3 Days 2 Nights To Sarova Saltlick And Taita Hills

Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge gives you a rare safari setting: rooms raised above the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, with a waterhole and the Tsavo plains spread out below. You leave Nairobi early, reach the lodge for lunch, then head out for an evening game drive while the heat eases.

I like the easy all-in-one plan, with park fees, transport, lodging, meals, water, and game drives covered. I also like the private format, which gives your group more control than a large shared vehicle. The main drawback is the long road journey from Nairobi, with about six hours on the first day and a full return to Nairobi on the third.

Key points to know before booking

• A waterhole safari base: Sarova Salt Lick looks over a waterhole, giving you wildlife scenery even when you are back at the lodge.
• Two nights in Taita Hills: You get an arrival game drive, a full second day, and a final morning drive before returning to Nairobi.
• Private transport: Your group travels alone in a van or Land Cruiser, rather than joining a larger shared tour.
• A strong guiding detail: Ranger Alfred Chilango is specifically associated with the game drives and has helped make sightings memorable.
• Full-board pricing: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, park entry, water, accommodation, and game drives are included, but drinks, tips, and the return lunch are extra.
• A celebration-friendly lodge: Birthday room decoration and a cake were arranged for one family, so tell the operator about a special occasion before you travel.

Why Sarova Salt Lick feels different

The appeal here is not only the chance to see animals. It is the lodge itself. Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge is built as a dramatic safari retreat above the sanctuary, with accommodation overlooking a waterhole. That gives you a strong sense of place from the moment you arrive.

You are staying in the Taita Hills area, close to the wider Tsavo region rather than in Nairobi or on a short city-side wildlife outing. The setting makes the two-night plan worthwhile because you have several chances to go out, not just one rushed drive between other stops.

I also like the practical shape of the stay. You arrive around 1:30pm, eat lunch, and have time to rest by the pool before the 4pm drive. That pause matters after leaving Nairobi at 7:30am. A safari can be tiring when every hour is scheduled, so this first afternoon gives you a little breathing room.

The lodge is also suited to a special trip. One couple travelling with a daughter had birthday decorations in the room and a cake arranged for her. That does not mean every booking automatically includes these touches, but it gives you a useful tip: tell Panda Tours and Safaris Ltd about celebrations when you book.

The road from Nairobi to the Taita Hills

Your pickup point is The Clarion Hotel on Moi Avenue in Nairobi, and the scheduled departure is 7:30am. The drive to Sarova Salt Lick takes roughly six hours, with arrival listed for about 1:30pm.

That is a long first stretch, so I would treat this as a proper safari transfer rather than a quick ride to a nearby park. The distance is part of the cost and part of the experience, but it also limits how much wildlife time you have on day one.

Transport is provided in either a van or a Land Cruiser. The private arrangement means only your group participates, which is useful if you want to discuss the pace of the drive or spend longer at a sighting. The supplied details do not specify which vehicle you will receive, so ask before departure if the choice matters to you.

Water is included during the safari. That is a small but useful detail in a warm, road-based trip. I would still plan around the extra costs listed for drinks and customary tips.

Day one: arrival, lunch, and a 4pm game drive

The first day has a clear rhythm. You leave Nairobi in the morning, arrive at Salt Lick around 1:30pm, check in, eat lunch, and have time at the pool before the 4pm game drive.

This is a sensible opening. You are not expected to step out of the vehicle and immediately start a long wildlife session after the Nairobi transfer. The pool and lodge break give you time to settle into the room and enjoy the property.

The evening game drive is your first chance to explore Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The supplied timing allows about five hours for this part of the day, though the exact amount of time spent driving and viewing will depend on the guide and conditions.

One of the most striking reported sightings connected with this stay involved a lioness killing a baby buffalo. Wildlife can be unpredictable and intense, and no operator can promise a scene like that. Still, it shows why the game drives are more than a scenic ride: you may witness real animal behavior, not only animals posed beside the road.

You return to the lodge for dinner and overnight accommodation. Dinner is included, as is the first night in a double room on a full-board basis.

Day two: the main safari day

Day two is the heart of the trip. After breakfast, you head out for a morning game drive, return to the lodge for lunch, take time to relax, and then spend the evening at the lodge for dinner and another overnight stay.

The schedule gives you a useful mix of activity and rest. A morning drive often feels more comfortable than the afternoon because the day begins cool, but the important point here is that you are not restricted to one short outing. You have a full morning in the sanctuary and a long break at the lodge afterward.

The supplied schedule also describes the second day as involving about five hours at the main stop. That makes this the day when you should have the most room for wildlife viewing, although the exact drive length is not stated as a fixed departure and return time.

If Alfred Chilango is assigned to your vehicle, you will have a guide whose work has been singled out for praise. I would still keep expectations realistic. A skilled ranger can help with timing, identification, and tracking, but wildlife sightings remain uncertain.

Lunch back at the lodge keeps the day simple. You do not need to arrange a separate restaurant or pack a full meal for the middle of the safari. Dinner is also included, so the main expenses during the stay are already covered by the package.

