Elephant Watch Camp Samburu

Elephant Watch Camp is an intimate, eco-luxury safari retreat nestled beneath towering acacia and kigelia trees along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve.

Founded by world-renowned conservationists Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton, and hosted by their daughter Saba Douglas-Hamilton, the camp offers a unique opportunity to live alongside one of Africa’s most studied elephant populations while enjoying exceptional comfort and hospitality.

The camp blends organic design with sustainability, using locally sourced materials and solar energy to create a minimal-impact, nature-immersed experience. With only six open-fronted tented suites, guests enjoy complete privacy, tranquility, and personalized service amid Samburu’s striking wilderness.

Location & Accessibility

✓ Within easy reach of Save The Elephants research headquarters
✓ Neighboring Buffalo Springs National Reserve and Kalama Conservancy
✓ Located along the Ewaso Nyiro River in the heart of Samburu National Reserve

By Road:

✓ Transfers available from nearby conservancies and lodges
✓ Accessible from Nairobi via Nanyuki, Isiolo, and Archer’s Post (approx. 5–6 hours’ drive)

By Air:

✓ 30–45-minute scenic transfer from the airstrip to the camp
✓ Daily scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Buffalo Springs, Oryx, or Kalama Airstrips (approx. 1 hour)

Accommodation – Safari Tents

Elephant Watch Camp features six individually designed tented suites, each built using natural materials and positioned beneath shady trees for coolness and privacy.

Luxury Tented Suite

An elegant, open-air sanctuary ideal for couples or small families seeking comfort and close connection to nature.

Features & Amenities:

✓ Solar-powered lighting and cooling fans
✓ King-size or twin beds with cotton linens
✓ En-suite bathroom with eco-friendly shower
✓ Locally crafted furniture and handwoven textiles
✓ 24-hour guest assistance and daily housekeeping
✓ Spacious veranda overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River

Each tent opens directly to the wilderness, allowing guests to watch elephants, monkeys, and antelopes pass by throughout the day.

Dining & Culinary Experience

Meals at Elephant Watch Camp are freshly prepared using organic produce sourced from Mt. Kenya farms. The cuisine blends African, Italian, and international influences, enjoyed under the shade of trees or beneath the stars by the riverbank.

Culinary Highlights:

✓ Candlelit dinners by the river
✓ Private bush breakfasts and sundowners
✓ Locally roasted Kenyan coffee and herbal teas
✓ Farm-to-table menus and freshly baked breads
✓ Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available

Lounge & Common Areas

The open-sided lounge and riverside deck offer comfortable seating with panoramic views of the river and surrounding landscape. Guests can unwind with a book, enjoy drinks at sunset, or observe elephants from just a few meters away.

Experiences & Activities

Elephant Watch Camp offers a range of guided experiences designed to connect guests deeply with the Samburu ecosystem and its people.

✓ Bush Dining & Sundowners – Enjoy scenic meals in the wild
✓ Guided Game Drives – Explore Samburu’s landscapes with expert naturalists
✓ Scenic Helicopter Excursions – View Samburu and Mt. Ololokwe from above
✓ Guided Bush Walks – Discover animal tracks, plants, and traditional bushcraft
✓ Birdwatching – Spot hornbills, bee-eaters, sunbirds, and over 450 bird species
✓ Cultural Visits – Engage with Samburu communities and learn their traditions
✓ Elephant Encounters – Observe and identify individual elephants with researchers from Save The Elephants

Facilities & Guest Services

✓ Fully solar-powered eco-lodge
✓ Riverside lounge and dining area
✓ Laundry and housekeeping services
✓ Complimentary Wi-Fi in common areas
✓ 24-hour security and Samburu staff guides
✓ Transfers from nearby airstrips and conservancies
✓ Conservation and education programs through Save The Elephants

