow

Arrived 15 Aug 2022, 3 nights

"Satao Elerai review"

"The driver/guide was very good. …" Read Mr & Mrs B’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

Mrs H & Mr SfromUK

Arrived 2 Aug 2022, 3 nights

"Satao Elerai review"

"beautiful camp.. very well run.. friendly, helpful staff.. excellent game drives …" Read Mrs H & Mr S’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr & Mrs LNfromLondon

Arrived 15 Jan 2020, 3 nights

"Could have been so much better."

"The tent was nice, clean and comfortable with an amazing bathroom. …" Read Mr & Mrs LN’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

Mrs HfromWarwickshire

Arrived 7 Sep 2014, 2 nights

"Atmospheric introduction to Africa"

"Satao Elerai is in a wonderful location; a very long way up a very rutted drive, …" Read Mrs H’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

See all Satao Elerai reviews

Satao Elerai: Our full report

In the private, 40-square-kilometre Elerai Conservation Area a little south-east of Amboseli National Park, ...

... and on a slight elevation above the surrounding landscape, Satao Elerai Camp is the closest camp to the peaks of Kilimanjaro. It offers a combination of great views, good game-watching and access both to its own conservancy and to the national park.

Like its sister camp Satao Camp, in Tsavo East National Park, Satao Elerai, which opened in 2007, isn't quite small enough or stylish enough to deserve the description 'boutique', but neither is it mass market. The fact that it's unfenced (you have to keep to the paths when walking around camp, and after dark you need to be accompanied by an askari when walking to or from your tent) is indicative of its style, which is very focused on the relationship with the local community – the camp's landlords – and the wildlife interests of guests.

Satao Elerai's central areas are built around a group of giant boulders, into which the swimming pool, reception area and curio shop, terrace, main bar and dining areas have been nicely integrated. From the hotel-like reception area, you cross a short bridge over a landscaped fish pond, where rushes grow and weaver birds nest, to the bar (which stays open as long as guests want to order drinks) and split-level lounge and dining room, with an upper, observation floor with comfy seating. There is a selection of board games and books, making this a cosy spot to spend evenings in camp.

The well-maintained, free-form swimming pool is a welcome feature in this generally hot climate, but note there is no lifeguard on duty. Crazy-paving paths have been laid around the camp, and while we're not big fans of what seem unnecessary structures, they do serve to remind you, in what is an unfenced camp, of where you should and should not walk while in camp.

Your choice of accommodation at Satao Elerai is simple: the tents face out south, towards Kilimanjaro, while five more luxurious suites look across the savannah to the north-west and the national park.

The 12 good-sized tents are mounted on fairly high, concrete-and-stonework plinths, with solid timber and grass-tile roofs. Their polished wooden floors, rugs and rustic wooden furniture are comfortable and homely rather than stylish, all very much in keeping with Satao Elerai's overall approach, and feeling somewhat older than the camp's relative youth would suggest. Each tent can be configured as a double or twin, with a writing or dressing table, folding directors' chairs and, on the veranda facing Kilimanjaro, cushioned recliners. There are two family tents, sleeping up to four people, which are best suited for those travelling with young children as they are the same size as the standard tents.

At the back of each tent is a large, solid-construction bathroom with a stone floor, flush loo, single washbasin, decent toiletries and a shower with an oversized shower head. We had good warm-to-hot water from the solar system, but poor water pressure. Whereas the tents' bedroom areas are mosquito-screened, and sprayed by the room steward every evening, the bathrooms are not mosquito-screened.

Each tent has a paging button for calling an askari for an escort from your tent. We particularly enjoyed getting a wake-up call and tea at 6.00am and watching the mountain gradually push back its duvet of cloud to give us a short, spectacular display in the early sunlight.

Satao Elerai's five suites are of a similar construction to the tent bathrooms. Built from a natural-form wooden framework with plaster wall infills, their appeal is to people who want something more solid than canvas between them and the bush. More spacious than the tents, with french windows separating the room from the veranda, and with bathtubs as well as standard bathroom amenities, their Hobbit-like rusticity quite appealed to us. Although they don’t have direct views of Kilimanjaro, they do look out over Satao Elerai’s camp waterhole, which is known to attract creatures both large and small during the dry season. Two of the suites are doubles and three are twins. Suite rooms #4 and #5 are particularly well-suited to families as they are built close together, facing each other.

The main activities at Satao Elerai are game drives in the 3,000 acre conservancy. Being outside the national park, as well as sundowners and night drives, they also do bush walks with a Maasai escort and forerunner (walking 200m ahead with a radio to warn of any danger) accompanied by an armed ranger. The mixed bush of the conservancy includes floodplains filled by seasonal rains and Kilimanjaro melt water, and wooded grassland, dominated by red acacia (Acacia seyal, known as elerai in Maa, the Maasai language).

Frequently encountered species include Grant's and Thomson's gazelle, zebra, eland, warthog, lion, leopard and giraffe (satao means 'giraffe' in the language of the Waliangulu, the original hunters of southern Kenya). Elephant, buffalo and wildebeest are more migratory. Satao Elerai's waterhole attracts most species during the dry season. Wildlife also often enters the camp itself, and there are often semi-tame animals in camp.

The eight Maasai families who joined together to form the Elerai Ranch and lease a large part of it to the camp, grow maize, beans, wheat and tomatoes and graze their livestock on the rest, so as you travel around the district, you're likely to see herders out with some of their 1,000-odd cattle and 2,500 sheep and goats.

