Sarara Treehouses
An intimate treetop retreat in Samburu’s northern frontier, where elevated tents overlook sacred mountains and wildlife moves quietly beneath the forest canopy.
Overview Sarara Treehouses
Tucked into a forested hillside at the foot of Uarges, one of the Samburu peoples' sacred mountains, Sarara Treehouses offers a safari experience defined by perspective, privacy, and connection. Eight spacious tents are raised on platforms within the canopy, creating the rare sensation of living among the trees while elephant, giraffe, and other wildlife pass below. The setting combines dramatic mountain scenery with meaningful access to Samburu culture, delivering a stay that feels both adventurous and grounding. Designed to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, Sarara Treehouses offers a refined yet deeply authentic escape in one of Kenya’s most remote and culturally rich landscapes.
Bathed in tranquility, the eight spacious treehouse tents are thoughtfully positioned in individual forest settings, offering privacy, perspective, and uninterrupted immersion in nature. Raised within the canopy, each tent allows guests to watch wildlife moving across the forest floor below, while monkeys leap between branches and birds call overhead. Beautifully appointed and en-suite, the tents blend natural textures with understated comfort. Outdoor solar-heated showers open onto sweeping views of mountain and forest, creating moments of quiet connection to the landscape that feel both grounding and unforgettable.
Ideal for families travelling with children aged eight and older, the family unit offers a thoughtful balance of togetherness and privacy. It consists of two separate tents set close to one another, one double and one slightly smaller twin, each beautifully appointed and fully ensuite. Both tents feature enclosed outdoor showers, allowing for comfort and discretion while still maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding forest. Elevated within the canopy like the main tents, the Family Unit provides a peaceful and secure setting for shared adventure, creating the perfect base for families exploring Samburu’s northern frontier together.
The open-plan main guest area flows effortlessly onto a sparkling infinity pool, overlooking a busy wildlife waterhole with majestic mountain peaks rising beyond. Surrounded by forest and alive with the sights and sounds of the wilderness, the space keeps guests constantly connected to the remarkable biodiversity of the Mathews Range. It is a setting designed for lingering lunches, magical dinners beneath a canopy of stars, and early mornings that begin with coffee in hand before heading out on foot to explore this extraordinary landscape.
Game Drives
Visits to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
Guided Hikes to ancient forests and cycads
Fly Camp
Meet a Samburu Blacksmith
Beading with Samburu Women
Guided walks
Sundowners
Bush Dinners
Horse Riding at Sarara
Nomadic Montessori School Visit
Nomadic Healthcare Program Visit
Milk to Market Program Visit
Witness a Ngoma
Helicopter Safaris
Visit the Singing Wells
One can’t anticipate the surprise and delight at arriving to discover you really are going to be sleeping in a treehouse! The setting is beautiful; relaxing in the open air common areas under the spacious thatched roof; watching elephants and giraffes come to the water hole just steps below you from the terrace. The attention we received from our host, Philip, who was always available and ready to tend to our every need. Our guide/driver, Ian, was fantastic! And so knowledgeable! Our visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was amazing to see the care provided to orphaned elephants! Couldn’t ask for better hospitality
Philip has been at the helm of Sarara Treehouses for the past eight years, guiding guests through an experience that continues to surprise and delight. He loves watching the moment when visitors realise they are truly sleeping high among the treetops, immersed in a landscape that feels untouched by time. For Philip, Treehouses is more than a destination; it is a feeling of perspective, peace, and deep connection to the wild.
His knowledge of the region’s remarkable biodiversity runs deep, and time spent exploring with him reveals just how intricate and alive this landscape truly is. Under his stewardship, each stay feels thoughtful, personal, and rooted in place.
Sarara’s camps are proudly owned, driven, and managed by the local Samburu community, and that spirit of community and shared custodianship is woven into every experience.
Katie Rowe
Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Kenya, Katie trained at Prue Leith’s Cookery School in London, shaping the fresh, vibrant cuisine across Sarara’s camps. Her passion extends far beyond the kitchen – she has been instrumental in community initiatives including Milk to Market, Eco Ranger and Beading Mama, and is a co-founder of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Deeply committed to Samburu women, wildlife and authentic hospitality, Katie’s warmth and sense of family lie at the heart of the Sarara experience.
Robert Lemaiyan
Robert has been part of Sarara since 2014 and now leads as General Manager, spending most of his time between Sarara Wilderness and Sarara Camp. Deeply rooted in Namunyak, his knowledge of the land, wildlife and community is matched only by his quick wit and natural warmth. Respected by the Samburu community, valued by his team, and adored by guests, Robert embodies the spirit, authenticity and generous hospitality that define the Sarara experience.
