Kenya, Tanzania & Seychelles

Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.

Spend a few hours in the company of young orphan elephants and learn about incredible rescue efforts and the world famous rehabilitation programme. You may also find yourself adopting one of the herd.

Karen Blixen Museum is a national museum in Kenya situated about 19 kilometres from Nairobi City centre. It was built in 1912, and was home to the iconic Danish author of ‘Out of Africa’ (won an Oscar Award)-Karen Blixen. This famous author, artist and poet lived here while setting up her coffee farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

In case you missed out, Out of Africa is a book which Karen Blixen wrote about her stay in Kenya and of her beloved farm, and was later made into a great movie. It shows her struggles she underwent to keep her estate and how her understanding and love grew for the culture and the people around her.

During your stay at Hemingways Nairobi Hotel, take some few hours of your time and visit Karen Blixen Museum. This will give you a chance to travel back in time where you can re-live your memories of Out of Africa. If you are a lover of history, then this is the place for you.

You can pick up a copy of the famous film at the museum shop or browse for handicrafts, posters and postcards, books and other Kenyan souvenirs.

A short drive from Hemingways Hotel, Nairobi National Park offers either an immediate safari experience on landing in Kenya or a final last look prior to departing home. It is the oldest national park in Kenya, established in 1946, and is the only national park in the world located within a capital city.

With wide-open grass plains and the backdrop of the city, scattered acacia bushes play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos, cheetahs, hyenas and giraffes among others. Visitors can enjoy Nairobi National Park game drives to view all these wild animals. For the bird lovers, the park also has over 400 bird species for your watching.

Some of the other fun activities to engage in the park include camping, picnics and hiking. The park also has various facilities for corporate events, team building sessions, weddings and video and film production.

Other attractions to explore within and around Nairobi National Park include the Nairobi Safari Walk, the Ivory Burning Site Monument and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Whether you’re visiting Nairobi for work or leisure, a game of golf at the nearby Karen Country Club is not to be missed for golf enthusiasts. Guests at Hemingways Nairobi enjoy preferential rates at this golf club. This golf club was opened in the 1930’s, a large part of the 18-hole course was built on the former coffee estate of the Danish pioneer Karen Blixen. Indeed the shade trees from her coffee plantation still dominate parts of the course, eighty years after they were planted.

The course is superbly maintained with greens built to PGA standards and has played host to the Kenya Open in recent years. Karen’s golf course is as pretty as a picture, its flourishing wildlife (both flora and fauna) encouraged by an active policy of nature and wetlands conservation and promotion. Everywhere there is colour and beauty.

The Giraffe Centre is a non-profitable organization whose main objective is to provide conservation education for school children and the youth of Kenya.

Visit the feeding platform to get up close and personal with a giraffe and take a stroll through the nature sanctuary for a tranquil getaway with serene views and sounds of nature.

Guests can enjoy morning, afternoon and all day game drives through renowned and teeming conservation areas; Kalama Conservancy and Samburu National Reserve, two fantastic habitats for African wildlife. Saruni also highly recommends night game drives in Kalama Conservancy, when nocturnal species can be encountered. This is a unique activity not permitted in the National Reserve.

Guests enjoy breakfast along the Ewaso Nyiro River and starlit dinners in a dry river bed under the vast African skies (weather permitting). Saruni loves to take guests to their secret spots for a bush dinner or for a picnic lunch that allows guests to be with elephants, waterbuck, lion, impala and the Samburu Five that stop to take water. Note – bush dinners are usually part of a group, unless the lodge can accommodate otherwise.

