Nadeem, Taher and Paul…………..A Huge Thank You for All the Efforts which you and your team went to ensure my family’s comfort, safety, satisfaction and enjoyment during our travel to and stay in Ngenche Camp in Kenya in December!!!
After a short flight or easy drive, you arrive amongst the doum palms on the edge of the Ewaso River at Elephant Bedroom Camp. There is a reason this camp runs at high occupancy and is therefore hard to get availability year round – is that it is a truly incredible experience! Return clients are numerous which says a lot!
The camp is built along the river and each tent has river view and includes a private plunge pool. A few years ago there was a severe flood in Samburu and most of the camp was washed away. When the camp was rebuilt (using the same design as before), they opted to have all the tents on stilts in case of future floods – an added enhancement in my opinion!
Samburu is one of my personal favorite parks, there is something special about this park but difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is! Many come here for the abundance of birds but game viewing is also spectacular with many sightings of leopard, cheetah and lions. The animals seem to shine here, maybe against the backdrop of the arid terrain. Samburu is also home to the grevy zebra, gerenuk, beisa oryx and the reticulated giraffe. Some of my best game viewing has been in Samburu from the pack of wild dogs to seeing lions chase a leopard up a tree!
Arriving back at Elephant Bedroom Camp (known also as EB) after a game drive, having a hot shower then enjoying time around the fire before dinner is magical. The staff are exceptionally attentive and the food that is produced from a small bush kitchen is incredible. The tents are huge, only 12 in the camp offering either ‘double rooms’ with king size beds or ‘twin rooms’ with 2 queen size beds.\
In the morning, wake up to elephants in the river and complete tranquility, breakfast is served by the river, as is lunch. Just be warned that the elephants don’t always respect meal times therefore we had to move from our table during lunch to the reception and dining area to allow the elephant to walk through the camp!
For a magical experience be it for a romantic getaway or a trip with family or friends, this is one not to miss.
For bookings please contact Ibis Tours & Travel – info@ibistourskenya.com
I want to thank you for the trip we have done, it was great and we were lucky for the weather! We did all safaris!
It was a great trip, not a single missed connection or problem. That is really saying something in Africa. Everyone was very helpful
Thank you … Thank you … Thank you. We were all very impressed with our visit to Cape Town and the trip to Storms River. Thanks for your support with the planning with allowed us to have a relaxing but thoroughly enjoyable holiday
Just wanted to say thanks for organizing our honeymoon. Jay and I had a wonderful time, and we were very comfortable all the way through. All the accommodation were amazing, and we got to see most of the animals (the near cheetah – kill being the highlight) … Jay and I will definitely be doing a similar trip like this next year, so you’ll be hearing from us soon.
The unanimous view of our group was this was a very fine holiday by any standards. One week after our return, we still reminisce various highlights of the holiday. Not just all the meticulous planning, but with our 2 excellent driver in Robert & Peter, we could not have asked for anything better. Thanks to you all.
Thanks so much for all your help in putting together yet another successful Climb for a Child expedition
We were due to stay in Samburu for the weekend, however, sitting in the office on Thursday I couldn’t wait any longer to get out of the city…
One call to Soames at 4pm and an hour later we were on the road. Although traffic was unusually heavy; we arrived by 8pm (I would advise leaving earlier so as not to drive that road in the dark if possible!).
I had never stayed at Soames before but had heard great reviews from people stopping for lunch. On arrival, despite the late arrive time and last minute booking, everything was ready for us. While my husband was shown to the room to drop our bags, the kids and I were shown to the restaurant.
Simple and elegant, contemporary décor and a friendly welcome, little else you can ask for. Service was quick and soon the kids were tucking into their fish and chips. I highly recommend the steak, they cook it to perfection and it is quite simply delicious! The menu was very reasonably priced also, especially in comparison to the prices you would pay for a meal of equal standard in Nairobi.
The rooms are simple, clean and everything you need for an overnight stay. Despite the late notice, extra beds had been made up for the kids and we all had a great night’s sleep.
I think the best is waking up in the morning and the feeling that you are already on safari! It is so peaceful with sound of water trickling into the pond close to the room and birds waking up.
Breakfast is served to the same standard as dinner. Various options were available from poached eggs to a full fry up using all the best and freshest ingredients.
After breakfast, we continued on our (now much shorter) drive to Samburu.
For bookings please contact Ibis Tours & Travel – info@ibistourskenya.com
Labor Day falling on a Monday means the much anticipated long weekend and my ideal is to get out of the city!
A small group of us decided to head to Finch Hattons in Tsavo West – this is honestly the true ‘Out Of Africa’ experience mixed with modern twists such as the pool area and chandeliers made from glass coke bottles in the dining area. The service cannot be faulted and food was excellent. The ‘camp’ underwent a full renovation a few years ago and apart from the familiar faces of the staff and the same exceptional service, this property has been completely transformed.
The ‘tents’ are huge with all details carefully thought out down to the fully stocked mini bar including complimentary snacks. Extra beds were provided for the kids, though there is also the option of the 2 bedroom suites and well as an impressive Presidential Suite. You have the option of indoor shower though do not know why one would use that when there is a double outdoor shower option also – showering under the stars why would you miss that? If the shower options aren’t enough there is also a free standing bath tub.
We chose to use the weekend to fully relax – some enjoyed relaxing at the room taking photos of the array of birds, others after breakfast relaxed by the pool or in the case of the kids, lived in the pool! The spa and wellness center includes a sauna, yoga room and an additional pool. We opted out of morning game drives but really enjoyed our afternoon / evening ones.
To be honest, people don’t talk of the game viewing in Tsavo as much as some of the other parks – you hear of the elephants but you immediately think of Mara etc. for the cats! This trip made me think differently…..our first game drive had been great, different plains game, some elephant, a giraffe about to give birth! Then, heading back to the camp it was already dark so with the torches we were enjoying a night game drive where you typically see the hares and smaller animals…. until we saw a leopard! He was stunning! We followed him until we lost him in the bushes.
Continuing on the drive, all feeling so lucky, suddenly on the side of the path, lying staring at us was another Leopard!
2 Leopard on a night game drive in separate sightings is amazing. To top that off on the drive out of the park we were waved off by a family of cheetah!
Finch Hattons is truly an amazing experience and truly reflects what 5* hospitality encompasses.
For bookings, please contact Ibis Tours & Travel on info@ibistourskenya.com
