Contact Us. We’re open today 9.00am – 5.30pm
+(254) 706 612 070
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is in the Shaba National Reserve. This Reserve is part of a conglomeration of reserves in the Eastern Province, descending from Mt. Kenya, at the entrance to the vast scrub desert that reaches beyond L.Turkana, are situated Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve and the third contiguous National Reserve, Shaba.
Deep in the arid North Country of Kenya; situated across the Great North Road, is Shaba National Reserve which forms part of a trio of reserves quite different from the ones found in Kenya. Shaba takes its name from Mount Shaba (1525 meters), a volcanic mountain that became extinct around 5,000 years ago and lies on the border of the reserve.
The Ewaso Nyiro River whose origin is the northern slope of Mt. Kenya around the Nanyuki Township borders all the reserves. The river’s name is derived from the local community’s language. It means the river of brown or muddy water.
This is the only lodge in the 239 sq. km Shaba National Reserve. The reserve was gazetted as a conservation area in 1976. Thirteen (13) years later, the lodge became officially operational.
This Lodge basks in a legacy bequeathed by Joy Adamson of the ‘Born Free’ fame. She was the wife of a prominent conservationist, George Adamson, who was a senior game warden of the area. Joy raised her adopted animals next door to the current Sarova Shaba Lodge’s site. She first came to Kenya in 1910 with her first husband whom she later divorced.
In 1956, George, in his capacity as the game warden was compelled to kill a man-eating lioness, which had three newly born cubs. So orphaned before they could imprint on any animate object, they were taken in by Joy Adamson who became their foster mother. She named them ‘Lustica’, ‘Big One’, and ‘Elsa’. She later found that she could not handle three fast-growing lionesses, therefore she reluctantly sent the cubs to By drop, Rotterdam when they were five months old.
Located in the Semi-desert Shaba Game Reserve in Central Kenya the Sarova Shaba Lodge offers the guests a chance to see the bounty of unique wildlife made famous by the film “Born Free”. In March 1998, the Lodge played host to the cast and crew of the “ Born Free”, true-life story of George and Joy Adamson and starred both Kenyan actors and International film stars. The majority of the filming took place in the Game Reserve but some of the scenes were actually shot in the lodge.
Climate
Located in the semi-arid region of Northern Kenya, just next to Ewaso Nyiro River
Very hot & dry with temperature averaging 29 degrees centigrade during the day
Warm nights
How to get to Sarova Shaba Lodge
The distance from Nairobi to Sarova Shaba is 314km
By Air 45 minutes from Nairobi (Wilson Airport) to Samburu or Shaba airstrip
By road: 5hrs from Nairobi – recommended 4×4 wheel drive or Tour Van
Ready to book your holiday at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge ? Contact us for the best rates.
Here are Sarova Shaba Game Lodge Resident Rates:
What Does PPS Mean? PPS (Per Person Sharing) means cost Per Adult when sharing the Room with another. Example KES 10,000/- PPS means, 2 Adults in 1 Room pay KES 20,000/-
Standard Room (FB) |
Sharing (PPS) |
Single Occupancy |
10th Jan 2023 – 31st Mar 2023 | KES 9,600/- PPS | KES 14,400/- PP |
1st Apr 2023 – 6th Apr 2023 | KES 8,640/- PPS | KES 12,480/- PP |
7th Apr 2023 – 10th Apr 2023 | KES 12,120/- PPS | KES 19,400/- PP |
11th Apr 2023 – 15th Jun 2023 | KES 8,640/- PPS | KES 12,480/- PP |
16th Jun 2023 – 22nd Dec 2023 | KES 9,600/- PPS | KES 14,400/- PP |
Sarova Shaba Prices / Rates (above) are in KES, Per Person, Per Night
FB: Full Board (Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast)
Rates Exclude: Drinks, Samburu / Shaba Game Reserve Fees and other Extras
Sarova Shaba Child Policy:
Up to 6 years, Sharing with 1 or 2 Adults: FREE (Max: 2 Per Room)
7 – 12 years, Sharing with 1 or 2 Adults: 1 Child FREE, additional Children: 15% of Single Rate
13 – 17 years, Sharing with 1 or 2 Adults: 25% of Single Rate
Up to 17 years in own Room: 80% of applicable Single/Double/Triple Rate
Samburu National Reserve, 2023 Park Fees /
Samburu Buffalo Springs National Reserve Fees /
Samburu Shaba National Reserve Park Fees:
Samburu National Reserve Park Fees |
KENYA CITIZEN | EAST AFRICAN RESIDENT |
NON RESIDENT |
Adults (24 Hours) Child (24 Hours) |
KES 500.00 | KES 1,000.00 | USD 70.00 USD 40.00 |
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge offers a range of facilities to cater to the needs of its guests. The lodge's main restaurant serves a variety of cuisines, including local and international dishes, with both indoor and outdoor seating options available. The main bar provides a relaxing atmosphere where guests can enjoy their favorite drinks while socializing with others.
For guests looking to unwind and rejuvenate, the Tulia Spa offers a range of massage and beauty treatments to help guests relax and feel refreshed. For those who need to stay connected with work or personal matters, the lodge offers Wi-Fi, a business center, and conference facilities to ensure guests can stay productive during their stay.
For couples looking to celebrate their wedding, the lodge offers beautiful wedding grounds and a honeymoon suite that provides privacy and luxury. Guests can also shop for souvenirs and gifts at the on-site gift shop.
Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the lodge's outdoor team-building facilities, which offer a range of activities designed to promote teamwork and collaboration. The lodge's game drive vehicles provide guests with an opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness and view a variety of wildlife species up close.
Finally, guests can take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool, which offers a perfect way to cool off and relax after a long day of activities. Overall, Sarova Shaba Game Lodge offers a wide range of facilities designed to ensure guests have an enjoyable and comfortable stay.
These eighty chalet style rooms are across two storeys, four rooms to a block, and are designed to incorporate intricate detail, offering amazing views of the Ewaso Nyiro River and the numerous live springs that run across the lodge. The ground floor rooms are suitable for persons with limited mobility.
Are you looking for luxury in the midst of the wild in this oasis of calm and serene demeanor? Sarova Shaba Game Lodge has four executive suites with an elaborate lounge that opens into a large bedroom with breathtaking views of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge has one tastefully furnished presidential suite that also encapsulates the Samburu culture in its interior décor. Situated amongst natural springs and lily pools, the suite is a stand-alone unit with a large bedroom, living and dining area and a vast bathroom with a private Jacuzzi. This suite embodies the history of Joy Adamson and is named the “Born Free Suite”.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge excels in the freshness and quality of its food which is supported by the Lodge’s own vegetable and herb garden.
The Main restaurant at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is built on stilts overlooking the river and free form pool with stunning views of the greens, river, and bird-life. The restaurant serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Cuisine includes pan-African, pan-European and pan-Asian. The Salad buffet has a wide variety of salads using the freshest ingredients and herbs from the Lodge’s own vegetable and herb garden. The restaurant has a capacity of 150 people.
The Bar is located along the river bank with natural spring water channels where guests can unwind to the soothing sound of water. The fully stocked bar offers a variety of cocktails, wines, and spirits.
The pool bar serves refreshing juices, beer, and light beverages.
A unique experience of dining at the sandbank along the river. The Breakfast includes live cooking against the backdrop of the Uaso Nyiro River and Shaba game park.
Drinks and cocktails are served at this site offering stunning views of the sunset over the meandering river and the wilderness.
A spectacular dining experience under a star-studded sky, with live bar-be-cue of game meats and other local delicacies enjoyed along with traditional music and dance. Bush dinners at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge as a major attraction during the festive periods
Special request lunches and dinners are arranged at various out-door locations in the Lodge including the lawns where natural springs flow or the fish pond. where guests can enjoy an intimate dinner or private party.
For guests at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge who want to enjoy longer game drives, the lodge offers a picnic hamper with light meals and beverages.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is situated on the arid semi-deserts of north eastern Kenya is made famous by the late Joy Adamson and her lioness Elsa, is often referred as the “Born Free Country” is stunningly beautiful, as this is the home to an extra ordinary amount and diversity of wildlife. The scenery is full of surprises and through the heart of it runs the Ewaso Nyiro River supporting a string of lush oasis.
This is one of the few areas in Kenya visitors can see the uncommon Grevy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe, Beisa Oryx, the gerenuk, and the blue legged Somali ostrich. Other than the unique wildlife some members of the big five can also be seen, the lion, African elephants, the leopard & the Cape buffalo. Experience and venture out with our experienced guide who will either take you for an early morning game drive, late afternoon game drive or a half-day game drive.
Birdlife in Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is wonderful with a record of over 350 different birds species. Its an ideal place for birders. Team up with the Naturalist/guide, take a walk and you will be able to know more on the indigenous medicinal plant common to the area.
After the late afternoon game drive, visit the beautifully beaded and decorated Samburu morans performing cultural dances and songs.
Nile crocodiles heavily populate the Ewaso Nyiro River, there is a crocodile feeding session at 7:30 P.m to 8:00 P.m in the evening at Sarova Shaba and the Naturalist/guide will escort you to the viewing deck where you may have the opportunity to feed the reptiles.
Bush bubbly breakfasts are an integral part of a worth visit to Sarova Shaba Lodge and this can be provided with prior arrangements. This takes place in a beautiful setting alongside the surging waters of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
After an exciting game drive, savor a Sarova Shaba sundowner cocktail at the banks of Ewaso Nyiro River as you unwind, watch the sun setting slip slowly below the horizon and listen to lions roar in a distance
Escape an enjoy a barbecue dinner is set in a Samburu styled Boma above the stars, skies, and Shaba are elemental. Late at night, you can walk back to the lodge guided only by the stars and the moon
The Lodge also has conference facilities for up to 100 delegates to host a conference with a difference deep in the African bush.
The Doum Room with open French windows overlooking the fishpond and veranda. Audio Visual equipment and secretarial assistance
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge lends itself naturally to the ideal exotic wedding flavored with the culture and traditions of the Samburu People. The weddings are held at the landscaped greens at the lodge, with a Samburu elder blessing the marriage.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is fully geared to take up all the arrangements so that guests can truly enjoy themselves without worrying about the details These include venue decoration using traditional Samburu fabrics, beads and handicraft, flowers, music and dance, bubbly toast and tiered cake, bush dinner with traditional dancers and photography. The lodge also has a mini spa to indulge in the couple.
Contact us to book your team building, conferences or wedding at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge.
Save up to 50% on tours and trips. Get instant access to lower prices.
Contact us now to have all of your tour-related question answered.