Lion's Cave Camp, Samburu

Exceptional all round - I would strongly recommend choosing this resort as your outpost while travelling in the north. Amazing scenery, pool, internet, beautiful shared area and the tented accommodation was wonderful. Angelou (a member of staff) was one of the nicest, most knowledgeable and helpful people I have ever met. He even gave us river walks, took us into Samburu reserve where we saw a pride of lions, and served us wonderful food and service throughout our stay. Saying that, all the staff were lovely. If you are going to do Samburu, Meru, Ololekwe, Retiti or similar, you should definitely check this place out!

LION’S CAVE “I googled my symptoms and it turns out I just need to go back to Africa” I am very grateful for this super precise diagnosis which I found on Instagram because it explains everything for me. First of all, it’s not an easy camp to stay at as you should be quite fit and agile to enjoy it. There are no even paths anywhere, steep stone steps each of different height lead to every cottage, reception, eating area, swimming pool. Once you take it into account and put up with it, the place turns out to be really fantastic and the fact that we stayed here twice the same month, once on our way to Ngurunit and then on the way back, proves it beyond any doubt. Though on both occasions we arrived late after 5 pm we still got our lunch served by very young and always cheerful staff. The view from the eating area is just spectacular with Ewaso Nyiro River down there at the bottom where you can also see the most amazing natural football pitch: huge smooth sandy area surrounded by giant rocks supporting the river bank with some boys actually playing ball. The rocks sitting on top of each other create a series of caves that enhance the view. The camp itself looks as if it was etched into the rocky banks of the river. After our meal we are led to a tiny yet cosy cottage with a king size bed, all the necessary shelves and little tables. The bathroom with a shower, washbasin, toilet en suite, nice and clean. And quite funny in fact as the structure of the walls is based on bits and pieces of wood of different shapes. So we climb to our cottage No 2 Gerenuk, take a shower (solar energy ) and sit out on our little terrace which offers the view of the river and the the plains on the other side. Angelo comes and we decide to have dinner in front of our cottage to avoid the climb down from Gerenuk then up to the eating area (and the same on the way back). We get perfect vegetable soup, chicken, rice, vegetables and to make it really an amazing day, Sylvia brings some excellent ice cream. And of course our favourite Tusker! At the end of the month we visit Lion’s Cave once again and stay the cottage Giraffe, a carefully selected cottage with the easiest access. It rains in the afternoon and at dinner we watch a spectacular thunder and lightning show. Yet another incredible show begins the next morning at breakfast which we have sitting at the very edge of the eating area providing an unobstructed view of the river. A sudden roar makes us look to the right just to observe the moment when the slowly flowing, lazy Ewaso Nyiro changes into a pride of roaring lions. It is the first flash flood we are able to watch live: in seconds the swimming pool and the football pitch we saw the boys playing on the other day are gone under brown angrily surging water. Hence, probably, the name of the camp: Lion’s Cave.

Excellent stay. The views are amazing. Accommodation clean and comfortable. Food good, staff wonderful and generous in their hospitality. It's perfectly located to visit the three reserves and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. We had a wonderful time, thanks to Dan, Rose and team!

Unforgettable experience! Our favorite place in our whole trip. Familial, spectacular, small with a lot of character with personal care and attention that went beyond anyone’s expectations. Rose and Daniel and their staff go the extra mile to make us feel at home in Samburu style and daily life. The food was delicious (the chef was an Italian trained family member) and served in a terrassed dining room overlooking the river and it’s wildlife. Nature walks, mountain hiking, game drives in 3 different parks, the Reteti elephants sanctuary within reach, make Lion’s Cave a place we would like to return to in the remote northern rangelands. The mix of the local bar, the pool hewn out of the rocks above the Ewaso Ngiro river made our stay unforgettable. We stayed 5 nights and left feeling we could have stayed longer! Thank you again, Sylvia, Agnes, Angelo, Karnis and Daniel! And of course, mama Rose.

The position of the camp is perfect with beautiful views over the river. The accommodation is very natural, a very comfortable bed, bottles of water, mosquito nets and an en-suite shower with flushing toilet. Our room had a balcony which collected the sunshine too. The staff were very pleasant and looked after us well. The food was generous and on the days we were out they provided us with delicious packed lunches. A well placed bar is on site too. Unfortunately due to the flooding the swimming pool was closed during our stay.

We had an amazing holiday in Lion’s Cave Camp. Our bungalow was beautiful and clean and our terrace with view ion the river was breathtaking. Staff was very friendly and food was excellent. The restaurant has a panoramic view on the river. Thanks to all the staff for your warm hospitality!!