Tucked away in the remote Mathews Range, this camp is a truly extraordinary destination - where luxury meets raw wilderness, and every view leaves you speechless.
Location: Sarara Camp sits tucked into the dramatic slopes of the Mathews Range in northern Kenya, within the vast Namunyak Conservancy. Remote, wild, and utterly beautiful, this is a place that feels worlds away from the busier safari circuits. The landscape is dry and rugged, but rich in life and culture - a meeting point of wildlife conservation and Samburu tradition. The camp's elevated position offers sweeping views over forested valleys and seasonal waterholes, with elephants often wandering just below.
Rooms: There are just six spacious tented rooms at Sarara, each open-fronted and designed to take full advantage of the views. These aren’t your typical safari tents - they’re airy, elegant, and thoughtfully styled, with polished floors, high ceilings, and large en suite bathrooms complete with open-air showers. Every tent has a private deck looking out over the landscape, perfect for sunrise coffee or quiet wildlife watching. For families or groups, the nearby Sarara House offers two en suite bedrooms, a private pool, and full exclusivity.
Amenities: The heart of the camp is its stunning infinity pool, built into the natural rock and overlooking the waterhole below - it's one of the most iconic pools in Kenya. The main mess area includes a relaxed lounge, dining space, and a firepit for evenings under the stars. Meals are fresh, home-cooked, and served with generous Samburu hospitality. While the camp is off-grid, solar power keeps everything running smoothly, and the experience is deliberately disconnected in the best possible way.
Activities: A stay at Sarara is as much about cultural connection as it is about wildlife. Guests can visit the nearby Singing Wells - a deeply moving and entirely authentic Samburu tradition where warriors sing to their cattle as they water them. Game drives and walking safaris reveal the conservancy’s growing wildlife populations, including elephant, leopard, and reticulated giraffe. Bush breakfasts, sundowners, and birdwatching are all part of the rhythm, with each day tailored to your interests. Horse riding and helicopter excursions can also be arranged.
Sustainability: Sarara is widely regarded as one of Kenya’s leading models of community-led conservation. The camp is 100% owned by the local Samburu people and operated in partnership with the Namunyak Conservancy. Every guest stay directly supports conservation and community development, including education, health, and anti-poaching efforts. It’s a brilliant example of tourism as a force for good - where protecting wild spaces goes hand in hand with preserving culture and creating livelihoods.
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Best places to stay in Samburu
Samburu Trip Inspiration
When to visit Kenya
Find out the best time to visit Kenya with our month by month guide.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
January
January is a great time for wildlife viewing. The landscapes are lush and green after the 'short rains' and newborn animals can been seen. It is hot, but brief afternoon or evening showers cool things down, without compromising your safari. Over on the coast the sea is clear, making it ideal for diving and snorkelling, and the days are warm and bright.
February
February is an ideal time to visit Kenya, and great for game viewing. The landscapes are green and thriving thanks to the short rains, and newborn animals will be hopping around the plains. There maybe a few afternoon showers which are welcome in the heat, and don't impact on wildlife viewing. Water clarify is excellent at the moment, which is good news for watersports enthusiasts. And if you want to spot a whale shark, now is the time to try.
March
Still a good option for wildlife viewing and diving, although with the 'long rains' just around the corner, expect wetter and hotter weather.
April
April brings the start of the 'long rains' which means game reserves and national parks become muddy and harder to drive around. Over on the coast it's hot and wet, so it isn't the best time of year to travel. Some camps and lodges close during this period.
May
The 'long rains' continue into May, making park tracks difficult to navigate in the mud, and the coast very warm and wet. There will be less accommodation choice at this time as several lodges and camps during this period.
June
June is a beautiful time of year to visit Kenya, with the rains receding to just light showers, and the long dry season not far ahead. The high grasses can sometimes make it more of a challenge to spot game, but the landscapes are lush and some animals may begin arriving early for the migration. At altitude nights can be cool, but elsewhere the temperature is pleasant.
July
July marks the beginning of the great migration into the Masai Mara, and with warm and generally dry weather, this is a great time of year to visit. Days are sunny, skies are blue and there isn't too much dust around, so it's a great time for photography.
August
The migration is now in full swing in the Masai Mara, with lots of river crossing action, so if you want to see those massive herds of wildebeest and zebra, now is the time to come. Game viewing in general is excellent and it's one of the most popular times of year to visit, so some of the main parks do become crowded. Temperatures are warm and dry.
September
Game viewing continues to be excellent, and the weather is generally dry so this is another ideal month to visit Kenya's parks. The bush is less dense and as animals gather around waterholes and rivers it makes wildlife spotting much easier.
October
October is a great time if you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind the temperature slowly starting to rise. There may be a few short showers, but game viewing remains excellent with the end of the migration, and it's a good time to holiday anywhere in Kenya.
November
November heralds the start of the 'short rains' and with hotter temperatures some camps are closed. The Mara however is still open, and despite sometimes stormy skies, game viewing is still good. Fewer crowds and lower prices make this an attractive month to visit. Over on the coast water clarify is good for snorkelling and diving.
December
The 'short rains' are bringing the landscapes back to life, and as the plains start to become green again, wildlife viewing remains good, and it's a great time for birding. Some camps are closed (mainly in the north of Kenya) but many others remain open. The showers tend to fall in the afternoons and don't impact greatly on a safari. Take advantage of reduced visitor numbers and lower prices.
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