Day three: one last drive before Nairobi

The last day begins with breakfast, checkout, and a morning game drive. You then continue toward Nairobi with lunch en route, reaching the original meeting point at about 5pm.

This final drive is a good feature. You are not simply leaving the lodge after breakfast and spending the entire day on the road. You get one more chance to see the sanctuary before the long return journey.

The timing is important. Reaching Nairobi around 5pm makes this a full travel day, so do not schedule a tight evening flight or an important appointment without allowing for delays. The activity ends back at The Clarion Hotel, the same place where it begins.

There is a small cost detail to check carefully. The package includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners, while the return lunch is listed as not included. Since the day-three meal is described as lunch en route, ask the operator exactly which meal is covered and which one you should pay for separately.

What the $929.24 price covers

At $929.24 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The value depends on how much you want handled for you and how much you value a private safari with two nights at a flagship lodge.

The price includes:

• Two nights in a double room
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner as listed
• Park entry fees
• Transport in a van or Land Cruiser
• Game drives
• Water during the safari
• A private group arrangement

That bundle removes several expenses that can quickly add up on safari. You are not paying separately for park access, every game drive, or each lodge meal. You also avoid the uncertainty of joining a large group, where the pace may be set by people you do not know.

The price is easier to justify if you are travelling as a couple, family, or small private party and want the lodge experience included. It is less attractive if your priority is the lowest possible price or if you have only one free day from Nairobi.

You should budget separately for drinks, tips, and the return lunch. The suggested customary tip is $10 per person per day. That would add $30 per person across three days, if you choose to follow the recommendation.

The private format and the vehicle choice

This is a private tour, so only your group participates. I like that arrangement for families and friends because you can spend more time at a sighting without negotiating with a busload of strangers.

Private does not necessarily mean a luxury vehicle. The transport may be a van or a Land Cruiser, and the provided information does not promise one specific model. If comfort, photography space, or vehicle height is important to you, contact Panda Tours and Safaris Ltd before booking.

The private format also gives you a better chance to ask questions and shape the pace within the fixed plan. You still have the long Nairobi transfer and the scheduled lodge meals, but the game-drive portion should feel more personal than a standard shared departure.

Food, rooms, and time at the lodge

Accommodation is provided in double rooms on a full-board basis. That makes the plan straightforward: breakfast before the morning drive, lunch during the middle of the day, and dinner after returning to the lodge.

The rooms have been described as impressive, and the property’s design is a major part of its appeal. You are not only using the lodge as a place to sleep. The waterhole view and elevated setting give you a safari atmosphere during downtime.

The pool is available on arrival day, and the schedule leaves time to relax there after lunch. That is useful for anyone who likes wildlife but does not want every spare hour spent in a vehicle.

Food and drinks are not fully covered in the same way. Meals listed in the package are included, but drinks are extra. Pack your spending plan accordingly, especially if you prefer bottled drinks or want to order anything beyond the scheduled meals.

Service details that matter

The staff experience can make a short safari feel polished or rushed. A restaurant staff member named John is specifically associated with friendly service, while ranger Alfred Chilango is associated with strong work in the sanctuary.

Those names are useful when you speak with the operator, but they are not guarantees that the same people will be assigned to your group. Staff schedules can change. The broader point is that the lodge and safari team are set up to handle both wildlife outings and personal occasions.

The birthday arrangement is another practical clue. If you are marking a birthday or anniversary, ask about decorations or a cake before arrival rather than assuming they are included in the package price.

Who should book this safari

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a short private safari from Nairobi without arranging each piece yourself. It suits couples, families, and friends who value lodge comfort, included meals, and several game drives.

It is also a good match for someone who wants a special occasion to feel more organized. The birthday cake and room decoration show that the operator can respond to a personal request, though you should confirm any extras in advance.

The trip may not suit you if you dislike long road transfers. Day one takes about six hours to reach the lodge, and day three involves another long return drive. You should also think twice if you want a packed schedule of several parks, since this plan concentrates on Salt Lick and the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

The two-night length is a sensible middle ground. One night would make the road journey feel too dominant, while a longer stay would give you more time for the same setting. Here, you get an evening drive, a full morning drive, a rest period, and another morning outing.

Booking details and cancellation

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The meeting point is The Clarion Hotel, PR9C+H85, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, and the scheduled start is 7:30am.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Salt Lick stay?

Book it if you want your first safari in this part of Kenya to be simple, private, and lodge-focused. The combination of waterhole views, two nights at Sarova Salt Lick, park fees, meals, transport, and several game drives gives you a solid package for a short break.

I would be cautious only about the road time, the vehicle type, and the extra costs. Confirm whether you will travel by van or Land Cruiser, clarify the return lunch, and set aside money for drinks and tips.

If those details work for you, the $929.24 price buys more than accommodation. It buys a planned safari with enough time to settle in, go out more than once, and enjoy the lodge between drives.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

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

What time does the tour leave Nairobi?

The scheduled start time is 7:30am.

Where does the safari end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point, The Clarion Hotel in Nairobi.

How long is the experience?

The trip lasts three days and two nights.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What meals are included?

Accommodation is provided on a full-board basis, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included as listed. The return lunch is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.