3 Days 2 Nights To Sarova Saltlick And Taita Hills

Safari views begin before check-in. This three-day private trip pairs Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge with game drives in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, giving you a polished lodge stay, regular wildlife outings, and a striking view over a waterhole and the Tsavo plains. I like the lodge’s unusual design and the convenience of park fees, meals, water, transport, and game drives being bundled together. The main tradeoff is the long road journey from Nairobi, with about six hours needed to reach the lodge on day one.

I also like the personal touch built into a private trip. Guide Alfred Chilango has earned praise for his work in the bush, while staff member John in the restaurant helped make one stay especially warm. At $929.24 per person, this is not a budget safari, and the price makes the most sense if you value a private vehicle, full-board lodging, and a luxury setting rather than simply the lowest-cost way to see wildlife.

Key points at a glance

• A famous waterhole setting: Sarova Salt Lick looks over a waterhole and the broad Tsavo plains, giving you wildlife-watching chances even when you are at the lodge.
• A private three-day escape: Only your group takes part, which gives you more control over the pace and safari schedule.
• Three game-drive periods: You have an evening drive on day one, a morning drive on day two, and another morning drive before leaving on day three.
• Full-board accommodation: Two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners are included, along with double-room accommodation.
• A long first day: You leave Nairobi at 7:30 a.m. and are expected to reach the lodge around 1:30 p.m., so road time is a major part of the trip.
• Helpful named staff: Alfred Chilango is specifically praised as a game ranger, and John is remembered for friendly restaurant service.

Why Sarova Salt Lick is the main attraction

Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge is not just a place to sleep between drives. Its position above a waterhole is central to the experience. You can watch the area around the lodge during quieter hours, then head out for a closer look during the scheduled drives.

The lodge has long been known as one of Kenya’s most photographed properties. That reputation comes from its distinctive setting and design, not simply from luxury furnishings. The accommodation is built around the wildlife-viewing area, so the lodge itself becomes part of the safari.

That matters on a short trip. You are not spending every hour in a vehicle. After arriving, you have lunch and time to relax at the pool before the evening drive. On day two, you return for lunch and an afternoon break before dinner. This rhythm gives you some breathing room instead of turning the whole visit into a race between game drives.

The available details describe accommodation in double rooms on a full-board basis. That arrangement is useful because meals are already planned and paid for, with two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners included. Drinks are extra, so keep that in mind when working out your spending money.

Leaving Nairobi at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting point is The Clarion Hotel on Moi Avenue in Nairobi. Departure is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., and the first road section takes you toward Sarova Salt Lick, with arrival expected at about 1:30 p.m.

Six hours is a serious transfer, especially if you have recently arrived in Kenya or are carrying luggage after a busy city stay. The good news is that this is a private activity, so you are not sharing the vehicle with a large mixed group. That can make the road portion more comfortable and gives your party a more direct connection with the driver or guide.

Transport is provided in either a van or a Land Cruiser. The exact vehicle is not specified in advance, so I would ask about this before booking if the vehicle type matters to you. A Land Cruiser is often preferred by safari passengers, but the supplied information does not promise one.

The long transfer is also part of the value calculation. You are paying for a complete package from Nairobi, not simply a room and a few local drives. If you want the shortest possible route to wildlife, this is not the most efficient choice. If you want a private, ready-arranged trip without organizing transport, park entry, rooms, and meals yourself, the transfer is easier to accept.

Day one: arrival, lunch, and the first evening drive

You should reach the lodge around 1:30 p.m. After checking in, lunch comes first. Then you have time to relax at the pool before leaving at 4 p.m. for the evening game drive.

That first afternoon is nicely judged. You are unlikely to feel ready for an immediate full-day safari after leaving Nairobi early and spending much of the day on the road. The pool break gives you time to settle in, freshen up, and enjoy the lodge before heading into the sanctuary.

The evening outing is your first proper chance to see the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Game viewing is never guaranteed, but the timing gives the drive a different feel from the morning outing scheduled for the next day. You return to the lodge for dinner and overnight accommodation.

I would treat day one as an arrival day with a valuable safari bonus, not as a full day in the bush. The timetable leaves limited free time after lunch, and the six-hour journey uses much of the morning. Still, the evening drive means you begin wildlife viewing on the same day you arrive.

Day two: the best chance to settle into safari time

After breakfast, you leave for a morning game drive. You then return to the lodge for lunch, take time to relax, and have dinner and another overnight stay at Sarova Salt Lick.

This is the most comfortable day of the trip. There is no major transfer to worry about, and the entire day is shaped around the sanctuary and the lodge. The morning drive lets you focus on wildlife before returning for a proper meal and a break.

The schedule does not give a precise departure or return time for the morning drive. That flexibility can be useful on a private trip, but you should confirm the exact arrangements with the operator. Your guide may also be able to explain how the day will be handled once you arrive.

One particularly strong account of the safari singled out Alfred Chilango as an excellent game ranger. A good guide can make a real difference, especially when wildlife is not immediately obvious. Alfred is also associated with a memorable sighting of a lioness killing a baby buffalo. That is a powerful and difficult scene, and it is worth remembering that safari viewing can include nature at its harshest, not just calm animal portraits.

The lodge break is another reason day two works well. You can enjoy the property rather than treating it as a basic stopover. One stay also included a birthday cake and room decoration for a child, arranged with help from Joshua Awili. That suggests the operator can respond thoughtfully to a special occasion, though you should request any celebration arrangements before departure.

Day three: one last drive before Nairobi

After breakfast, you check out and leave for a final morning game drive. The plan then includes an en route lunch before arriving back in Nairobi at about 5 p.m.

