Sarova Salt Lick Lodge

Sarova Salt Lick Lodge

Salt Lick lodge stands on stilts above a natural salt lick and a series of waterholes in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in south-eastern Kenya, with 96 rooms in circular, hut-like structures linked by suspended walkways, so that elephants, buffalo and other animals pass beneath your balcony while you sit above them. It has been marketed for decades as one of the world’s most photographed lodges, and it remains one of Kenya’s best-known places to watch wildlife without leaving the property.

This guide explains what the lodge is like, the rooms, the signature waterhole viewing, the facilities, what it costs, who it suits, how to get there and when to go. A note on the name: the lodge has long been marketed as Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge and now appears under the name Salt Lick Safari Lodge, with listings using both, so you may see either when you search.

Is Salt Lick Right for You?

It suits travellers who want comfortable, accessible wildlife viewing with the minimum of effort: first-time visitors, families with older children, photographers, travellers combining a coast holiday with a short safari and anyone who enjoys watching animals from a veranda. The waterhole delivers wildlife without a vehicle, which makes it valuable in the heat of the day when game drives are slow.

It is less suited to people who want an intimate, remote bush camp. With 96 rooms, it is a large lodge, with buffet dining and a lively atmosphere. It is also not designed for very young children because of the stilts and walkways, so check the age policy if you are travelling with a toddler.

The Setting: Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Salt Lick sits in the heart of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a private sanctuary of about 28,000 acres bordering Tsavo West National Park, in a landscape that was once a sisal plantation and is now a successful wildlife area. The lodge takes its name from the natural salt lick on which it is built, a place that has long drawn salt-hungry animals from the surrounding plains.

Because the sanctuary links the Tsavo parks and lies at the foot of the Taita Hills, wildlife moves through it freely. Elephants are the headline, but buffalo, giraffes, zebras, impala, warthogs and many birds also come to drink, and lions and leopards are possible in the wider area. Our separate guide to the sanctuary covers the landscape and fees in more detail.

The Rooms

The lodge has 96 rooms, all elevated on stilts across two levels, with en-suite bathrooms, permanent showers, running hot and cold water, safes and balconies or terraces. The room mix includes twin, triple and double rooms, and about 42 rooms face the waterhole while about 54 face the surrounding park. Rooms are described as about 34 square metres and are decorated with ethnic touches in keeping with Tsavo.

Waterhole-view rooms are the better choice if elephants are your priority, because you can watch from your balcony, but park-view rooms offer a quieter outlook and are cheaper. Rooms are air-conditioned according to some listings, with Wi-Fi, a safe and a mini-fridge, though facilities vary, so confirm what is included when you book.

Waterhole Viewing and the Salt Lick Tunnel

The central attraction is the viewing. Rooms, walkways, the elevated restaurant and the bar a level higher all look out over the waterholes, and several decks give additional vantage points. At night, the waterholes are floodlit, so you can watch animals arriving to drink in near-darkness without disturbing them.

Sarova Salt Lick Lodge

The Salt Lick Tunnel is a unique feature. A tunnel leads to a bunker at ground level, with special windows that put you almost at eye level with elephants and other animals as they drink at the waterhole. Many visitors say this is the most memorable part of a stay, and it is particularly good for photography. Elephant herds are reported to approach within a few metres, so the experience is closer than many game drives.

Facilities and Dining

The main restaurant, Bura, seats about 150 and overlooks the watering holes, serving buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with live cooking counters. The bar sits on the level above, and the lodge has a gift shop, a swimming pool, a children’s playground and kids’ club according to some listings, wireless internet and a conference venue for groups. Poolside refreshments and massages are available.

The lodge’s sister property, Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa, is nearby and offers a free-form swimming pool and a spa, and guests at Salt Lick can sometimes use its facilities. Meals are buffet-style, which suits a large lodge but may feel less personal than a small camp.

Activities

Beyond watching from the lodge, activities include day and night game drives in the lodge’s own safari vehicles with guides, guided nature walks, sundowners and bush dinners. Excursions to Mzima Springs in Tsavo West National Park are offered, and the lodge is often used as a base for Tsavo West, Tsavo East and the Taita Hills.

Because the sanctuary is private, activities and rules differ from those in the national parks. Entry to the sanctuary carries separate fees, so check what is included in your rate. Night drives and walks need advance arrangement and depend on staff and conditions.

Rates and What They Include

Published rates cluster around US$280 to US$440 for a standard room per night, depending on season, room type and booking channel. Waterhole-view rooms cost more than park-view rooms, and holiday periods carry supplements. Check whether the price covers full board, sanctuary entry and vehicle fees, and game drives, since combinations differ between packages and platforms.

Sanctuary fees are charged separately in many cases. Our guide to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary gives the entry tariff, with non-resident adults at about US$40, and each vehicle also pays a per-night fee scaled by size. If you are on a package, ask whether these are already included.

Travelling With Children

The lodge’s stilted layout, open walkways and balconies are a safety consideration for young children, and one older listing states that it is not suitable for children under eight. Other listings describe a children’s playground and a kids’ club, which suggests the policy may have changed or applies to specific activities, so confirm the current rules.

For older children, the lodge is a great introduction to wildlife, since they can watch elephants close at hand from a safe vantage point. Bring binoculars and a camera, and talk to children about staying on walkways and keeping noise low near the waterhole.

Getting There

By road, the lodge is about a six-hour drive from Nairobi and a three-hour drive from Mombasa on tarmac roads, roughly 400 and 200 kilometres respectively according to several listings. The Standard Gauge Railway stops at Voi station, and a road transfer of about 40 kilometres takes you to the lodge, which many visitors find easier than driving from Nairobi.

By air, the lodge has its own airstrip. A charter flight takes about an hour from Nairobi and 30 minutes from Mombasa. There is no public transport to the lodge, so arrange transfers or a hire vehicle in advance.

Where This Fits in a Trip

Salt Lick works well as a two-night stop between the coast and Nairobi, or as a comfortable base for Tsavo West and Tsavo East. A typical plan spends one night at Salt Lick, with an afternoon at the waterhole and a night drive, then a day in Tsavo West at Mzima Springs and the lava flows before moving on. It also combines well with Amboseli by road and with a beach stay at Diani or Watamu.

If you are comparing lodges, think about whether you want the spectacle of the waterhole and the comfort of a large lodge or the intimacy of a small camp in a national park. Many travellers choose Salt Lick for the former.

Best Time to Go

The dry season, June to October, is best for waterhole viewing, when animals depend on the remaining water and come in large numbers. January and February are also good. The wet seasons, March to May and November to December, bring greener landscapes and lower rates, but animals disperse and may visit the waterhole less often. Night viewing is good year-round, and elephants are often present.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about Sarova Salt Lick Lodge?

All 96 rooms are built on stilts above a natural salt lick and waterholes, so animals drink beneath guest rooms and walkways.

Is it the same as Salt Lick Safari Lodge?

Yes. The lodge is marketed under both names, and listings use Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge and Salt Lick Safari Lodge.

What is the Salt Lick Tunnel?

A tunnel to a ground-level bunker with windows that let guests watch elephants and other animals close up at the waterhole.

How much does a room cost?

Published rates cluster around US$280 to US$440 per night, depending on season and room type. Confirm current rates.

Is it suitable for children?

Policies differ across sources, with one stating a minimum age of eight because of the layout. Confirm with the lodge.