Mid range · Eco tented camp
Basecamp Samburu
Kalama Community Conservancy, on the Ewaso Ng'iro River
Overview
Basecamp Samburu sits on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River within the 16,500-hectare Kalama Community Conservancy, a short drive from the northern boundary of Samburu National Park.
The camp is deliberately small — a handful of en-suite tents plus a family tent — and built to a low-impact, solar-powered standard in keeping with Basecamp's long record in community-led conservation tourism.
Guiding is by Samburu warriors from the surrounding group ranches, and because you are on conservancy land the camp can offer night drives, walking safaris and off-road game viewing alongside drives into the national park. The star bed, set out on its own deck with a plunge pool, is the highlight for most guests.
Gallery
Location
Kalama Community Conservancy, on the Ewaso Ng'iro River. Samburu National Park is reached by a 5–6 hour drive from Nairobi or a 1 hour 15 minute scheduled flight to the Samburu or Kalama airstrips, followed by a short transfer. See our guide to getting there.
Basecamp Samburu is highlighted on the map, alongside nearby camps, gates, airstrips and landmarks in Samburu National Park.
Room types
- Safari tent
- River-view tent with en-suite bathroom, veranda and solar lighting.
- Family tent
- Two sleeping areas with shared facilities for up to four guests.
- Star bed
- Open-air deck with private plunge pool for sleeping under the stars, as a supplement.
Facilities
- Riverside main area and bar
- Star bed deck with plunge pool
- Solar power
- Laundry service
- Wi-Fi
- Young Explorers Club for children
Dining
Full-board menus using local produce, served in the open-sided main area, on the riverbank, or as bush breakfasts and sundowner dinners.
Safari activities available
- Day and night game drives in Kalama Conservancy
- Game drives into Samburu National Park
- Guided walking safaris with Samburu warriors
- Samburu village and cultural visits
- Star gazing and astrophotography
- Sundowners at Mount Ololokwe viewpoints
Best suited for
Families and travellers wanting authentic community-run conservancy access at a fair price.
Indicative price range
From approximately USD 500 – 910 per person per night, full board including activities. Rates vary by season and exclude park entry fees — see park fees. We will confirm exact current rates with your enquiry.
Other places to stay in Samburu
Luxury
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Twelve river-facing tents with private plunge pools, shaded by doum palms where elephants wander freely through camp.
Luxury
Saruni Samburu
A dramatic hilltop lodge of six open-fronted villas with 360-degree views across Kalama Conservancy to Mount Kenya.
Luxury
Sasaab
Moroccan-inspired open-sided rooms with private pools, overlooking the river on the western edge of the Samburu ecosystem.