Saruni Samburu offers guests a unique experience for Kenya: access to an elephant-proof, open ground level hide based at a waterhole, where from both novice and professional photographers can photograph wildlife from ground level. Designed with the needs of photographers in mind, buried partially underground, located a few steps from a waterhole: the perfect spot for 'stealing' amazing images of what occurs at the well-frequented waterhole. It can have up to 8 guests inside, it has maps and books available, and bean bags for photographers. The waterhole at Saruni Samburu offers a unique opportunity to spot from very close up the elephants that come and drink its water, the fantastic birds species and the 'Samburu Five'; reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and Grevy’s zebra. Being in the middle of an arid area, the hide also provides excellent opportunities to photograph from ground level and from very close up the predators of Samburu, especially lion and leopard.

Walking safaris are individually tailored to guests' interests and are set in a breath-taking landscape. Walking with the Samburu warriors out in the African bush is a fantastic experience and guests learn from their authentic local knowledge of the plants, animals and landscape, about their traditions and about their lives. Having discovered Samburu rock art in several caves nearby the lodge, Saruni includes a visit to these extraordinary archaeological sites during the bush walks.

Saruni runs the Samburu Wellbeing Space in the most serene and relaxing environment, guests enjoy massage and wellness treatments under the supervision of highly trained staff. The techniques combine sophisticated methods developed at Centro Benessere Stresa with ancient Samburu wisdom and knowledge. The Spa therapists use the Olmurmuru seedas (Albizia Harvey) to reduce muscular discomfort and pure gel from Usunguru (Aloe Kedongesis) for sun burnt areas. Among the treatments available, guests can choose between the lymphatic drainage massage, decongestive or nourishing or purifying facials, manicare, pedicare and the popular sport massage. All with an open view of Kalama Wildlife Conservancy, where elephant, kudu and giraffe roam freely.

Should it get too hot up on the hot rock - and sometimes it does - guests have the option of relaxing and taking a refreshing dip in not just one but two infinity pools! The upper infinity pool is located high on an impressive panoramic view point near to villas 5 & 6. The spectacular lower infinity pool is situated close to Kudu House (main communal area) on a rocky formation.

If guests are passionate about birds, Samburu is the perfect place to visit; not only are the species abundant but the birds can be easily spotted and photographed. Saruni's guides are birdwatchers by instinct and training and share a love for birds. Saruni's guides always carry field guides in the game drive vehicles.

The sundowner is a well-deserved drink at the end of a long day on safari to ‘salute’ the African sun as it is setting. Saruni guide's drive guests to an unforgettable panoramic viewpoint and serve guests' favourite drink along with a selection of scrumptious ‘bitings’; small snacks to whet appetites ahead of the delicious dinner which awaits.

The Warriors Academy is a special interactive safari experience with a strong educational flavour, designed especially for families with children or small groups. It is a fun learning experience, that allows families to explore not only the wildlife, but also the authentic lifestyle of one of the most well-known and culturally fascinating tribes left in Africa; the Samburu. Under the tutelage of their ‘Moran’, or warriors, participants get to know, enjoy and understand these unique people and see the Kenyan wilderness from a different perspective. Combined with regular safari activities, and tailored to guests' interests and timeframe, the Warriors Academy can last between 1-3 days, and needs to be booked in advance.

Saruni safaris are not only focused on wildlife but also on culture and people. Some call it ‘cultural tourism’. Saruni calls it ‘meet the neighbours’. Guests visit genuine Samburu villages - the lodge's neighbours and friends, and are privileged to share moments of their life. They are the ancient custodians of this land and Saruni feel it is an integral part of the overall experience for guests to see how they live, how they protect the environment and in what way they differ from other African tribes. Be prepared for the Samburu to ask questions too as they will be curious about life outside of their way of life! Consider it an exchange of ideas and information.

*Please note, this visit incurs an additional charge of US$20 per person that goes to the community directly.

Located in Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County of Northern Kenya, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first community owned and managed elephant sanctuary in Africa. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is situated in the remote Mathews Range, among Kenya’s second largest elephant population. Similar to the world-famous Sheldrick Sanctuary in Nairobi, it takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves with the aim to release them back into the wild herds adjoining the Sanctuary. This excursion needs to be arranged in advance with reservations at the time of booking, or lodge management, and is payable extra.

