About Sasaab
Sasaab is a splendid, luxury lodge located on the 35,000-hectare (135sq mile) Westgate Community Conservancy, ...
... west of Samburu National Reserve. The lodge is set high on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River and has fine views over the river and surrounding landscape, and as far south as Mount Kenya.
Sasaab is beautifully designed – and the views are wonderful. We weren't blown away by the wildlife in the Westgate Conservancy (though it's an important sanctuary for Grevy's zebra) and it is a bit of a drive to the excellent wildlife concentrations in Samburu National Reserve itself. But Sasaab is a wonderful option if you're looking for somewhere remote, luxurious and distinctive.
Our view
Sasaab is beautifully designed – and the views are wonderful. We weren't blown away by the wildlife in the Westgate Conservancy (though it's an important sanctuary for Grevy's zebra) and it is a bit of a drive to the excellent wildlife concentrations in Samburu National Reserve itself. But Sasaab is a wonderful option if you're looking for somewhere remote, luxurious and distinctive.
Accommodation
9 tented rooms
Children
Best for 7+
Open
1 Dec to 15 Nov
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Private activities
Quad-biking
Traveller reviews of Sasaab
4 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 23 Jul 2022, 3 nights
"Sasaab review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 31 Jan 2022, 3 nights
"Sasaab review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 5 Nov 2018, 3 nights
"Wonderful"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 12 May 2018, 5 nights
"Sasaab has got it just right"
Overall rating: Excellent




































Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 36 pictures and 1 videos of Sasaab to get the candid view.
View gallerySasaab: Our full report
Sasaab is a splendid, luxury lodge located on the 35,000-hectare (135sq mile) Westgate Community Conservancy, ...
... west of Samburu National Reserve. The lodge is set high on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River and has fine views over the river and surrounding landscape, and as far south as Mount Kenya.
Sasaab is a very high-quality camp – and this is evident as soon as you pull up at the front drive, and enter the communal areas. Whitewashed stone floors under the large thatched roof, walls with Arabic arches, and colourful rugs, low coffee tables and big comfy cushions all lend a distinctly Moroccan feel.
The views from the U-shaped communal areas are spectacular – and you could easily sit in one of the comfortable chairs in the lounge area for a few hours, enjoying the breeze. The main bar and dining area are also up here, near the office and shop.
Down a cement pathway the large, main swimming pool has some nice shaded areas where sun-loungers are laid out – very welcome in the drier months, when the temperatures can get really quite hot in this area. The pool has wonderful views over the river, and it is a popular spot for elephants to frequent.
The nine tented rooms are well spaced out along the hillside – all with slightly different views of the river and surrounding hills – and each one is exceptionally private. At more than 100 square metres, the rooms are huge – some of the largest we've seen on safari. They're constructed in a similar way to the main areas, with whitewashed stone floors and thatched roofs. Room 4 has a wheelchair ramp if required.
In your room, canvas walls with mosquito net windows fully enclose the inner bedroom area. The four-poster Zanzibari bed stands in the middle, with useful shelving for clothes storage, a safe, and a cool-box so you don't have to return to the main areas to get drinks. All the rooms have UK-style, three-pin sockets for charging batteries. Down a few steps, through the canvas door, the fully plumbed bathroom is just as spacious, with twin basins, a shower and toilet. The stand-out feature of these suites is the large free-form plunge pool in every one, with spectacular views over the river. A baraza-style built-in bench, with soft cushions, looks out to the views – we could have sat here quite happily for hours, enjoying the peace of the river and having the occasional quick dip. If you're feeling creative, you'll be happy to find a sketch pad and watercolours in every room.
For families, rooms 8 and 9 are the best option as they're interconnecting, so you have privacy and space while still being close. Meals can be arranged in the central area here too. For those wanting twin rooms, there are two rooms that are configured as such, but if these are fully booked then an extra bed can be placed in a standard double room. We stayed in such a room in November 2018 and were disappointed that the two beds were of very different standards, and left the room quite crowded. Our recommendation is if travelling as a twin, to ensure a proper twin room has been booked.
There's a spa and gym equipment, and massage and other beauty treatments are available – in the spa, by the plunge pool, or in the privacy of your room. These are an additional cost: on our last visit, a massage cost around US$65 dollars for an hour.
Sasaab offers a variety of stimulating activities. Game-drives usually take place in Samburu National Reserve and the adjoining Buffalo Springs National Reserve. They usually go out in the morning with a picnic breakfast, and return to the camp for lunch. The national reserve is about an hour's drive away, but the conservancy itself, while you're not likely to see the same numbers of animals, has plains grazers, elephants, and even the occasional leopard (and it's a stronghold for the Grevy's zebra), so it can be worthwhile for a more gentle safari. It can get very hot in the afternoon in Samburu, and mornings are generally the best time for wildlife viewing. Walking with an experienced guide is also possible – these walks will vary depending on how energetic you're feeling. They can range from a short morning's bird walk, or an afternoon walk to stop for sundowners, to a half-day walk towards the hills if you want to go further afield.
Aside from safari activities – you can also do camel riding (Sasaab has five riding dromedaries), visit a local village, or if your visit coincides with a market day (a smaller one on Wednesdays or a larger one, a 2-hour drive away, on Thursdays) then you can go and see the locals selling their livestock. Bush dinners and organised dance performances by members of the local Samburu community, can also be arranged, and work well for groups. These takes place a little distance from camp and are best arranged in advance.
Fly-camping from Sasaab involves a very simple mosquito mesh tent set up at a site a little away from camp, to which you either walk or ride by camel. Ask your Expert Africa consultant about this as it needs to be booked in advance.
Sasaab is associated with the Ewaso Lions Project which aims to promote co-existence between people and the wildlife. It's possible to arrange a talk on the project if you're interested – and again this is best booked in advance.
Westgate Conservancy is the home of about 600 Samburu families, a total community of about 3,500 people. Visitors to the lodge now provide one of the main sources of income in the area. In addition to roughly three-quarters of camp staff being locals, each bed night at Sasaab contributes $50 in cash to the community. Sasaab can arrange for you to visit the Ngutuk Ongiron Primary School and Clinic, and a women's beading cooperative. Five quad-bikes are available to do this, at a cost of $35/hour. Children might also enjoy the nature trail walk with a Samburu warrior – who will show them how to make a toothbrush, a bow and arrows, and how to take a plaster cast of an animal footprint.
Geographics
- Location
- Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- Three nights – two full days here. That gives a day in the national reserve and a day for cultural things or a drive through the conservancy.
- Directions
- Sasaab's airstrip for private charter flights is 10 minutes away. However, most guests land with a scheduled flight at the main Oryx airstrip in Samburu National Reserve which is about a 1 ½ - 2 hour drive from the lodge. This transfer is often made into a game drive, which is worthwhile considering the national reserve entry fee has to be paid each time you use the airstrip (included in your safari costs).
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- We thought the food at Sasaab was very good when we last stayed in November 2018.
For breakfast you might take a picnic out with you – which had bread, cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit – as well as a cooking station with eggs, bacon, sausages and pancakes. Breakfast at the lodge is similar. We found these bush breakfasts to be some of the best we have had in Kenya.
Lunch is usually a three-course set menu. On our last trip we started with caramelized onion and sweet potato soup. The main course was then a buffet selection of dishes with an Asian influence: crispy coconut fish balls, noodle salad with a peanut sauce, and avocado and mango salad. A dessert of banana, passion fruit and coconut sorbet followed.
Dinner is also a set three course menu. There was a light little roasted vegetable tartlet, followed by beef medallions, accompanied by a butterbean puree. We finished with an excellent sticky date pudding. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Guests often dine separately, either on the deck or by the pool. Surprise bush dinners are also sometimes arranged.
- Drinks included
- All drinks are included in the 'game package' rate, apart from cellar wines, Champagne and premium spirits.
Special interests
- Honeymoons
- With its very comfortable and private rooms, each with a plunge pool, and within reach of the fantastic game viewing in Samburu National Reserve, Sasaab makes a lovely honeymoon destination.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Kenya
- Luxury
- At this remote and exclusive camp, the ample tents with a Moroccan twist are the perfect base for a luxurious safari holiday. Arabic-styled arches, colourful rugs and whitewashed stone floors lend an opulent atmosphere. Each tent has a private plunge pool with spectacular views.
- See ideas for Luxury in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The camp welcomes children. There are plenty of things to occupy children here – including playing soccer with the guides, and village visits.
- Property’s age restrictions
- No minimum age
- Special activities & services
- Guides or askaris are able to do a number of activities with children, such as afternoon warrior walks, making bows and arrows and toothbrushes, spoor-tracking etc.
- Equipment
- They have board games and painting sets, and can arrange for one of the askaris to keep an eye on the children while the parents are having dinner.
- Generally recommended for children
- Although Sasaab is one of the better suited lodges for children – it is still in a wild area, and as a result, we'd only really recommend this for children aged 7 or over.
- Notes
- Children are always the responsibility of their parents.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Sasaab
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Sasaab 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.

