Yes. Shaba receives significantly fewer visitors than Samburu National Reserve, which means game drives here often produce sightings with no other vehicles present.

Sarova Shaba Game Lodge sits on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River within the Shaba National Reserve in northeastern Kenya, approximately 314 kilometres from Nairobi. The reserve is often referred to as Born Free Country, made famous by Joy Adamson and her lioness Elsa, and the lodge’s Born Free Suite pays direct tribute to that history. The riverside setting within a semi-arid landscape threaded with natural springs and lily pools gives the lodge a character that is distinctly different from the busier southern safari circuits.

By road from Nairobi the journey takes five to six hours, with the lodge sitting a further eight kilometres from the main road and two kilometres from the Natorbe Gate. By air, flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi reach Kalama or Buffalo Springs Airstrip in approximately 45 minutes, with the airstrips 15 and 30 kilometres from the lodge respectively. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended for access given the terrain of the reserve. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris arranges all flights and transfers as part of your honeymoon package.

The lodge has 80 chalet-style standard rooms arranged across two storeys in blocks of four, all facing the Ewaso Nyiro River and the natural springs running through the grounds. Ground floor rooms accommodate guests with limited mobility. Four executive suites offer a larger lounge opening into a spacious bedroom with river views. The standout accommodation is the Born Free Suite, a standalone presidential suite furnished with Samburu cultural decor, set among natural springs and lily pools with a large bedroom, living and dining area, and a private jacuzzi bathroom. For honeymooners, the Born Free Suite offers an experience that is genuinely unlike anything else in northern Kenya.

The Shaba National Reserve is home to the Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. Four of the Big Five are present, covering lion, elephant, leopard, and buffalo, with rhino absent from this particular reserve. Additional wildlife includes hippo, crocodile, Thompson’s gazelle, waterbuck, and over 350 recorded bird species. The Ewaso Nyiro River supports a chain of lush vegetation through the heart of the semi-arid landscape, drawing wildlife to the water and providing exceptional viewing from the lodge itself.

Game drives run as early morning, late afternoon, and half-day options through the Shaba National Reserve with experienced guides. Complimentary activities within the lodge include swimming, fish foot therapy, table tennis, catch-and-release fishing, darts, board games, and Samburu cultural dances and talks. Crocodile viewing takes place at a dedicated riverside deck at 7:30 in the evening, with the naturalist on hand to escort guests. Nature and bird walks with the lodge naturalist cover indigenous medicinal plants and over 350 bird species. Guided hill and gorge climbing, Samburu village visits, and a Samburu Boma dinner under the stars with live barbecue of game meats and traditional music round out the wider programme. Bush breakfasts on the sandbank alongside the river, sundowners at the riverside, and alfresco dining at various outdoor locations can all be arranged privately for honeymooning couples. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris recommends combining the bush breakfast, a private sundowner, and the Boma dinner into your Shaba honeymoon itinerary for the full range of dining experiences the lodge offers.

The main Surpelei Restaurant is built on stilts overlooking the river and free-form pool, serving buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner across pan-African, pan-European, and pan-Asian cuisines. Fresh herbs and vegetables from the lodge’s own garden feature throughout the menu. The Chemi Chemi Bar sits along the riverbank among natural spring water channels and carries cocktails, wines, and spirits. The Caralluma Poolside Bar handles lighter refreshments and juices. Beyond the restaurant, a champagne bush breakfast on the riverbank sandbank, sundowners at the river’s edge, Boma dinners under the stars, and alfresco dining on the lawns or beside the fish pond are all available with prior arrangement. All dietary requirements are accommodated with advance notice.

The lodge has an outdoor swimming pool, the Tulia Spa offering massages and beauty treatments, a gym with selected equipment, complimentary Wi-Fi across the property, a business centre, a gift shop, 24-hour security with an electric perimeter fence, interconnecting family rooms, and a conference room seating up to 70 delegates. For honeymooners, the lodge also has a dedicated honeymoon suite and landscaped wedding grounds where ceremonies are held with a Samburu elder’s blessing.

Yes, and the Ewaso Nyiro River setting makes it one of the more naturally atmospheric honeymoon bases in northern Kenya. The lodge handles all wedding and honeymoon arrangements in-house, covering venue decoration using traditional Samburu fabrics, beads and handicraft, flowers, music and dance, a champagne toast, tiered cake, bush dinner with traditional dancers, photography, and spa treatments for the couple. The Born Free Suite is the natural choice for honeymooners who want the most private and distinctive accommodation the lodge offers. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris coordinates all honeymoon-specific details with the Shaba team ahead of your arrival.