Saruni Samburu is the perfect place if guests want to be part of an unusual but very genuine Samburu wedding ceremony. The experience can be enjoyed either by newlyweds who want to re-affirm their vows in the middle of a very spiritual land or by those who plan to actually get married in Kenya. The ceremony takes place in a Samburu village, with the participation of the elders, the women and the warriors, or on the top of a mountain overlooking the endless landscape.

These are available upon request and payable extra, with excursions to Mount Kenya, Turkana and everything in between.

As part of the guided bush walks, guests can also visit nearby mountain caves where, hundreds of years ago, the Samburu have drawn hunting scenes and animals in what the experts call ‘white rock art’. The caves evoke a past when the Samburu were mostly pastoralist warriors.

Standing proud on Saruni Samburu’s doorstep, Mount Ololokwe is the Samburu tribe’s sacred mountain. It is a pillar of cultural significance to the Samburu and an exciting trekking venture to many others. Setting off at dawn, Saruni's professional guides will accompany guests during this day’s excursion to the summit (with picturesque pit stops for breakfast and lunch) teaching guests along the way about the mountain, its cultural significance and all of its wonders.

*Please note, this trek is payable extra.

Interested in scorpions and all that lies beneath the sand, hidden away from sight? Guests can venture out on a ‘scorpion safari’ to understand the many different types of scorpion that call the earth surrounding Saruni Samburu their home. Walking shoes or boots advised!

The night skies above Saruni Samburu and the ‘hot rock’ upon which it sits are among some of the brightest and most beautiful in the world. Unpolluted and unobscured, every evening the night skies provide guests with an alternative ‘playground’.

Samburu National Reserve is renowned for its unique "Samburu Special 5" species, endemic to Northern Kenya. These include the rare Grevy's Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, and the beautiful reticulated giraffes. Opt for an AM or PM game drive to experience the difference.

Nothing compares to the exclusive tranquility of breakfast in the African wild, serenaded by the harmonious birdsong that greets the new day. The morning sunlight provides a rich supply of vitamin D.

Following an exhilarating evening safari, you will be guided to an elevated viewing platform near Larsen'scamp. Here you can savor the sunset behind Koitogo Hills, complemented by a cocktail of choice and nutritious canapés.

Indulge in the evening's finest meal, served in the bush under the star-studded Samburu sky.

Post dinner, you will be led to a special location where our knowledgeable naturalist will teach you about the constellations adorning the breathtaking Samburu night sky. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Samburu, home to over 400 native bird species, is a birdwatcher's paradise. Our experienced local bird guide will take you along the Ewaso Nyiroriver forest line to observe the unique northern bird species, including the Somali bee-eater and Somali ostrich, amongst others. This is your chance to expand your birding list.

Visit this matriarchal village searchers post of Samburu County. Established in 1990, the village is a haven for women fleeing abusive relationships. They advocate for women's rights, including anti-FGM campaigns, and offer refuge to vulnerable girls. Handcraft-making serves as their livelihood.

At Soroi Larsens Camp, we believe in creating unforgettable experiences for the whole family, including our young adventurers. Our Children's Adventure Club offers a variety of engaging and educational activities designed to ignite their curiosity and appreciation for nature. Led by experienced guides, children will embark on exciting nature walks, animal tracking expeditions, and interactive wildlife presentations. They'll have the opportunity to learn about Samburu'sunique flora and fauna while fostering a deep connection with the natural world. With safety and enjoyment as our top priorities, parents can relax knowing their little ones are in good hands, making cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

As a professional photographer and an avid safari traveler, the quest for the perfect shot is never-ending. Our Photographic Hide offers an optimal photographic experience through meticulous design. Elevated slightly above ground level, the Hide provides a unique vantage point, putting photographers at eye level with their subjects. This perspective creates intimate and powerful images that immerse the viewer in the animals' world. The viewing slots allow a 180-degree panoramic view of the watering hole and the surrounding landscape. In addition, the Hide is equipped with comfortable seating and ample space for tripods and other equipment, ensuring photographers can focus on capturing the perfect shot.

