3 Days 2 Nights To Sarova Saltlick And Taita Hills

Sarova Salt Lick is the star here: a striking lodge built above the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, with rooms and public areas looking toward a waterhole and the Tsavo plains. You get two nights of lodge comfort without giving up the early-morning and evening drives that make a safari worthwhile.

I like the simple package: park entry, transport, game drives, water, and all six main meals are covered. I also like the private format, which gives your group more room to set the pace. The catch is the long road day from Nairobi, and the $929.24 price needs to work for you, especially since drinks, tips, and the return lunch cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• A famous waterhole setting: Sarova Salt Lick overlooks a waterhole where you can watch for wildlife from the lodge.
• Two nights in the sanctuary: You are not rushing through a single overnight stop, so there is time for morning and evening drives.
• Private transport: Your group travels alone in a van or Land Cruiser, with park entry included.
• A full-board stay: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included for the two nights, along with water during the safari.
• A long first transfer: You leave Nairobi at 7:30 am and are scheduled to reach the lodge around 1:30 pm.
• A guide worth noting: Ranger Alfred Chilango is specifically named in the trip feedback, while Joshua Awili helped arrange a birthday cake and room decoration for one family.

Why Sarova Salt Lick makes this safari different

Many safari lodges are low buildings spread across open ground. Sarova Salt Lick takes a more dramatic approach, with accommodation set above the sanctuary and views toward a waterhole. That design gives the stay a strong sense of place before you even enter a safari vehicle.

The waterhole matters because it gives you something to watch between drives. You can relax at the lodge, eat, or spend time by the pool while still keeping an eye on the wildlife area below. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the setting means your safari does not stop the moment the vehicle returns.

The lodge has also been known for decades as one of Kenya’s flagship safari properties and is often described as one of the world’s most photographed lodges. That reputation is tied to its unusual architecture and hilltop position, not simply to polished rooms.

You should think of this as a comfort-first safari rather than a bare-bones wildlife trip. You have full-board meals, a pool, private transport, and a lodge with a strong visual character. At the same time, the wildlife experience still depends on timing, conditions, and what animals are active during your drives.

Day 1: Nairobi to the Taita Hills

Your day begins at The Clarion Hotel on Moi Avenue in Nairobi at 7:30 am. The transfer to Sarova Salt Lick is scheduled to take about six hours, with arrival at approximately 1:30 pm. That is a substantial first day on the road, so I would treat the journey as part of the experience rather than expect a quick hop from the capital to the bush.

Transport is by van or Land Cruiser. Since this is a private activity, only your group participates, which is useful if you are traveling with family or friends. You do not have to share the vehicle with strangers, and your group can settle into the trip together.

After arrival, you check in, eat lunch, and have time to relax at the pool. This pause is well placed. A long morning transfer followed by an immediate game drive can feel rushed, while a few quiet hours help you get your bearings and enjoy the lodge itself.

At 4 pm, you set out for an evening game drive. This is your first chance to see the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary from inside the park rather than from the lodge. Evening drives also give the day a proper safari rhythm: road journey first, rest in the afternoon, then wildlife watching as the light changes.

You return to the lodge for dinner and your first overnight stay. Dinner is included, as is breakfast and lunch throughout the two-night full-board arrangement. Drinks are not included, so plan for that extra cost.

Day 2: Two game drives and time to enjoy the lodge

Day two is the fullest wildlife day. After breakfast, you leave for a morning game drive, then return to Sarova Salt Lick for lunch. The afternoon is set aside for rest at the lodge, followed by dinner and another overnight stay.

This split schedule is one of the strongest parts of the plan. A safari vehicle can be tiring, especially when you are watching carefully for animals for several hours. Returning for lunch lets you cool down, eat properly, and spend time at the pool rather than sitting in a vehicle all day.

The morning drive gives you a different chance at wildlife from the previous evening. Animals move, weather changes, and visibility can vary, so having several drives is more useful than trying to force all your viewing into one outing. The evening meal then brings you back to the lodge without another accommodation change.

A named ranger connected with this experience is Alfred Chilango. He is specifically praised for his work, and one memorable sighting involved a lioness killing a baby buffalo. That is a stark reminder that safari is not a staged animal show. Wildlife can be beautiful, tense, and difficult to watch, sometimes all at once.

You should also keep expectations sensible. No specific animal sightings are promised, and the supplied details do not guarantee lions, buffalo, elephants, or any other species. The value of the second day is the extra time and the chance to make several drives, not a fixed wildlife checklist.

The lodge service is another important part of the stay. John, a restaurant staff member named in the trip details, is singled out along with the wider staff for attentive service. A separate birthday celebration included room decoration and a cake arranged with help from Joshua Awili. If you are marking a special occasion, it is worth asking in advance about similar arrangements, though you should not assume they are part of the standard price.

Day 3: A final drive and the return to Nairobi

After breakfast, you check out and leave for a final morning game drive. This is a good use of the last morning because it gives you one more chance to see the sanctuary before beginning the long return journey.

The schedule allows about four hours for the morning drive and onward travel arrangements, with arrival back in Nairobi expected around 5 pm. Lunch is described as en route, but the return lunch is not included in the package. That distinction matters when you compare the advertised cost with your likely total spending.