This final drive is important because it gives you one more chance to see the sanctuary before the return journey. It also means you are not spending the entire last day on the road. Still, the day will feel long: breakfast, check-out, a game drive, the return transfer, and arrival in Nairobi by late afternoon.

There is a small cost detail to watch closely. The package lists two lunches, but it also says return lunch is not included. Since the day three meal is described as en route, ask the operator exactly which lunch is covered and which one you should pay for. The wording suggests you should budget separately for the return lunch.

The activity ends back at the original meeting point at The Clarion Hotel. That is convenient if you are returning to a Nairobi hotel nearby or arranging your next city transfer from there.

What the private format changes

Only your group participates in this activity. That is one of the clearest advantages over a shared safari. You are not tied to strangers’ preferred pace, and you have a more direct way to ask questions or discuss the day’s timing.

A private format can be especially helpful for families, couples, and small groups with a birthday or other occasion to mark. The birthday decoration and cake arranged for one child show how this kind of trip can be adapted for a personal celebration.

There is also a practical benefit during wildlife viewing. If one person in your group wants to spend more time watching an animal, you do not have to balance that preference against a full vehicle of unrelated passengers. The supplied details do not promise unlimited flexibility, so I would still confirm how much control you have over departure times and drive length.

The vehicle may be a van or a Land Cruiser. That distinction matters if you care about ride comfort, viewing position, or the feel of the safari. Ask what vehicle is planned for your dates, especially if you have mobility concerns or want a particular style of safari vehicle.

Food, rooms, and lodge downtime

The accommodation is in a double room, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included for the two nights. This makes the package straightforward for most couples and friends sharing a room.

You should not read full board as an all-inclusive arrangement. Drinks are not included, and customary tips are listed at $10 per person per day. The return lunch is also excluded, so the final bill may be higher than the headline price if you order drinks, add gratuities, or pay for that meal.

The lodge offers a pool, which is useful after the first long transfer and between the morning and evening activities. The available information does not describe the pool or rooms in detail, so I would avoid booking based on imagined extras. The strongest reason to choose this property is its setting around the waterhole and its safari atmosphere.

One account praised the rooms and described the property as a special place to stay. Another highlighted the restaurant team, including John, and described the staff as consistently helpful. That human service matters at a lodge, where meals, room care, timing, and small requests shape much of your stay.

Is $929.24 per person good value?

At $929.24 per person, this package belongs in the higher-priced safari bracket. The cost includes two nights in a double room, park entry fees, water, full-board meals, transport from Nairobi and back, and three listed game-drive periods.

The price becomes easier to justify when you place a value on convenience. You do not need to separately arrange a vehicle, lodge, sanctuary entry, meals, or the return transfer. You also get a private activity rather than a shared group departure.

The value is less convincing if your only goal is to spend the maximum possible time on game drives. Day one includes a long transfer, and day three combines a morning outing with another long journey. This is a compact lodge safari, not an extended wildlife expedition.

I would compare the total package cost rather than the room rate alone. Park fees and private transport can add up quickly when booked separately. The included water and meals also reduce small daily expenses, though drinks, tips, and the return lunch remain outside the package.

Who will enjoy this safari most?

I think this trip suits you best if you want a polished safari with a famous lodge, private transport, and a manageable two-night schedule. It works well for couples, families, and small private groups leaving from Nairobi.

The birthday arrangements show that the trip can work for a celebration. The pool and full-board meals also make it friendlier for people who want some rest between drives rather than constant activity.

You may want a longer safari if you are traveling mainly for wildlife photography or hope to spend several full days in the sanctuary. Three days gives you useful viewing time, but the Nairobi transfer takes a large share of the schedule.

This trip is also a reasonable fit for first-time safari visitors who prefer a prepared package. You get a clear meeting point, a set departure, park entry, accommodation, meals, water, and a guide-led game drive program. You should be comfortable with an early start and a long road journey on both the first and final days.

Practical points before you book

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is listed as suitable for most people. The meeting point is near public transportation, although the supplied information does not specify which Nairobi routes are most convenient.

Because this is a private trip, confirm the number of people in your party and the vehicle planned for the journey. Also ask about the exact timing of the morning drives, since only the 4 p.m. departure on day one and the 7:30 a.m. Nairobi start are clearly stated.

Pack for a mix of lodge relaxation and outdoor game drives. Water is included, but drinks are not, and Kenya’s customary gratuity is listed as $10 per person per day. Set aside money for those extras and clarify the return-lunch charge before you leave.

Cancellation is flexible if your plans are still moving. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book Sarova Salt Lick and Taita Hills?

Book this trip if you want a private, comfortable safari package with a distinctive lodge, three wildlife outings, and most major costs handled upfront. The waterhole setting, pool break, full-board plan, and personal service make it more than a simple transport-and-game-drive deal.

Think twice if you dislike long road transfers or want several uninterrupted days focused on wildlife. At this price, you should be happy to pay for the lodge experience and convenience as well as the animals.

For a couple, family, or small group with three days to spare from Nairobi, I find the combination appealing. Ask about the vehicle, confirm the lunch arrangements, and budget for drinks and tips. If those details suit you, Sarova Salt Lick offers a smart short safari with a memorable place to sleep.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at The Clarion Hotel, PR9C+H85, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour leave Nairobi?

The scheduled departure time is 7:30 a.m.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What meals are included?

The package includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Drinks are not included, and return lunch is listed as excluded, so confirm the day three lunch arrangements.

Is transport included?

Yes. Transport is included in either a van or a Land Cruiser.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.