Elephant Watch Camp, Samburu

Location

Situated in the semi arid North of Kenya, in a land of endless rugged beauty and untamed wilderness, Elephant Watch Safaris has established its camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve. Oria Douglas-Hamilton together with her husband Iain, have been associated with elephants for more than 40 years, and have been pioneers in studying the intricate lives of elephants and their intelligent social behaviour.

They have brought their scientific studies to the attention of the world, highlighting a well-organised family structure, with a conscious level of emmotions, pain, speech, and protection. Elephants form an integral part of the socio economic livelihood of the Samburu people who live and share the land with the elephants.

Description

The Elephant Watch Safari concept is a first for Africa.  Wild elephants have always been one of Africa’s most majestic sights and guests staying at the exotic Elephant Watch Camp have the opportunity to gain intimate knowledge beyond mere observations and learning to understand and trust elephants like never before while spending hours and days at 'arms length' distance with many of the 50 families, numbering ~1,000 elephants. Each elephant has a story, some tragic, some happy all intriguing.

Accommodation & Facilities

The exotic Elephant Watch Camp accommodates up to twelve guests in six stylish desert-like big mosquito-netted tents under high thatched rooves, each with its original ensuite bathroom, painted bucket showers with instant hot water. Centered between tents, rises  a high roof held between trees.  This is the open-air reception, where smiling dashing Samburus offer ice cold drinks and crunchy nuts with a big smile. A blaze of coloured swathes of cotton hang from the ceiling moving like great sails in the wind.  It is Africa at its best. Everything about this camp is unusual, each item beautiful in its own style. The camp hidden beneath great big Kigelia trees and acacias, lines the slopes of the Ewaso riverbed home to some of the largest bulls in Samburu, like Yeager who often stands at hot-breath distance from the tents. Large colourful cushions with elephant patchwork fill huge sofas, long white lanterns light up the room and local rugs adorn the custom designed furniture made from fallen trees.   Every detail of the camp is designed to blend with the nomadic camp décor.  Birds flit in the tall trees, baboons bark a warning of a predator, monkeys run and play, people in red splash the dry beach to cool the ground, the sun goes down in streaks of orange and then the stars light the sky. Lanterns brighten up the paths and delicious meals are served.

Hosted by: Guests at the camp are hosted by the elegant Elephant Watch Samburu Hosts and Oria Douglas-Hamilton. Attentive to every detail, and full of stories, guests are entertained and taken care of. Trained elephant-watch guides and spotters escort guests in comfortable open 4WD vehicles for their intimate elephant experience and also learn about all the other predators and wild animals throughout the two Reserves.  Picnic lunches served by the river with drinks, and interesting talks are all part of the day's activities in the wild and beautiful Northern Kenya.

Activities

Highly specialised elephant watching with charming  professional guides is a unique experience.  Each day is carefully worked out to offer guests unobtrusive game drives to spot leopards, cheetahs and lions as well as some of Kenya’s rare Northern species of wildlife. Gerenuks, reticulated giraffe, grevy zebras, oryx and the tiny delicate dikdiks as well as spotting hundreds of birds.

Each day morning bird walks along the river, or evening hikes are a welcome change from the vehicles. Sundowners on the breath taking Elephant Hill or visits to the Samburu Village to meet some of the staff families are definitely recommended, as is a visit to the Save the Elephants Research Camp.  For those who want to stretch out across the never ending horizons, a climb up Ololokwe - Mountain of God - is GREAT.

Closed Season

Closed in April and early May and November during the rains.

Access: By Air Kenya and Safari Link on daily morning scheduled flights from Wilson, or by private charter straight from JKIA Airport. By road, 7 hours from Nairobi via Nanyuki town and Isiolo.

Info and bookings: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel Nos: +254 020 804 8602   / +254 713 037 886  / Oria Douglas-Hamilton: +254 722 524 751

Website: www.elephantwatchsafaris.com