Jeremy Bastard
A fourth-generation Kenyan, Jeremy grew up between the Maasai Mara and Samburu, developing a lifelong connection to Kenya’s wildlife and Indigenous communities. With a degree in Environmental Science and Social Anthropology from the University of Cape Town, and over a decade guiding across East Africa, he now leads Sarara as CEO alongside Katie. A co-founder of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Jeremy is deeply committed to community-led conservation. Katie and Jeremy were married at Sarara in 2015 and call it home, along with their three children.
“This isn’t just a place, it’s a feeling.”
Why Sarara Treehouses?
Property Highlights
- Community-owned and managed within Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy
- Set within 850,000 acres of private conservancy with no other operators
- Elevated treehouse suites built into the forest canopy
- Located in the remote Namunyak Conservancy at the foot of the Mathews Range, Northern Kenya
- Infinity Pool overlooking a permanent waterhole
- Access to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
- Seasonal access to the Singing Wells cultural experience
- Horse riding with Samburu guides
- Exceptional Northern species including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and kudu
- Immersive forest and wilderness experience
Positive Impact
- Owned and managed in partnership with the local Samburu community
- Supports the Sarara Foundation (education, healthcare, conservation and enterprise initiatives)
- Founding supporter of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (Africa’s first community-owned elephant sanctuary)
- Supports Nomadic Montessori education programme
- Supports Nomadic Healthcare outreach services
- Supports Milk to Market programme empowering Samburu women
- Eliminated single-use plastics across camp operations
- Off-grid solar power with 24-hour renewable energy supply
What to expect at Sarara Treehouses
Accommodation
- Eight elevated treehouse suites, all ensuite
- Outdoor solar-heated showers with indoor toilets and basins
- One family unit with joined walkway (sleeps 4)
- Pure cotton linen, dressing gowns and lock box
- Private verandas with forest and conservancy views
- Central dining and sitting area
- Infinity pool overlooking waterhole
- Starlink WiFi in main areas
Experiences Included (Safari Package)
- Shared day and night game drives
- Guided walks and Mathews Range forest hikes
- Visit to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (entrance fee payable extra)
- Reteti Elephant Sanctuary entrance fee
- De Brazza monkey hike
- Village visits
- One horse ride per person
- Full board accommodation
- Soft drinks, local beers and non-premium wines and spirits
- Daily laundry service
- Namunyak airstrip transfers
- Community Heritage Fees not included in accommodation rates and quoted separately
Enhance Your Stay (Additional Cost)
- Reteti Elephant Sanctuary entrance fees
- Additional horse rides
- Fly camping mobilisation fee
- Ololokwe day trip
- Beading with Samburu women
- Samburu blacksmith experience
- Exclusive use of vehicle
- Helicopter trips
Getting There
By Air
- Private charters into Namunyak airstrip.
- Scheduled flights to Kalama airstrip (road transfer payable direct)
- Scheduled flights to Lewa (road transfer payable extra)
- Daily shared Scenic Wilderness charter from the Mara, Lewa and Wilson
- By Helicopter
By Road
- Road transfer from Kalama – approx. 1.5 hours (payable extra)
- Road transfer from Lewa – approx. 3.5 hours (payable extra)
- Direct transfer from Namunyak Airstrip (20–30 minutes)
- GPS Coordinates: 0°56’22.2”N 37°25’46.5”E
Additional Information
Property Details
- Maximum 16 guests
- Closed November
- Altitude: approx. 800m above sea level
- Check-in: 11:00AM
- Check-out: 10:00AM
- Climate: Warm year round (Nightly lows of 20-25°C and daily highs of 30-35 °C)
- Due to terrain and camp layout, not advisable for guests with limited mobility
Power and Connectivity
- Solar power (220V), 24-hour supply
- Charging points in rooms and main areas (3-pin square)
- No adapters provided
- CPAP supported
- Starlink WiFi in main areas
- Intermittent Safaricom signal
Facilities
- Infinity pool
- Yoga mats available
- Gift shop
- Payment accepted: Visa & Mastercard
- Tipping: cash only
- Communal dining (private dining available on request)
Child Policy
- Children aged 6 years and above
- Child minding available on request (advance notice required)
Vehicles
- Closed Toyota Land Cruisers with rooftop seats and open Landrovers
- Shared vehicle policy
- Photography bean bags provided
- Reference books available
- No charging points in vehicles
- Refreshments available: Water and soft drinks
