In short
- The best luxury honeymoon camps in Samburu are Sasaab, for a private plunge pool in every suite, and Saruni Samburu, for hilltop villas with views to Mount Kenya.
- Elephant Bedroom Camp is a more traditional riverside camp for couples who put wildlife first.
- Samburu has animals you will not see in the Maasai Mara, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
- Most couples spend 3 nights in Samburu, either on their own or before the Maasai Mara.
Samburu is the Kenya that most honeymoon couples never see. It sits in the north, where the land is red, the light is gold and the river is the only green line for miles.
That emptiness is the point. You get elephants on the riverbank, wildlife you cannot find in the south and a quiet that is hard to buy anywhere else. We are a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi, and this is how we choose between the best camps here. For the wider picture, see our Samburu safari guide.
The best honeymoon camps in Samburu at a glance
| Camp | Area | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sasaab | Westgate Community Conservancy | 9 tented suites | A private plunge pool in every suite |
| Saruni Samburu | Kalama Conservancy | 6 villas | Views, privacy and night drives |
| Elephant Bedroom Camp | Samburu National Reserve | 12 tents | Elephants on the riverbank |
Sasaab: the best honeymoon lodge in Samburu with a private plunge pool
Sasaab sits high above the Ewaso Nyiro River in the Westgate Community Conservancy. It has 9 tented suites, and each one is over 100 square metres.
Every suite has a four poster bed, a veranda and its own plunge pool looking over the river. The design is Moroccan inspired, with thatched roofs, canvas and a courtyard. It feels more like a private palace than a tent.
You can have a massage in your suite or at the riverside spa, walk with a guide, ride a camel or go fly camping under the stars. Sundowners are on a rock outcrop above the plains.
Sasaab at a glance
- Where
- Westgate Community Conservancy, above the Ewaso Nyiro River
- Suites
- 9 tented suites, each over 100 square metres
- Honeymoon touch
- Private plunge pool, four poster bed, in suite spa treatments
- Activities
- Walks, game drives, camel rides, fly camping, quad biking
- Best for
- Couples who want a private pool and a design led stay
Saruni Samburu: the best ultra luxury honeymoon villa lodge in Samburu
Saruni Samburu is the only lodge in the Kalama Conservancy. You have access to more than 200,000 acres, so it feels like your own wilderness.
There are just 6 open sided villas, built in tiers on a hilltop. The views run across the plains to Mount Kenya. Some villas have spa style baths and outdoor showers, and others have a fireplace on the terrace. Two infinity pools are shared between guests.
Night drives are offered here, so you can see the bush after dark. Samburu warrior guides share their knowledge of the land, and you can climb a sacred mountain or take a helicopter flight.
Saruni Samburu at a glance
- Where
- Kalama Conservancy, next to Samburu National Reserve
- Villas
- 6 open sided villas on a hilltop
- Honeymoon touch
- Mount Kenya views, mosquito netting over the bed, spa style baths
- Activities
- Day and night drives, warrior guided walks, sacred mountain treks, helicopter flights
- Best for
- Privacy, views and night drives
Elephant Bedroom Camp: a riverside honeymoon camp in Samburu National Reserve
Elephant Bedroom Camp has 12 tents among the doum palms on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro, inside Samburu National Reserve. A viewing deck looks over the river, where large elephant herds come to drink.
It is a more traditional safari camp than the first two, with a classic feel and relaxed meals served outdoors. It suits couples who care more about the wildlife than the pool.
Elephant Bedroom Camp at a glance
- Where
- Banks of the Ewaso Nyiro, Samburu National Reserve
- Tents
- 12 tents among doum palms
- Honeymoon touch
- A river viewing deck and dinners outdoors
- Best for
- Elephant lovers who want a classic safari camp
Sasaab or Saruni Samburu: which one for your honeymoon?
Both are superb, and both are very private. The difference is how you want to spend your days.
- Choose Sasaab for a private plunge pool, a four poster bed and a stay built around the suite.
- Choose Saruni Samburu for hilltop views, night drives and a villa with open sides.
- Choose Elephant Bedroom Camp for river life and elephants at close range.
The wildlife you will not see in the Maasai Mara
Samburu has its own set of animals. The "Samburu Special Five" are the Grevy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe, the Beisa oryx, the gerenuk and the Somali ostrich. Elephants and leopards are here too.
This is why many couples visit both. The Maasai Mara has the Great Migration and the big cats. Samburu has the rare northern species and far fewer vehicles.
The best time for a honeymoon in Samburu
The dry months, June to October and January to March, give the best wildlife viewing. The animals gather along the river and the roads are easy.
The rains are heaviest in April and May, when the land turns green and rates drop. Samburu is hot, so the early morning and late afternoon drives are the best part of each day.
How to get to Samburu
The drive from Nairobi takes about 6 hours. Most honeymoon couples fly instead, on a short scheduled flight to an airstrip near the camp.
Saruni Samburu is about 40 minutes by road from the Kalama airstrip. Sasaab has a private airstrip about 10 minutes away for charters. Most guests fly to the Oryx airstrip in the reserve and transfer for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Combine Samburu with the Maasai Mara and the coast
Samburu pairs very well with a second stop. Its neighbour, Laikipia, is the easiest one. The usual honeymoon is 3 nights in Samburu, 3 to 4 nights in the Maasai Mara and a few days at the beach.
See our guides to the luxury honeymoon camps in the Maasai Mara and the luxury honeymoon camps in Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills, and our honeymoon safaris page. We plan the flights between each stop.
What a Samburu honeymoon costs
The price depends on the camp, the season and the number of nights. Rates are usually quoted per person per night. Ask us for current rates for your dates, and whether a honeymoon offer applies.
Read our guide to honeymoon safari costs for how the total comes together.
Written by Ongeri Expeditions Team of Ongeri Expeditions, a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi. We visit every camp we sell, and we plan these journeys every week. Last checked 13 October 2026.