Luxury · Luxury banda lodge
Saruni Rhino
Sera Community Conservancy, north of Samburu National Park
Overview
Saruni Rhino is a tiny, remote lodge of four stone-and-thatch bandas set in a dry riverbed in the Sera Community Conservancy, a few hours north of Samburu National Park.
Sera is home to the first community-owned black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and the lodge exists to make that conservation story accessible: guests track critically endangered black rhino on foot with rangers and Samburu warriors, an experience available nowhere else on the continent.
Beyond rhino tracking, the setting is genuinely wild — elephants regularly pass in front of the bandas, and days can include singing wells visits, the Lontopi hike and a trip to the Reteti elephant sanctuary.
Gallery
Location
Sera Community Conservancy, north of 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.
Saruni Rhino is highlighted on the map, alongside nearby camps, gates, airstrips and landmarks in Samburu National Park.
Room types
- Safari banda
- Stone banda with king or twin beds, en-suite bathroom and shaded veranda.
- Banda with private pool
- Banda with its own plunge pool overlooking the riverbed.
- Family banda
- Two-bedroom banda sleeping up to four, sold on an exclusive-use basis.
Facilities
- Private plunge pools
- Open-air lounge and dining banda
- Solar power
- Laundry service
- Wi-Fi in main areas
- Transfers to and from Saruni Samburu
Dining
Home-style, Italian-influenced full-board cooking served in the open banda, in the riverbed or as a bush breakfast after morning rhino tracking.
Safari activities available
- Black rhino tracking on foot
- Game drives in Sera Conservancy
- Guided bush walks
- Lontopi hike
- Samburu singing wells visits (seasonal)
- Reteti Elephant Sanctuary excursions
Best suited for
Conservation-minded travellers and repeat safari-goers wanting a rare, active wilderness experience.
Rates
Rack rates 2026
Rates from 03 January 2026 to 02 January 2027
Banda
per person per night sharing (3 bandas)
- High season
- USD 700
- Mid season
- USD 600
- Low season
- USD 500
Family Banda
per unit per night, up to 4 pax; additional adult/child at standard sharing rate
- High season
- USD 2,800
- Mid season
- USD 2,400
- Low season
- USD 2,000
Child aged 5–16
per night sharing
- High season
- USD 350
- Mid season
- USD 300
- Low season
- USD 250
Single occupancy
per night
- High season
- USD 910
- Mid season
- USD 780
- Low season
- USD 500
Conservation fee — adult
per person per night
- High season
- USD 175
- Mid season
- USD 175
- Low season
- USD 175
Conservation fee — child 5–16
per person per night
- High season
- USD 65
- Mid season
- USD 65
- Low season
- USD 65
- High season: July, August, September & 20 December 2026 – 02 January 2027
- Mid season: 03 January – 29 February, June, October & 01 – 19 December 2026
- Low season: 01 March – 15 March 2026
All rates in USD, per person per night sharing unless stated otherwise.
Included
- Full board — all meals & accommodation
- Soft drinks, house wines, selected beers & house spirits
- Bush meals, picnic excursions & sunset sundowners
- Tea & coffee service in own room
- Selected laundry service
- Unlimited internet
- Return airstrip transfers and transfers to & from Saruni Samburu
- One rhino tracking session per day (early morning or late afternoon)
- Shared day & night game drives in open-sided vehicles
- Guided bush walks
- Visit to the Singing Wells (seasonal)
- Sandgrouse spectacle (seasonal)
- Lontopi hike
- VAT & taxes
Excluded
- Daily conservation fees
- Premium spirits, wines/Champagne and beers
- Temporary Flying Doctors evacuation cover (mandatory)
- Additional rhino tracking sessions
- Exclusive use of safari vehicle & guide (USD 400 per day)
- Late departure & extra lunch fee (USD 180 per adult / USD 90 per child)
- Own private guides (USD 60 per day)
- Gratuities to staff & guides
- Anything of a personal nature and other extras
- Reteti visit
- All statutory increases beyond our control
Notes
- Minimum stay at Saruni Rhino is 2 nights.
- Rates are subject to change with notice.
- Rhino tracking is only available to guests aged 16 and over; younger children may stay but cannot take part.
- Children under 5 stay free of charge when sharing with parents/adults.
- Conservation fees are subject to change by the private conservancies.
- No Easter, Christmas or New Year supplements.
Rates exclude Samburu National Park entry fees where applicable — see park fees. Send an enquiry and we will confirm exact current rates and availability.
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