Samburu National Park shield and spears logoSamburu National ParkAccommodation & Safari Guide
Samburu National Park landscape of acacia and dry bush

Luxury · Eco luxury tented camp

Elephant Watch Camp

Riverine forest inside Samburu National Park

Overview

Elephant Watch Camp is run by the Douglas-Hamilton family, founders of Save the Elephants, and it shows in everything from the guiding to the conservation storytelling.

Six enormous hand-built tents made from local and recycled materials sit under acacias beside the river. There are no straight lines and no generators — the camp runs on solar and is one of the lowest-impact properties in northern Kenya.

Guests often spend time with researchers and learn to recognise individual elephant families by name, which makes this the standout choice for anyone with a serious interest in elephants.

Gallery

Samburu National Park landscape of acacia and dry bush
Elephants with a calf in Samburu National Park
Grevy's zebra in Samburu National Park
Reticulated giraffe in Samburu
Doum palms at sunset in northern Kenya
Samburu warriors in northern Kenya

Location

Riverine forest inside Samburu National Park. 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.

Elephant Watch Camp is highlighted on the map, alongside nearby camps, gates, airstrips and landmarks in Samburu National Park.

Room types

Classic tent
Large hand-built tent with king or twin beds and open-air bathroom.
Family tent
Extended tent with additional beds for children.

Facilities

  • Solar power throughout
  • Riverside mess and lounge
  • Massage on request
  • Conservation library
  • Limited Wi-Fi in main area

Dining

Organic, largely home-grown menus with vegetarian and vegan cooking done exceptionally well, served communally or privately.

Safari activities available

  • Elephant-focused game drives with expert guides
  • Save the Elephants research insights
  • Samburu cultural visits
  • Birdwatching walks
  • Sundowners on the riverbed

Best suited for

Conservation-minded travellers and elephant enthusiasts who value substance over polish.

Indicative price range

From approximately USD 600 – 900 per person per night, full board including game drives. 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.