Banda pool area at Saruni Rhino

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

Banda pool area at Saruni Rhino
Stone banda exterior at Saruni Rhino
Bedroom inside a banda at Saruni Rhino
Banda bathroom at Saruni Rhino
Tracking black rhino on foot in Sera Conservancy
Black rhino in Sera Rhino Sanctuary
Elephants in front of the bandas at Saruni Rhino
Samburu singing wells near Saruni Rhino

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.

Indicative price range

From approximately USD 500 – 910 per person per night, full board including rhino tracking. Rates vary by season and exclude park entry fees — see park fees. We will confirm exact current rates with your enquiry.