Where is Ashnil Samburu Camp?
Ashnil Samburu Camp is a luxury tented camp in Samburu National Reserve that is around 350 kilometers away from the capital, Nairobi. It has 30 luxury tents that are placed on the banks of the Ewaso Nyrio River. Unfortunately, when we visited in May the river was dry, but we still saw many animals passing by through the day.
What kind of rooms are there?
You can choose between deluxe twin, double or triple room. All rooms have a beautiful terrace with a river view. There are monkeys all around the camp, so you should be careful and don’t leave any food in your room as they will find a way to get in and make a mess. Take this rule seriously. Our friend didn’t. She left a bag of chips inside, and monkeys went in and made a huge mess. It was like a tornado hit the tent.
Which facilities are there?
The camp has an excellent restaurant that serves a variety of menus comprising of Oriental, traditional and international cuisines. It also offers a swimming pool surrounded by sun lounges, a garden, and a lounge where you can chill and have a drink. To give you a peaceful and relaxing stay, the wifi is available only in the lounge. That means no distractions in any other parts of the camp. And if you want to make your stay even more comfortable, you can take a spa day and enjoy a relaxing massage.
Which activities do they offer?
To make the most out of your stay, you can take part in a wide range of activities that they offer at Ashnil Samburu Camp, such as game drives, nature walks, cultural visits to the Samburu village, and sundowners. They are all amazing and you won’t regret doing any of those.
1. Game drives
Game drives are a must. You can spend the whole day outside searching for the animals and you won’t get bored. Especially if you find any traces of the big cats because that will get you excited! We did a game drive in the morning and the afternoon, and also one from sunrise until late afternoon. It all depends on your agreement with the drivers. The game drives last for a couple of hours, so there is enough time to see many animals.
To learn more about Game drives read The Samburu Special Five – Exceptional Game Drive.
2. Sundowner
For sundowners, they take you to the middle of the reserve to enjoy dinner while watching the sunset on the river coast. Once in a lifetime experience.
Overall experience
The personnel is kind, and they will help you with anything. They usually come from tribes, and you can ask them anything about their life there. They will gladly talk about it and share everything with you. I learned so much from them. Our driver was a fun guy and he tried hard to find a lion for us, but we just weren’t lucky this time. All in all, I would come back to Ashnil Samburu Camp.
Prices
The prices of the rooms vary depending on the season and activities you want to do, so make sure to check their site for the most accurate information.
PRO TIP: You have to pay a park entrance fee of $70 per person. That is not connected to your stay at Ashnil Samburu Camp.
Best time to visit?
The best time to visit Samburu National Reserve and therefore Ashnil Samburu Camp is from December to March and July to October when the wildlife viewing is at its prime.
