Elephant Watch Camp & Safaris

Elephant Watch Camp & Safaris

Elephant Watch Camp & Safaris
5
About
Situated in the semi arid North of Kenya, in a land of endless rugged beauty and untamed wilderness, Elephant Watch Safaris has established its camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve. Oria Douglas-Hamilton, together with her husband, Iain, have been associated with elephants for more than 40 years, and have been pioneers in studying the intricate lives of elephants and their intelligent social behaviour. They have brought their scientific studies to the attention of the world, highlighting a well-organised family structure, with a conscious level of emmotions, pain, speech, and protection. Elephants form an integral part of the socio economic livelihood of the Samburu people who share the land with the elephants.
Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles32 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
3
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Sam T
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
We had the most wonderful few days at EWC.

The camp is very comfortable and the attention to detail is second to none.

The food was incredible, including for my vegetarian wife.

The camp location is fantastic, right next to the river.

The guides for our game drive were knowledgeable and attentive, and we saw families of elephant right up close who seemed very comfortable with our careful movements.

We joined Samburu warriors for a sundowner on a hilltop and our kids were fascinated by their singing and dancing, overcoming their western self-consciousness to join in.

It was a wonderful and memorable experience for us all. We couldn't recommend it more highly!
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erica W
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
It is an amazing magical place, the staff are wonderful, informative and friendly. All the game drives are private just your party. We arrived and were taken immediately on a game drive with a picnic lunch, so no time wasted, within minutes we saw zebras. It was way beyond our expectations. One day we were out from 9 am until 7 pm and the time just flew by, the guides are exceptional trackers too. The camp is lovely and meals are served on the river bank. Wonderful place.
Written 10 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol C
Brisbane, Australia27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018
The Highest recommendation. We were look after so well. The management and staff were wonderful. The camp was very clean and well maintained. The safari were wonderful and our safety was never an issue. The animals were in abundance.
Written 18 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IanfromBErks
Newbury, UK17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Solo
On my nineteenth safari I went to the Elephant Watch Camp in Samburu National Park in Kenya. I have stopped in Samburu before (twenty years ago) but whilst I liked the park I found it slightly depressing with the quality of the game drives and the regimented approach from the camps I stopped at.
I investigated very fully before committing to a six night stay.
The first thing on any safari is the guiding and game drives and these were excellent. Starts were leisurely and for the good reason that the white van brigade start early and finish at about 9.30 , we often went out about this time and in consequence we often had good sightings to ourselves, especially of the elephants crossing the river. The elephants were very relaxed with the vehicles from Elephant Watch Camp (it has very close ties to Save The Elephants)
So we had great viewing , often alone. It was like a high end camp in Sabi Sands, but with a concentration on elephants rather than leopards. If you want to photograph or learn about elephants this may well be the best camp in Africa for that purpose. Also the camp is quite happy to drive in the adjoining (and I think prettier park of Buffalo Springs.
I saw three leopards in six days and one occasion all three species of big cats on one drive . Though two were very sleepy
Food and hospitality
The food was generous, lots fo fresh vegetables from another property run by the Douglas-Hamiltons . A friend (Hilary) was running the camp for Saba when I was there and she was an excellent host. There was a great ambience about the camp and a determination that it would be as close to nature and very much intertwined with the Samburu people. At the same time is very comfortable, more like a house party with rotating guests than a lodge.
The showers are bucket showers but you learn to move quickly and in a place where traditionally there is little rainfall for many months .
All right there has to be at least one negative and with me, it was that the bed was overly firm.
That's it.
One other highlight was the Sundowner - where you could walk or take a Land Cruiser
I had expected lots of photos, I didn't expect such a musical
Written 11 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Prodengwest
St Austell, UK60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Couples
Leaving EWC today was so emotional after what can only be described as a truly remarkable trip to the most enchanting place on the planet. We were looked after by friendly happy local Samburu people, our guides out in the bush were the brilliant Bernard and his able assistant Boniface. Bernard arranged for us to go to a local Samburu village where we were invited to join a wedding ceremony, what an honour.

Hilary met us in the absence of Saba and looked after everyone like royalty, her efforts were very much appreciated as were those of her faithful and very helpful staff. The meals provided were outstanding, the kitchen staff would put a lot of world famous chefs to shame !
Accommodation is out of this world, to lie on the comfortable beds and listen to the creatures of the bush at night is awesome, the tent facilities are brilliant with bucket showers after a safari drive to freshen you up before dinner being a real treat.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for memories that will fill us with that special Samburu warmth for the rest of our days.
The plan now is to return as soon as possible to “heaven on earth”
Written 7 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

schisto
San Francisco, CA127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2017 • Family
Elephant Watch camp is absolutely fantastic. The luxury tents look like something from the Arabian Nights, the common room where you have drinks or use the computer is exotically gorgeous and comfortable. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner outside every night we were there, and the food was excellent. We had one member of our party of ten who has celiac disease and a few allergies and they easily accommodated her.