Surrender to the enchantment of the Samburu night sky with our signature Sunset Dinner & Star Bed Sleepout experience at Soroi Larsens Camp. As twilight drapes the landscape, the evening unfolds with a sumptuous three or four-course gourmet feast served beneath the twinkling tapestry of stars. Your senses awaken with each morsel, marrying the taste of exquisite cuisine with the intoxicating allure of the wild. Post-dinner, we invite you to recline on our luxurious star beds, cradled within the ambient glow of a candlelit tented terrace. Framed by the rhythmic serenade of the Ewaso Nyiro River, this is your exclusive gateway to sleeping under the boundless African sky. Throughout the evening, your personal butler remains at your service, ensuring every detail of this unique adventure is woven with impeccable care. Allow the tranquil majesty of Samburu National Reserve to lull you into a peaceful slumber and awaken to a sunrise that imprints an indelible memory on your soul. With the Soroi Larsens Sleepout, you don't just experience Samburu; you become a part of it.

Experience the Samburu tradition of slaughtering, roasting, and sharing goat meat by a campfire. Watch the warriors drink raw blood and eat raw kidneys, and if you wish, participate in the process.

Immerse yourself in a unique Samburu tradition. Warriors form a human chain to descend into wells dug deep in dry riverbeds to fetch the precious resource - water. They water their animals and sing beautiful songs to strengthen their bond. The singing provides rhythm and motivation for the warriors not to tire.

Visit this community-run elephant sanctuary in Samburu County, established in 2016, to care for orphaned and abandoned baby elephants. Your visit supports the conservation efforts of these vulnerable creatures.

At andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas game drives are tailored to suit your preference, with a choice between shorter, twice-daily drives or one long all-day game drive with a stop for a picnic lunch. The annual movements of the camps are carefully planned to anticipate the progress of the Great Migration, so you should not have to travel too far to see the vast herds. However, if the Migration has moved off or the dramatic river crossings are in progress, you may choose to spend more time on the vehicle in order to maximise your chances of seeing this incredible phenomenon. When the Migration herds are not within easy reach, the camps remain in some of the most remote and beautiful corners of the Serengeti, with game drives setting off in search of the exceptional resident game. This will allow for some magnificent, private game viewing, while there may be significantly more vehicles present during the Migration months, particularly at river crossings. As you may be spending most of the day on the move, our safari vehicles are closed, with roll-down canvas windows and pop-top roofs. Game drives are conducted in the Serengeti National Park, so off-roading and night drives are not permitted.

View the Serengeti from above with this truly spectacular Hot Air Ballooning experience. Marvel at the views and wildlife from above as you enjoy this experience of a lifetime that will truly be with you forever. It is a rare and precious adventure never to be forgotten.
Only when in the Seronera / Ndutu / Grumeti / Kogatende regions.
Excluding any applicable park fees.

Additional costs apply.

This full-day trip to the shores of Lake Victoria promises a combination of wildlife adventures, sightseeing, fishing thrills and cultural insight. A morning game drives through the Serengeti takes guests to the park gate. From here, it is a 20-minute drive to the lake shore, with the option to stop and learn about the work of the &Beyond Foundation at Lukungu Primary School. On arrival at Lake Victoria, guests can choose to set off on a fishing safari excursion in a traditional canoe, pay a visit to the traditional doctor, clap along to the rhythm as the villagers perform a local dance or simply admire the magnificent landscapes. A picnic lunch is served on the lake shore before guests set off on their return journey. Minimum of 2 guests and minimum one months notice required. (Only when in the Grumeti region)

Additional costs apply.

