Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is a flagship, full-service safari lodge set in a lush river-and-springs oasis within Shaba National Reserve, forming part of the wider Samburu–Buffalo Springs–Shaba ecosystem. Sarova positions it as a high-comfort, high-reliability lodge experience with strong on-site amenities, while still keeping you in prime northern Kenya wildlife country—especially along the Ewaso Nyiro River.
A defining feature is the lodge’s setting: every room/suite overlooks the Ewaso Nyiro River and gardens, and wildlife (including elephants along the riverbanks) is part of the lodge’s day-to-day ambience.
📍 Location and Access (Nairobi → Shaba)
- Distance from Nairobi: Sarova’s own information pack cites about 314 km, typically 5–6 hours by road (conditions and stops affect timing).
- Ecosystem advantage: Shaba/Samburu is an arid-zone safari with a permanent river, so game viewing often concentrates along riverine thickets—excellent for elephants, birds, and leopard habitat.
🛏️ Rooms & Suites (Expert Room-Type Breakdown)
Sarova describes the lodge as having 85 chalet-style rooms with river/garden outlooks.
Room categories promoted on Sarova channels include Standard Rooms, Executive Suites, and the signature Born Free Suite.
1) Standard Rooms (Chalet-style)
- Feel: large, airy, rustic safari styling; designed as “rooms with a view.”
- Practical advantage: Sarova notes some ground-floor rooms suit guests with limited mobility.
- OTA-style listing equivalents: “Standard Double/Twin Room” commonly appears on booking platforms; Expedia’s room cards list features like premium bedding and in-room safe/desk (exact inclusions depend on channel/package).
2) Executive Suites
- Upgrade logic: a more spacious layout with a separate lounge connected to a large bedroom, with strong river/grounds views.
- Best for: couples wanting extra space, longer stays, special occasions, or travellers who value an indoor lounge area to relax between drives.
3) Born Free Suite (Signature / Premium)
- Theme: named after Joy Adamson’s “Born Free” legacy (Elsa the lioness).
- Size & amenities (Sarova listing): Sarova specifies the suite at ~79 sqm, with ensuite facilities and in-room amenities consistent with a premium category.
- Best for: honeymooners, milestone trips, or guests who want the property’s most iconic room category.
🍽️ Dining & Bars (Key Entity Topics)
Sarova positions dining as part of the safari experience—elevated views, river ambience, and a strong lodge-service rhythm.
- Surpelei Restaurant: Sarova fact materials describe meal service windows (breakfast/lunch/dinner timings) and a sizeable dining capacity.
- Chemi Chemi Bar: described as set along the riverbank with natural spring-water channels—an atmospheric sundowner-style setting.
🏊 Facilities & On-Site Experiences
Across official and major platform descriptions, the lodge is frequently associated with:
- Outdoor swimming pool and gardens (good for mid-day downtime in a hot, arid region).
- Wi-Fi is commonly listed as available (strength may vary in remote areas).
- Sarova also highlights “experience” add-ons on its site (e.g., wellness-style activities), and notes refurbishment works may occur in phases while the lodge remains open.
🧑💼 Meetings & Events (MICE)
Sarova promotes Shaba as a “bush conferencing” venue:
- Conference capacity: approximately 40 delegates, with options for indoor and outdoor setups.
🦓 What Safari You Can Expect From This Base
Staying at Sarova Shaba places you well for:
- Riverine viewing along the Ewaso Nyiro system
- The “Samburu Special Five” focus safari (Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich)
- Predator tracking in thickets (notably leopard) and classic arid-landscapes photography
💰 Current Rates: How to Interpret Pricing (and Example Rates)
A) Official-site rate structure (best for board-basis clarity)
Sarova’s booking engine typically prices by board plan (Bed & Breakfast / Half Board / Full Board), and rates vary by date and availability.
Example rates you provided (for 26–27 Jan 2026):
- Standard Twin Room:
- B&B: KES 34,797.16
- Half Board: KES 35,956.95
- Full Board: KES 38,276.54
- Executive Suite:
- B&B: KES 38,276.54
- Half Board: KES 39,436.34
- Full Board: KES 41,755.93
Note: These are date-specific examples and will change with seasonality, availability, resident/non-resident selection, and any active offers.
B) Booking platforms (for market comparison)
- Expedia provides live rate cards and also notes operational caveats such as game drives not necessarily being included in the room rate (important when comparing “cheap vs expensive” headlines).
- Tripadvisor aggregates reviews and indicative pricing/seasonality signals (useful for expectation-setting).
About Booking.com: Booking.com rates are dynamic and date-specific. In this environment, their page often requires JavaScript verification, so I cannot reliably extract today’s live price table here; however, it remains a strong channel for comparing cancellation policies, inclusions, and date-by-date deals.
✅ Who Sarova Shaba Is Best For
- Families who want a lodge with strong facilities (pool, dining, gardens) between game drives
- First-time Samburu/Shaba travellers who want reliable comfort and a well-known brand-standard property
- Couples seeking a scenic base with an upgrade path (Executive Suite / Born Free Suite)
- Groups / retreats needing a small, formal meeting room in a wilderness setting
Practical Booking Advice (Operator-Level)
- Decide your board basis first (B&B vs Half vs Full Board). In remote safari areas, full board often simplifies logistics.
- Confirm whether your rate includes game drives or whether these are priced separately by the lodge/agent/driver-guide (this varies by package channel).
- If you are comparing multiple Samburu-region lodges, benchmark:
- Location (river frontage vs open plains)
- Room type and size (Standard vs Suite categories)
- Inclusions (drives, park fees, transfers, drinks)
