3 Days 2 Nights To Sarova Saltlick And Taita Hills

Wildlife comes close at Salt Lick. This three-day escape from Nairobi combines game drives in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary with stays at the famous Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge, built above the Tsavo plains and a busy waterhole. I like the easy private format, with your own group in a van or Land Cruiser, and I like the lodge itself, where you can watch wildlife from the property instead of waiting for every sighting to happen on a drive. The main drawback is the long road journey, especially on the first and last days.

I also like the generous full-board setup, which covers accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, park entry, water, transport, and game drives. The price of $929.24 per person is not cheap, but it can make sense if you value a private trip and want your main safari costs bundled together. You should still budget for drinks, customary tips of about $10 per person per day, and the return-day lunch.

The lodge has earned a reputation for its unusual raised design and its views over the sanctuary. One family even arranged birthday decorations and a cake through Joshua Awili, while guide Alfred Chilango received special praise for his work in the bush. Those touches suggest a trip that can feel personal, though the short schedule leaves little room for delays or a slow start.

Key points to know before booking

• Wildlife watching begins at the lodge: Sarova Salt Lick overlooks a waterhole, so you may see animals without leaving the property.
• The first day is mostly a transfer: You leave Nairobi at 7:30 a.m. and reach the lodge around 1:30 p.m., followed by lunch and an evening drive.
• Day two gives you the best safari rhythm: A morning drive, lodge break, lunch, and evening dinner keep the day active without rushing every hour.
• The tour is private: Only your own group participates, with transport by van or Land Cruiser.
• The price covers the major basics: Park fees, two nights, six listed main meals, water, transport, and game drives are included.
• Plan for extra costs: Drinks, tips, and the return-day lunch are not included, and cancellation is free only until 24 hours before departure.

Why Salt Lick feels different from an ordinary safari lodge

Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge is not simply a place to sleep between drives. Its most memorable feature is its raised arrangement above the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, with rooms and common areas looking toward a waterhole and the broad Tsavo plains.

That setting changes the pace of the trip. You can have a meal, sit by the pool, or take a break from the vehicle while still feeling connected to the wildlife area. Safari days often involve long drives and patient waiting, so having a lodge with its own view gives you another way to watch the bush.

The lodge has been known for decades as one of Kenya’s best-known safari properties and is often described as one of the world’s most photographed lodges. That reputation comes from its striking design and its position above the waterhole. I would choose it for the setting first, then for the game drives.

You should keep expectations sensible. A waterhole is a useful wildlife focus, not a guarantee of constant animal sightings. Nature sets the timetable. The advantage is that the lodge gives you a good chance to keep looking even when you are not on a formal drive.

Day one: Nairobi to the 4 p.m. game drive

Your pickup begins at The Clarion Hotel on Moi Avenue in Nairobi at 7:30 a.m. The trip to Salt Lick takes about six hours, with arrival listed for around 1:30 p.m. That makes the first day a transfer day with a safari added at the end, rather than a full day in the sanctuary.

Once you arrive, you check in, have lunch, and can relax at the pool. This pause matters. After a long road journey, you may prefer a quiet hour before heading out again. The planned evening game drive begins at 4 p.m., giving you a first look at Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and the area around the lodge.

You return for dinner and spend the night at Sarova Salt Lick. The schedule is clear and manageable, but you should not book this day expecting hours of wildlife viewing. The five-hour listed stop includes the lodge visit and drive program, while much of the day is taken up by the journey from Nairobi.

The lodge’s setting should begin working its magic as soon as you arrive. Instead of checking into an anonymous hotel, you are staying above a waterhole with the Tsavo plains in view. That gives the first afternoon a sense of place, even before the evening drive starts.

Day two: the strongest safari day

Day two is the heart of the trip. After breakfast, you head out for a morning game drive, then return to the lodge for lunch and downtime. Dinner and the overnight stay remain at Salt Lick.

This pattern is one of the tour’s best features. A morning drive gives you a fresh start in the sanctuary, while the midday break keeps you from spending every hour in a vehicle. You can use the lodge as a base, eat lunch, and rest before the next part of the day.

The schedule specifically lists a morning game drive and then an evening dinner, but it does not give a separate evening drive time for day two. Ask the operator for the exact afternoon arrangements before departure if that detail matters to you. The first day clearly includes a 4 p.m. drive, while day two is described more generally.

A good guide can make a major difference on a safari. Alfred Chilango is identified as one of the guides associated with this trip, and his work was especially praised after a dramatic sighting of a lioness killing a young buffalo. That is a rare and intense wildlife event, but it also shows why patience and careful guiding matter. You cannot schedule a scene like that. You can only give yourself time in the right habitat with someone who knows how to read it.

I would treat day two as your best chance to settle into the safari routine. Keep your plans flexible, listen to the guide, and allow the sanctuary to set the pace. The private format helps here because your group does not need to match the timetable of strangers.

Day three: one last drive before Nairobi

After breakfast, you check out and leave for a final morning game drive. The drive serves two purposes: it gives you one more chance to see wildlife, and it breaks up the journey back to Nairobi.

An enroute lunch is mentioned, but the inclusions specify two lunches and separately exclude the return lunch. I would confirm exactly how that meal is handled before setting off, and I would carry funds for it. The listed arrival time in Nairobi is 5 p.m., making this another long road day.

The final day is practical rather than leisurely. You will not have much spare time at the lodge after breakfast, and the return journey can feel long after an early drive. Still, using the morning for wildlife is a better use of the final hours than leaving immediately after breakfast.

