Taita Hills salt lick offers best of Kenya’s wildlife and charm

Tourists view elephants quenching their thirst at the Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge in Tsavo West National Park. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |

What you need to know:

  • Game lodge architecture is eye-catching.
  • Game drive in the area is a chance to spot the Big Five and rare animals such as the jackal.

Overlooking the Tsavo plains at the heart of the green Taita hills is the Sarova Salt Lick Lodge, a magnificent destination that is home to various wild animals.

The name originates from the large number of animals that flock to the area for their daily dose of "salt" as they graze.

The Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge in Tsavo West National Park is located 400km from Nairobi and 200km from Mombasa.

Fun in the wild experience begins on the murram road leading to the lodge, where one gets treated to a mini game drive as you gaze at waterbucks, zebras, elephants and lions hunting in the vast savannah.

You also spot several birds such as ostriches, eagles, vultures and many other species.

A more thrilling view of these animals and birds is in the late afternoon, at night or early morning.

If you like night game drives, then this is your chance to see rare animals such as the jackal, civet, genet, bush baby, spotted and stripped hyenas and porcupines.

Other than the wild, the game lodge architecture of unique designs, much like many small castles balancing on stone pillars, is as eye-catching as it is intriguing.

The exceptional architecture, inspired by the indigenous mud hut and makuti roof, was done by architect J.A. Williams and structural engineers John Burrow and Partners from the UK.

Each hut is linked to the next through wooden walkaways.

The balconies, decks and wide windows offer convenience for close-range views and snapshots of the roaming elephants, buffaloes, impalas and zebras as they come to the watering hole beneath for a drink.

Attached to the buildings is an underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows that provide even more incredible and safe views of the buffalos and other animals as they quench their thirst.

You can have this spectacular view for as long as you wish throughout the night, thanks to the floodlights that have been installed by the lodge management.

The lodge restaurant serves both local and international cuisine, but there are also other dining experiences consisting of bush breakfast, barbecues or even sundowner cocktails at the Kudu point, overlooking the green hilly landscape below.

Other recreational activities at the lodge include swimming, nature walks and wildlife talks.

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