Ashnil Samburu Camp

Seeing cheetahs on both game drives, including some with cubs, and a huge elephant herd with lots of babies was incredible. The scenery felt quite different from other places, and we saw all the special 5. Back at Ashnil, the rooms were stunning, with two overlooking the river. Two elephants were feeding in the trees right outside when we arrived. The food was all delicious, with plenty of choices and table service instead of a buffet, and we had a lovely table and a very sweet waitress. Kennedy, the security guard, was especially kind. Staff even kept the pool open late on our first night so the kids could swim after the drive. Everyone went above and beyond. Our one year old was completely taken with the monkeys. It felt like a dream.

Set right along the Ewaso River, the palm vegetation keeps the place cool and gives you lovely views of animals from your room. It’s hard to believe somewhere this scenic is in Samburu. The natural swimming pool is also very close, so you can have lunch there after a swim.

We went to Ashnil for our anniversary, and on the first night they arranged live music and a beautifully decorated plate. Such a thoughtful touch. The lodge felt peaceful, surrounded by nature, and we loved how spacious the tents were, especially the private sitting areas. If you're lucky, animals come into view beyond the fence. We saw an elephant and a giraffe there, plus monkeys and a few owls around the lodge. The meals were all nice, with plenty of choices at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including vegetarian dishes. Check ahead if you have food allergies. Rachel gave me the best massage I’ve ever had. I’d booked 30 minutes, but it felt so good I extended it to an hour (€33). We had our own rental jeep, but hired an early morning game drive through the lodge and found it much better than trying to manage it ourselves. It was very affordable, so ask ahead ($30 USD pp). We saw cheetahs hunting and lions eating, a once in a lifetime moment. Hussein was our very experienced driver. The staff were the best part of our stay. Everyone was kind and helpful: the receptionist, Abdi who looked after our room, Marundu at the bar, Elvis in the restaurant, Roba in security, Hussain our safari driver, and all the other employees. I may have the bar staff member’s name spelled wrong, but he was a lot of fun and made our afternoon beers even better. I wish I’d written down everyone’s names so I could thank them individually. They made the stay so pleasant.

The tents were lovely and comfortable, and felt more modern than some we’ve stayed in. Great shower, too. The setting is beautiful, the food excellent, and staff were really friendly and helpful. Meals are table service apart from breakfast. The pool was cool, but still comfortable.