Highlights of Elephant Watch Camp

✓ Intimate luxury camp with only six tents
✓ Fully solar-powered and sustainably operated
✓ Founded and hosted by the Douglas-Hamilton family
✓ Exceptional cuisine, service, and personalized experiences
✓ Close encounters with elephants and the Samburu Special Five
✓ Ideal for conservation enthusiasts, honeymooners, and photographers
✓ Direct partnership with Save The Elephants for conservation-based safaris

Elephant Watch Camp Samburu Non-Residents Accommodation Prices Per Night Include:

Accommodation on a full board basis  & laundry service + Soft drinks, water, house wines, beers, and spirits + Elephant watching and game drives + Bush meals, sundowner & picnic excursions + Guided bird walks and hikes + Visit Save the Elephants Center + Return airstrip transfers from Sasaab/Oryx + Value Added Tax  & Taxes Manyatta and school visits

Notes

*  No Half Board reductions
* Discounted Resident Rates available on request
* Detailed information on Samburu National Reserve | Click Here
* Children under 15 years in their own room pay 75% of the Single room rate
* Elephant Watch Camp Samburu also offers special programs for weddings
* Easter/ Christmas & New Year supplements of 40 US Dollars per person per night
* The camp is closed from 20 March to reopen on 10 May and from 20 October to reopen on 10 December during the rains

Elephant Watch Camp Samburu Non-Resident Rates  Excluded Items/ Extras

* Samburu Park fees
* Helicopter Excursions
* Camel Markets & Camel Treks
* Excursions to Shaba & Ololokwe
* Champagne, luxury wines, and spirits
* Samburu Dancers 180 US Dollars per group
* Exclusive use of the vehicle in the park – 450 US Dollars
* Gratuities to staff & guides and anything of a personal nature
* Temporary Flying Doctors cover, travel, and medical insurance
* Late departure fees (180 US Dollars per adult/ 100 US Dollars per child)
* Any payable extra services and all statutory increases beyond our control

Samburu National Reserve Entrance Fee (1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025)

Notes

* Child rates apply to persons 3 to 17 years of age. Persons under 3 are free
* Student rates are only applicable for persons aged up to 23 years old, sponsored by a recognized learning institution, and in possession of a valid student ID and visiting the reserve on a pre-arranged school-organized trip or for research authorized by the ticketing office of the Buffalo Springs and Shaba Reserves in Isiolo County. Students must obtain permission to use these special rates at least two weeks in advance of their visit.

Elephant Watch Camp is an eco-bush camp with six wide, breezy desert-style tents. The camp can accommodate up to 16 guests and features colorful cushions inspired by elephants. Each Camp is tastefully fitted with a high thatched roof and private verandas.

The six tented rooms are colorfully furnished with bright textiles and hand-woven rugs, and feature furniture made from reclaimed wood and from trees felled by elephants. The netted windows admit the breeze. Each tent has a king-size bed, bedside tables, and lamps.

The bathrooms are built in the open air around trees. There is solar-heated water for showers, and organic soap and shampoo are provided. The main house is an expansive structure with a comfortable lounge and dining area. It also has a small library for guests to choose from.

Guests can enjoy their meals in the covered dining area or under the shaded trees beside the river. Meals are prepared from the organic ingredients grown in the camps’ garden.

Dinners are romantic meals, served under the open African skies, lighted by a campfire and lamps to the harmony of owls hooting, baboons barking, and perhaps, elephants trumpeting as they drink from the river.

Samburu is known for its large herds of elephants; it’s also home to several species only found in arid zones, including the Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, and reticulated giraffe.

All three big cats are also found here – lion, leopard, and cheetah – as well as the rare African hunting or wild dog, whose numbers are increasing. More than 350 bird species are resident, and 70 migrant species pass through.

Elephant Watch Camp activities include: game drives, bush breakfasts, picnics, and sundowners, guided bush walks, Samburu village visits, hiking up Ololokwe, Camel walks, wild helicopter safaris, bird walks, and elephant-watching trips.

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com