Explore the breathtaking surrounds of the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, best known as home of the earliest remains of homo sapiens, discovered by Mary Leaky. Move on to crescent-shaped volcanic ash dunes knows as Shifting Sands, which slowly creep across the desert floor in response to prevailing winds.
Please note that a private vehicle must be booked for this adventure. (Only when in the Ndutu region)

Additional costs apply

With a dedicated game ranger and tracker, as well as a private game drive vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailor-making their own safari experience; choosing their own game drive times and spending as much time as they want at sightings.

Your journey will be pleasantly interrupted by the guide stopping to explain the Maasai’s medicinal and cooking uses of the indigenous vegetation which you pass along the way. Once you reach the village, you will be ushered into a Boma, which is a typical Maasai enclosure comprising of huts fashioned from mud and cow dung. You will be given the opportunity to meet the families, learn about their customs and beliefs and even ask them questions, which will be translated by your guide. If you are keen, you can also make a stop at the resident clinic and the local village school — it promises to be an enlightening cultural outing.

At andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas game drives are tailored to suit your preference, with a choice between shorter, twice-daily drives or one long all-day game drive with a stop for a picnic lunch. The annual movements of the camps are carefully planned to anticipate the progress of the Great Migration, so you should not have to travel too far to see the vast herds. However, if the Migration has moved off or the dramatic river crossings are in progress, you may choose to spend more time on the vehicle in order to maximise your chances of seeing this incredible phenomenon. When the Migration herds are not within easy reach, the camps remain in some of the most remote and beautiful corners of the Serengeti, with game drives setting off in search of the exceptional resident game. This will allow for some magnificent, private game viewing, while there may be significantly more vehicles present during the Migration months, particularly at river crossings. As you may be spending most of the day on the move, our safari vehicles are closed, with roll-down canvas windows and pop-top roofs. Game drives are conducted in the Serengeti National Park, so off-roading and night drives are not permitted.

View the Serengeti from above with this truly spectacular Hot Air Ballooning experience. Marvel at the views and wildlife from above as you enjoy this experience of a lifetime that will truly be with you forever. It is a rare and precious adventure never to be forgotten.
Only when in the Seronera / Ndutu / Grumeti / Kogatende regions.
Excluding any applicable park fees.

Additional costs apply.

This full-day trip to the shores of Lake Victoria promises a combination of wildlife adventures, sightseeing, fishing thrills and cultural insight. A morning game drives through the Serengeti takes guests to the park gate. From here, it is a 20-minute drive to the lake shore, with the option to stop and learn about the work of the &Beyond Foundation at Lukungu Primary School. On arrival at Lake Victoria, guests can choose to set off on a fishing safari excursion in a traditional canoe, pay a visit to the traditional doctor, clap along to the rhythm as the villagers perform a local dance or simply admire the magnificent landscapes. A picnic lunch is served on the lake shore before guests set off on their return journey. Minimum of 2 guests and minimum one months notice required. (Only when in the Grumeti region)

Additional costs apply.

Explore the breathtaking surrounds of the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, best known as home of the earliest remains of homo sapiens, discovered by Mary Leaky. Move on to crescent-shaped volcanic ash dunes knows as Shifting Sands, which slowly creep across the desert floor in response to prevailing winds.
Please note that a private vehicle must be booked for this adventure. (Only when in the Ndutu region)

Additional costs apply

With a dedicated game ranger and tracker, as well as a private game drive vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailor-making their own safari experience; choosing their own game drive times and spending as much time as they want at sightings.

Your journey will be pleasantly interrupted by the guide stopping to explain the Maasai’s medicinal and cooking uses of the indigenous vegetation which you pass along the way. Once you reach the village, you will be ushered into a Boma, which is a typical Maasai enclosure comprising of huts fashioned from mud and cow dung. You will be given the opportunity to meet the families, learn about their customs and beliefs and even ask them questions, which will be translated by your guide. If you are keen, you can also make a stop at the resident clinic and the local village school — it promises to be an enlightening cultural outing.