Three nights at Saruni Samburu in a family villa
Our family of four quickly settled into our beautiful family villa at Saruni Samburu – overlooking a pristine private conservancy bordering the Samburu National Reserve – with my youngest already clamouring to try out the Warriors Academy. Although it was tempting to let the kids go on their own, we also wanted to become Samburu warriors for the day! My teenage daughter started off too cool to participate, but it wasn’t long before our moran – or warrior – drew everyone in, and we were all throwing spears and firing arrows, scrambling to be the first to find edible and medicinal plants.
After a lazy morning in – the kids went swimming under the watchful eyes of staff – we enjoyed brunch served on our deck. An afternoon game drive through Kenya’s arid north, scheduled just for us, allowed us to practice our newfound warrior skills as a family. We tracked some of the Samburu Special Five (and had to promise the kids that we’d find them all before the end of our Samburu safari just so we could return for another delicious dinner at our villa!), spotted several elephant and even saw a leopard draped over a tree branch!
We woke at dawn on our third day, although the kids rose only on the promise of tea, biscuits and camel-trekking adventure to experience the Samburu – Lawrence of Arabia style. Surprisingly, although my partner was hesitant, my teenage daughter was first ‘aboard’, tossing her hair as if it was no big deal. Then we sloped off, swaying awkwardly with our hairy mounts, while my son chattered non-stop until he grew dozy with the tinkling of camel bells. We saw elephant in the semi-desert, all kinds of birdlife, and ticked off the remaining Samburu Special Five, ending off our special day with a marvellous gourmet picnic.
Enjoy two unique family villas in Kenya’s remote, wild and arid north, where flexible schedules, specially-prepared meals and private guides all come standard. Discover Kenya’s incredible wildlife with warrior training, game drives and camel trekking, or stay in and unwind, knowing the kids will be having the time of their lives.
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by Melissa Andrews
kenyan
escape