Meru and Samburu: A taste of what our staff experienced!

In life, it is said there is no better way of knowing something unless you have experienced it first hand! True to that word, we at Uniglobe Let's Go Travel feel that unless we know what we are selling to you, there is no point of us selling what you can easily find on the web. It is important to give you details about a lodge/camp that you will not find on a website but details that have been experienced .

With that being said,on the first weekend of  May 2011, nine of our staff took a trip down to Meru and Samburu with a mission to learn and explore the area, an area that so many of our clients visit.The itinerary was quite packed, with  them expected to visit over ten  different lodges and camps within three days! Upon their return this is the report and findings that the came back with:

Day 1: Meru
Departure from Nairobi was 7.00 A.M and their first stop was Isaak Walton Inn, which is in Embu. It is quite a country inn, very warm, very spacious and also pocket friendly. It is tidy,clean and the ambiance is great for a relaxing getaway or as a transit hotel to Meru.Their next stop was Rhino River camp, which is located outside the Meru National Park, and according to our staff, Rhino river camp totally blew their minds off! Rhino River's ambiance was amazing, the luxury tents decor is unique and their pool is one to leave you breathless! In one word, they described the place as exotic!

Rhino River Camp

They had a late lunch at Rhino River because as has always been the case, there is the assumption that driving to Meru takes about five to six hours, but in real sense it takes you about seven to eight hours. Also a notable fact is that if you are driving yourself to Rhino River camp you must use a four by four car alternatively get to the Meru park and have the camp's driver pick you up with their own four by four, as our staff did once they realised, their safari mini van was not going to get them to the camp!The team later spent the night at Murera Springs Eco Lodge, which is a new camp just outside the main gate of the national park.The camp is simple but at the same time very beautiful. Their key point was how they have a bonfire sitting just outside the dinning area which our staff described as fantastic!

Day 2: Samburu
According to the itinerary, our staff were to set off to Samburu early in the morning, but due to  mis-timing, the group set off their first visit to Elsa's Kopje which yet again left them in awe! Elsa's is located in the park and on the hills of the park so when you are there, it kind of give you a view of the whole Meru Park. The views are simply astounding and the camp is unbelievably elegant!

Elsa's Kopje in Meru

Due to its location (being on a hill) most of the time you are either climbing or going down the hill, therefore the place is best suited for people who are not physically challenged.The group then took off for Samburu with their first start being  Bomen Hotel which is located in Isiolo town.It is not a "fancy" kind of hotel but somewhere where we could recommend as a overnight stay while around that area. Our staff, then visited Samburu Simba lodge where they had a marvelous lunch and as all Simba properties, their staff were very friendly and very cheerful.The group then visited Elephant bedroom, which we must say is amazing! The tents have been renovated, with those by the river being lifted up the ground due to the floods that were experienced last year! Our staff say, they were not only left in awe but the views of the camp were out of this world!They did add that the staff were extra hospitable!

Elephant Bedroom Camp

They later proceeded to Larsens camp, which they also discovered they had faced renovations due to the floods, had great customer service and added that would recommend at any given day!The group then slept over at Samburu lodge where once again said the ambiance was great, their 7 o' clock crocodile feeding program was entertaining and their food was very fresh!

Day 3: Shaba

Initially, the plan was our staff would only visit Sarova Shaba on this day however, they sort out to visit Samburu Intrepids,which after the 2010 floods was completely washed away! In delight, the camp was now fully refurbished, they maintaining the original decor only lifting the tents up from the ground.The group then visited Saasab, which they say left them speechless!

Sasaab by the poolside

The group then visited Samburu Sopa lodge which they say was beautiful and proceeded to Sarova Shaba for lunch. The Sarova Shaba staff were very friendly and welcoming, the rooms of the lodge were of high standard and very clean and tidy. A memorable moment at Sarova Shaba is when one of our staff rescued a fish from the natural water flow paths, which was caught in a small plastic bag!