Your activity ends back at The Clarion Hotel, the same central meeting point used at the start. If you are arranging a separate Nairobi transfer, allow room for traffic and delays rather than planning a tight connection immediately after the 5 pm estimate.

The final day is useful but compressed. You get a morning drive, breakfast, checkout, a long road journey, and lunch on the way. I would not choose this schedule if your main goal is a leisurely final day at the lodge. I would choose it if you want two nights in the sanctuary while keeping the trip to three days.

What the $929.24 price really covers

At $929.24 per person, this is not a budget safari. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled into the package:

• Park entry fees
• Transport in a van or Land Cruiser
• Private game drives
• Two nights in double rooms
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the two-night stay
• Water during the safari

That is a useful bundle. Park fees and transport can add noticeably to a safari budget, and full-board lodging reduces the need to arrange meals separately. The private format also has value for a family or small group that prefers not to share a vehicle.

Still, you need to budget beyond the headline figure. Tips customary in Kenya are listed as $10 per person per day. Drinks are extra, and the return lunch is not included. The accommodation is based on double rooms, so solo travelers should confirm how the price applies to their room arrangement before paying.

The strongest value comes from the two-night length. You have an evening drive on arrival, a morning drive on day two, and another morning drive on departure, with the chance to rest between outings. A one-night safari would cost less, but it would also leave you with far less time to enjoy both the lodge and the sanctuary.

Van or Land Cruiser: what your vehicle choice means

The package allows transport in a van or Land Cruiser. Since the exact vehicle is not fixed in the supplied details, ask which one will be used for your departure before you travel.

The private setup is more important than the vehicle label for many people. You are with your own group, rather than joining a shared excursion, and that can make the long transfers and game drives more relaxed. It is also practical for families, couples traveling with friends, or groups celebrating a birthday.

The main thing to understand is distance. Nairobi to Sarova Salt Lick takes most of the first day, and the return to Nairobi also takes much of the final day. You are trading some road time for the chance to stay at a well-known sanctuary lodge without taking a flight.

Meals, water, and small extra costs

Full board covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the two nights. Lunch is included after your arrival and during the second day, while the journey back to Nairobi has a separate lunch arrangement that you pay for yourself.

Water is included during the safari. Other drinks are not included, so keep money aside for beverages at the lodge or along the road. Tips are also separate, with $10 per person per day listed as the customary amount.

The meal plan is convenient because you do not need to search for restaurants during the lodge stay. It also keeps the schedule simple. After a morning drive, you return for lunch; after the evening drive, you return for dinner.

Who will enjoy this three-day safari most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a short, private safari with a comfortable lodge and a clear schedule. It suits people who like having meals and park fees arranged ahead of time, and it works well for a family or small group that wants its own vehicle.

It is also a good fit for a celebration. The birthday cake and room decoration arranged for one daughter show that special requests may be possible through the tour company, though you should request them before arrival.

You may want a different plan if you dislike long road transfers or want a more flexible safari schedule. The first day begins early and ends with an evening drive, while the final day includes checkout, a morning drive, and the trip back to Nairobi. This is efficient, but not leisurely.

The lodge is the right choice for you if accommodation is part of the safari pleasure. If you only care about maximizing drive time and animal sightings, you may prefer a longer park-focused itinerary. Here, the lodge, waterhole, pool, meals, and private format are central to the experience.

Practical details that can save you trouble

Your start point is The Clarion Hotel, PR9C+H85, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. The start time is 7:30 am, and the activity ends at the same meeting point after the return journey.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The meeting point is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Since the activity is private, your group will not be combined with other groups.

Free cancellation is available 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, and the local time at the destination controls the cutoff.

Bring a practical safari wardrobe, but do not assume every extra is included. The confirmed inclusions cover water during the safari, not all drinks, and they cover the two-night meal plan, not the return lunch. A small budget for tips and drinks will make the trip easier.

Should you book Sarova Salt Lick and Taita Hills?

Book this tour if you want two nights of comfortable safari lodging, private transport, full-board meals, and three planned game-drive opportunities without arranging each piece yourself. The waterhole setting and unusual lodge design give the trip more character than a simple roadside overnight stop.

I would be cautious if $929.24 feels high for a three-day trip or if you want to avoid long drives from Nairobi. The price is easier to justify for a private group, a celebration, or anyone who values the lodge as much as the wildlife.

For the best fit, ask before booking whether your group will use a van or Land Cruiser and confirm any birthday or special meal requests. If those details suit you, this is a polished short safari with a clear rhythm: road journey, lodge rest, game drives, and a final return to Nairobi.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at The Clarion Hotel, PR9C+H85, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 7:30 am.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point at The Clarion Hotel.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately three days and includes two nights at Sarova Salt Lick Safari Lodge.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What type of transport is used?

Transport is provided in either a van or a Land Cruiser.

Are park entry fees included?

Yes. Park entry fees are included in the tour price.

Are meals included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included for the two-night full-board stay. The return lunch to Nairobi is not included.

Is water provided?

Yes. Water during the safari is included. Other drinks are not included.

What happens if I need to cancel?

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