Elephant Watch camp – Samburu Hotels
This exotic camp is perched on the sand banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, beneath wide spreading Kigelia trees and Acacia Elatiors. It is home to some of the largest bulls in Samburu who can often be spotted mudding in the river, resting under an acacia tree or picking pods beside the tents. The trees are filled with a multitude of birds and monkeys. At dawn a gentle chorus echoes overhead announcing a new day in the wild.
Under the thatched roofs in a blaze of colour is the welcoming sight of our eco-friendly Elephant Watch camp, cleverly made out of recycled trees and logs.
Whether walking in the vast and arid reserve or moving gently amongst the giants of the bush, nature feels closer, more intense, and real! For a moment one can disregard the clutter of urban life.
The bathrooms are built around a tree giving our guests a novel washing experience with painted buckets filled with sun-heated water (from the camp well) and watched over by spying monkeys from the treetop while you wrap up in a colourful kanga robe after a hot shower. Elephants are never far away, often within hot breathe distance – be careful! But Samburu warriors escort guests after dark and keep watch throughout the night.
Elephant watching begins on arrival. Our specialised guides meet their guests at the airfield and drive them gently through the Reserve spending time with many of our well known elephant families as well as introducing them to some of the particular Northern inhabitants – the slim necked Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy Zebras, Beisa Oryx, over 350 resident birds with an extra 70 different migrant species. An elaborate picnic lunch is served by the river in proximity of the elephants and eventually guests arrive at camp welcomed by a line of tall, slim Samburu warriors holding cool drinks and will accompany you to the huge mess tent hung with swathes of brightly coloured material floating in the wind.
What a way to arrive! Relax in huge luxurious cushion-filled sofas and Dali-esque chairs built from twisted acacia branches collected from trees felled by elephants. Aromas of fresh herbs grilling over delicious food drift in from the kitchen. We have a charcoal cold room which keeps all our farm-produced fruits and vegetables fresh. The power supplied to all our lanterns and lamps in camp are run off solar panels. Guests freshly laundered clothes are ironed by irons filled with hot coals. Everything at Elephant Watch is very simple! Our goal is to make your stay as comfortable, fun and as stress-free as possible.
The Food
All organically grown freshly picked on my farm, our meat, crisp herbs and vegetables arrive by air. We make and bake delicious food. You will love our cold avocado and gazpacho soups – fresh tropical juice, daily baked focaccia, rye rolls and crunchy cookies, home made ice creams, relishes, jams, honey from our apiary, fresh pasta and rice salads and wait to taste our picnics by the river with elephants strolling by.
At night orange flames from the camp-fire and multiple hurricane lamps light up the dinner table, all set in blues and yellows with iced wine and mouth-watering grilled meat and fish. The river flows below while owls hoot and baboons bark under a black sky with a thousand stars. A distant Samburu flute can be heard and something crosses the river. It’s an experience of a lifetime.