Hillary was our host the first few days, and she was very welcoming and lovely and helped us arrange a walk to a goat roast with local Samburu warriors one night (on top of a table hill with a giant moonrise...heaven!), and arranged to get all of us to a Samburu wedding of one of the camp guides that we had been invited to and helped us to figure out what to bring the bride as a gift (a goat, what else?). Frank and Saba returned for our last couple of days, and they were as interesting and fantastic and lovely as always.

Our guides and spotters were fantastic, and we had absolutely amazing experiences with them, particularly with the elephant families, which they all knew by name. Samburu has many animals you won't see other places, gerenuks, reticulated giraffes, and Grevy zebra, etc. and the guides were excellent at explaining everything to us.

The ensuite bathrooms are quite fun, with bucket showers filled after the afternoon game drive. Surprisingly the buckets of warm water provide more than enough water for a satisfying shower.

This camp is very special, not only for how lovely the tents are, but for the people who run it. Everybody makes sure that you are comfortable, there is an enormous amount of knowledge about the wildlife and cultures in the area. Make sure to visit the Save the Elephants headquarters (and make a donation!) while you are staying here. It is very interesting and they are great at explaining elephant conservation.
Written 16 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amw58ca
San Francisco, CA41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Friends
This was just the most remarkable place. Saba and the Samburu Warriors were amazing hosts and it so great to meet Saba's father Iain Douglas-Hamilton founder of Save the Elephants and several other of the team member. Our guide was Alfred and tracker was Sammie and they were fantastic and really catered to what my mom and I wanted to get out of the trip. The camp was comfortable and delicious gourmet food was served at every meal. I was very skeptical about the bucket shower with water warmed by the sun, but they were the most delightful and seemingly luxurious showers! I recommend buying a goat for the local village if you have an opportunity. The warriors will thank you with a very memorable sun downer celebration. I will be back my next trip to Kenya!
Written 26 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ANNE G
Inverness, UK20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Family
It is difficult to find the words to do justice to this amazing camp. Saba's friend Hilary, who was running the camp while Saba was away on business in the States, is the kindest,most gentle lady and is the perfect hostess. I feel I have left a friend in Kenya and can't wait to go back. Her team at Elephant Watch Camp are most attentive without being intrusive. I have been on 4 other excellent safaris in South Africa and the food they serve here tops them all. Our guides Willy and Simon ensured that we got an amazing insight into the lives of the resident herds of elephants. Having a picnic breakfast in the middle of a herd was beyond any of our expectations. Willy's knowledge of all the animals we encountered was so vast and interesting. He gave us time to really observe the animals' behaviours and his lovely send off at the airstrip will remain with us for ever. An evening visit to a local Samburu village was most humbling and fascinating. Joining in with the ladies singing and dancing was so special. Our visit to the Save the Elephants research centre added to our understanding of the great work they are doing. An evening walk up to the top of a hill with 5 Samburu warriors to watch the sunset was a unique experience. Willy's photography lesson for my 16 year old daughter as the sun set was a really surreal moment! She spent her 16th birthday at Elephant Watch Camp and says it is the most special birthday she has ever had thanks to all the staff. I have only 1 complaint- 4 nights were just not long enough in this little bit of paradise.Our accommodation! The colourful tents add to the enjoyment and relaxing feel of the camp. We were in tent 6 at the edge of camp. It is so private and surprisingly spacious even with the extra bed put in for our daughter. Both the main king-size bed and the extra bed were very comfortable. Our ensuite was a joy to use. It is an unforgettable experience to shower under the stars and there was always plenty of solar warmed water in the buckets for our showers.
I can't wait to go back.
Written 9 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sam l
Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2016 • Solo
The most Amazing and magical experience.....anyone who loves wildlife then this is a must from the Eco friendly colourful luxury camp to the amazing knowledgeable guides you can't help but relax and feel part of the family whether traveling alone or as part of a group. It is such a unique experience that you will never forget your time here in this beautiful slice of Africa
Written 14 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IronManKenya
Nairobi, Kenya61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Friends
This was a beautiful experience. We stayed there for 2 nights and 3 days and every minute of it was eventful. If you want to study and experience the wild in luxury, this is the place. I cannot say enough about the wonderful, food and respectful staff. I would recommend this place to anyone who is serious about conservation.
Written 15 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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