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

67% success

67% success

50% success

33% success

33% success

33% success

33% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a generator back-up. All the rooms have UK-style, three-pin sockets for charging batteries. Rooms are also equipped with hair dryers.
- Communications
- There is limited cellphone reception. There is WiFi in the bar and lounge area.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- Bathrooms are fully plumbed. Filtered drinking water is provided in the rooms.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The nearest doctor is 45 minutes drive. They also have links to Amref which is a flying doctors service. There are first aid kits in the lodge and on the vehicles.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are watchmen who patrol the grounds both day and night. There are safes in the rooms to lock your valuables.
- Fire safety
- There are fire assembly point at the front of the lodge, and there is a fire safety card in the rooms. Extinguishers are dotted around the lodge, and the staff regularly do fire drills.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Private activities
Quad-biking
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- A full laundry service is included. Laundry is machine washed and line dried. As with most camps in Africa, women's underwear is not accepted.
- Money
- There are safes in the rooms to lock your valuables.
- Accepted payment on location
- Sasaab can accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Cash is also accepted in GBP, USD, Euro and Kenyan Shillings.
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Sasaab's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Sasaab.
Excursions from Sasaab
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Sasaab. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Reteti Elephant Orphanage visit
One-and-a-half hours, plus transfers
Visit the community-run Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Samburu, for an intimate experience meeting the orphaned baby elephants who have been rescued from the surrounding regions. They are hand-reared by Samburu keepers, until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
More about Reteti Elephant OrphansOther lodges in Samburu National Reserve
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Elephant Bedroom
Elephant Bedroom is a smart tented camp in the heart of the Samburu National Reserve, offering a good degree of comfort without divorcing you from the beautiful natural environment.

Saruni Samburu
Saruni Samburu is a top-quality boutique lodge, with one of the most breathtaking locations in Kenya overlooking its own private conservancy.

Larsens Tented Camp
Larsen’s Tented Camp is a relaxed and welcoming camp, with 20 sturdy tented rooms, a good pool and a very engaging team of staff.

Basecamp Samburu
Basecamp Samburu is a smart tented camp offering an intimate safari within Samburu’s Kalama Conservancy and the surrounding reserve.
When to go to Samburu National Reserve
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Sasaab in Samburu National Reserve
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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