Geographics

Location
Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills, Kenya
Ideal length of stay
3 nights
Directions
Most travellers arrive by air at Amboseli Airstrip, about an hour's drive away.
Accessible by
Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
When we last visited Satao Elerai in 2019, we didn’t get a chance to try the food. We know from previous visits that the camp serves broadly European- and American-style food with vegetarian options always on offer. The day starts with tea, coffee and biscuits in the lounge area (you can also request them with a wake-up call), before the morning game drive.

Back from the bush, there's a very good breakfast to look forward to (6.00am–9.00am) – well-presented fruit, good coffee, a full cooked breakfast to order and a nice selection of spreads including ginger marmalade and passion curd to layer on your toast.

Lunch (12.30am–3.00pm) is a plated service, based around a set menu, with a choice of two starters, four main courses, and two choices of dessert. However, most guests choose to take a picnic lunch with them in the morning and stay out all day, particularly when spending the day in Amboseli National Park.

Dinner follows a similar format to lunch, with choices for each course, and is served 7.00pm-9.00pm. Guests can expect dishes such as orange and beetroot salad or minestrone soup to start. Main courses include sirloin steak with mustard sauce and accompanying vegetables, or stir fried vegetarian noodles. Typical desserts are chocolate mousse or Crêpes Suzette.
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
Available on request.
Drinks included
Most drinks are included when staying on a game package basis.

Children

Attitude towards children
Children of all ages are welcome.
Property’s age restrictions
None
Special activities & services
None
Equipment
1 high chair, 1 baby cot
Generally recommended for children
Satao Elerai is good for children, and with a swimming pool (usually warm at this altitude) and an informal environment, it’s a good spot for a family safari.
Notes
The camp is unfenced. Wildlife often enters camp meaning supervision of young children is necessary at all times. Babysitting is available on request (at no charge), with staff provided by housekeeping or from among the camp guards. Trained baby sitters aren’t available.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Satao Elerai

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Satao Elerai have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Cheetah

100% success

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Lion

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Buffalo

75% success

Spotted Hyena

67% success

Gerenuk

33% success

Striped Hyena

25% success

Aardvark

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Oryx

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Wild dog

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
The generator (housed in a sound-reduction room near the staff headquarters), is on 5.00am–8.00am, 12.00pm–3.00pm and 6.00pm–11.00pm (or later if guests are still in the bar – and they keep it on for about half an hour after the last guests have retired). This is the only time power is available, although solar-heated hot washing and shower water is available 24 hours a day during sunny weather and batteries provide power for lighting in the bathrooms at times when the generator is off.
Communications
The cellphone network at Satao Elerai Camp is generally OK. WiFi, with access free of charge, is available in the lounge area. Each tent or room has a paging button so that you can call an askari for an escort from your tent, or order a drink.
TV & radio
Guests can use the TV in the staff quarters for big events.
Water supply
Borehole
Water supply notes
Water is distilled on site for drinking. All tents have plumbed in bathrooms.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
Two staff, including the assistant manager, are first-aid trained. Sopa Lodge, a 15-minute drive away, has the nearest qualified nurse. The camp would call the flying doctors in a serious emergency, in which case evacuation would be from Tawi Airstrip, 25 minutes’ drive from Satao Elerai Camp.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
There are guards around camp during the day and night, plus a number of game scouts who have had KWS training. These scouts are managed by a former senior warden of Amboseli who has a firearms licence. Guns are used on game walks.
Fire safety
Every tent and suite has a fire extinguisher. Several people are fire-trained and all staff have fire drills every three months. There’s a fire assembly point at the car park.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Cultural excursion

    Cultural excursion

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

  • Night drive

    Night drive

  • Private activities

    Private activities

Extras

Disabled access
On Request
Laundry facilities
Full Laundry Service - Extra Charge
Money
There’s a lock-up box in every tent and suite for safekeeping of valuables. Satao Elerai doesn’t offer foreign exchange.
Accepted payment on location
The camp accepts cash in US dollars, euros, pounds sterling or Kenyan shillings. They also take Visa and MasterCard credit cards with no surcharge.

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Satao Elerai's location

Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Satao Elerai.


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When to go to Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills

Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Satao Elerai in Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Kenya in January

Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.

Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.

  • On average, January is the second driest month of the year
  • Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
  • Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
  • Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
  • Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in January

Kenya in February

With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.

Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.

  • On average, February is the driest month of the year.
  • It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
  • Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
  • This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
  • This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in February

Kenya in March

Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.

March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.

  • Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
  • Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
  • Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
  • Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
  • Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in March

Kenya in April

April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.

With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.

  • A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
  • Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
  • Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
  • Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
  • Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.

Our view

A time to avoid if possible

Weather in April

Kenya in May

While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.

In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.

  • Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
  • Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
  • Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
  • There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
  • Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.

Our view

A time to avoid if possible

Weather in May

Kenya in June

The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.

While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.

  • The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
  • The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
  • Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
  • The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
  • The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in June

Kenya in July

Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.

As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.

  • The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
  • Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
  • Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
  • The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in July

Kenya in August

The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.

Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.

  • Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
  • Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
  • Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
  • Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
  • The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in August

Kenya in September

The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.

If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.

  • This is still high season, with prices to match.
  • Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
  • Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
  • The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
  • With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in September

Kenya in October

Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.

While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.

  • This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
  • Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
  • Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
  • Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
  • The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in October

Kenya in November

The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.

Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.

  • Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
  • Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
  • The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
  • Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
  • This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in November

Kenya in December

In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.

Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.

  • Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
  • Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
  • Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
  • Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
  • Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in December

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