Your return point is the original meeting point at The Clarion Hotel. That is helpful if you began near central Nairobi and need a clear endpoint, but you should allow for traffic after arrival, since the stated 5 p.m. time is an estimate rather than a promise.

What the $929.24 price includes

At $929.24 per person, this is a premium short safari. The value depends on how much you want handled in one booking and how strongly you prefer a private trip.

The package includes:

• Two nights in a double room
• Full-board accommodation
• Two breakfasts
• Two lunches
• Two dinners
• Park entry fees
• Water during the safari
• Transport by van or Land Cruiser
• Game drives

That list covers the core costs that can make a safari budget hard to predict. Park fees alone can add up, and transport, meals, and accommodation are already arranged. A private group also gives the price more value if you are traveling with family or friends and do not want to share the vehicle with unknown passengers.

The price is harder to justify if you are a solo visitor focused only on the lowest possible cost. You are paying for the lodge’s reputation, the sanctuary setting, private operation, and a compact package from Nairobi. I would compare the final price against the cost of arranging a lodge stay, park entry, vehicle, driver, meals, and transfers separately before booking.

Extra expenses are straightforward. Drinks are not included, tips are customary at about $10 per person per day, and the return lunch is excluded. For a three-day trip, those extras will not change the entire budget, but you should plan for them instead of treating the quoted price as your complete spending total.

Van or Land Cruiser, and why the private format matters

Transport is provided in a van or Land Cruiser. The information does not guarantee which vehicle you will receive, so ask when booking if the vehicle type matters to you.

The private format is more important than the label on the vehicle. Only your own group participates, which gives you a more direct say in the pace of the trip. If you want to stop, spend longer at a sighting, or ask the guide questions, you are not negotiating with a large mixed group.

That does not mean the schedule is loose. The Nairobi departure is fixed at 7:30 a.m., and the driving distances shape the experience. Private operation gives you flexibility inside the safari program, but it cannot remove the long road between Nairobi and Taita Hills.

Water is included during the safari. You should still confirm how much is supplied and bring any preferred drinks, since other beverages are not part of the package.

Food, service, and the human touches

Full board makes the lodge stay simple. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are arranged, so you do not need to search for restaurants during a short visit. That is especially useful on day one, when you arrive around lunchtime, and on day two, when lunch marks the break between drives.

The service appears capable of handling special occasions. Joshua Awili arranged room decorations and a birthday cake for one daughter traveling with her family. If you are marking a birthday or another event, tell the operator early and ask what can be arranged. Do not assume every celebration service is automatically included in the price.

John, a restaurant staff member, is also singled out for his care. Names matter here because they show the trip is not only about vehicles and animal sightings. The lodge experience depends on the people who serve meals, prepare rooms, and help make the long days comfortable.

There is also a useful contrast in the accommodation feedback. One couple found the rooms impressive but was less certain about other parts of the stay. That is a reminder to choose the lodge for its setting and safari access, not only for polished hotel service.

How to prepare for the timing

The three-day schedule is compact. You spend about six hours reaching the lodge, enjoy one full safari day, then spend about six hours returning to Nairobi. If you have only a short window in Kenya, this is efficient. If you dislike long road transfers, it may feel too compressed.

Start at the meeting point before 7:30 a.m. and keep the first morning free of tight connections. The same applies to the return. The stated 5 p.m. arrival is useful for planning, but traffic and road conditions can affect the exact time.

Pack for both vehicle time and lodge downtime. Comfortable clothing, practical shoes, sun protection, and a small bag for the game drives will make the day easier. Since drinks are excluded, bring money for purchases at the lodge.

The tour is suitable for most people, and it is near public transportation at the Nairobi meeting point. No special participation limits are stated. If someone in your group has particular mobility or medical needs, ask the operator directly before booking, since the provided details do not explain vehicle access or lodge facilities.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend it to you if you want a private introduction to Kenya’s safari country without planning every detail yourself. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value a memorable lodge and want park fees, meals, transport, and accommodation combined.

It is also a good choice for a birthday trip or a special family break. The birthday cake and room decoration arranged through Joshua Awili show that the operator can respond to personal requests.

You may want a longer safari if wildlife is your main reason for visiting Kenya. Three days gives you one full day plus portions of two travel days. That is enough for a taste of the sanctuary, but it gives you less time than a four or five-night program.

I would also hesitate if your priority is the cheapest safari possible. The lodge is a major part of the cost, and the private format adds value but not necessarily savings. You are buying comfort, simplicity, and a distinctive setting.

Should you book the Sarova Salt Lick trip?

Book it if you want the unusual Salt Lick lodge experience, a private vehicle arrangement, and a short package that covers most of the main safari costs. The waterhole setting, full-board stay, and access to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary make this more than a simple transfer to a standard hotel.

Before paying, confirm the vehicle type, the exact day-two schedule, and how the return-day lunch is handled. Add tips, drinks, and that meal to your budget. If you accept the long Nairobi road transfers and understand that wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, this is a polished and convenient three-day safari with a strong sense of place.

Cancellation is free for a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the 7:30 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations made later are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

Where does the safari start and finish?

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

What time does the tour start?

The departure time is 7:30 a.m.

How long is the safari?

The experience lasts approximately three days and includes two nights at Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

What accommodation is included?

You receive two nights in a double room at Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge on a full-board basis.

Are park fees and game drives included?

Yes. Park entry fees, transport, and game drives are included.

What costs are not included?

Drinks, customary tips of about $10 per person per day, and the return-day lunch are not included.