Tsavo Run and the Sarova Taita Hills Experience

When I received an invitation to travel to Tsavo by the Sarova team to experience the Tsavo Run as well as Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, I immediately said yes. I’ve been to Tsavo before and I always want to go back as it truly is an unforgettable experience.

About Tsavo

Tsavo is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Kenya. If you’ve never been, it’s a must have on your bucket list. The never ending stretch of grasslands and savannah make up the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, and crown what is one of the most biodiverse regions in Kenya.

Tsavo East is the largest protected area in Kenya and home to Africa’s “Big Five”: black rhino, Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, and of course, lion.

The Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks together comprise Africa’s largest wilderness reserve and hold one third of Kenya’s total elephant population. The area is also famous for its lions who made a name for themselves in the history books during the building of the railway as the Maneaters of Tsavo.

About Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge is one of the Sarova Hotels & Resorts properties and is located at the main entrance to the Taita Hills Sanctuary in South Eastern Kenya, 400 km from Nairobi and 200 km from Mombasa.

The lodge boasts 60 spacious standard rooms and 2 luxurious suites perfect for honeymooners. The standard rooms have single, double, twin or triple beds depending on room type. All rooms have their own private viewing balcony of either the pool, garden or watering hole.

Tsavo Run

The Tsavo Run is a conservation initiative by Sarova Hotels & Resorts in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Irrigation and Forestry, Ministry of Environment & Forestry and the Tsavo Heritage Foundation (THF.)

The initiative is set to drive the conservation agenda of the highly endangered Tsavo Ecosystem and Dispersal Areas (TEDA) landscape, while supporting the iconic Tsavo National Parks.

It was my first time to take part in the Tsavo Run, and though I did not run, I cheered on those who did. It’s absolutely gruelling running in the wild, so I was very impressed by those who managed to do it. I was even more impressed by the number of young people who’d come out to support the run and were passionate about conservation.

The run was 6km and ran between Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge and its iconic sister, Sarova Saltlick Game Lodge.

How do you get to Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge?

There are 3 ways to get to Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge:

1. By air – The Lodge has its own airstrip so you can opt to take a one hour flight from Nairobi or a 30 min flight from Mombasa by private charter.
2. By road – Tsavo is a 3-hour drive from Mombasa and a 6-hour drive from Nairobi. The road is mostly tarmacked and other than some traffic due to trucks, it’s a pleasant drive.
3. By train – SGR (Standard Gauge Railway) to Mombasa departing from Syokimau at 8.20am everyday has a stop at Voi on the way to Mombasa. You can also catch the train from Mombasa and get off at Voi. Tsavo is an hour’s drive from Voi and the hotel can pick you up at the station.

I was meant to take the train to and fro but missed it. I therefore hitched a ride down that was a lot fun and consisted of rnb and reggae karaoke, and took the train back to Nairobi, which was relaxing after an activity filled weekend.

The Check-In Experience

Check-in was pleasant. The staff were waiting to receive us with fresh juice and cold towels. After a long drive, it was refreshing.

I was also struck by how beautiful the Lodge is. It has a rustic decor with plenty of wooden structures and African art. I felt like I’d gone back in time.

The Room

I had a standard room with a view of the lush garden. It was much bigger than I had anticipated, with a clean, minimalist decor.

I was on the second floor, which is the top floor, and the view was majestic. You could see the Tsavo sanctuary and catching the sunset there was a breathtaking experience.

The Dining Experience

The in-house restaurant, Chala Restaurant, is the main dining area. The food was delicious and I was impressed by the variety. A lot of hotels nowadays (even high-end ones) skimp on variety.

The breakfast spread was generous, which meant having a relaxed breakfast for over an hour. Lunch and dinner had a lot of variety including Kenyan dishes, so it felt like home. I especially enjoyed the variety in the salads, that were both fresh and delicious.

There is The Lounge, a lounge and bar perfect for socializing or relaxing especially after dinner.

Activities and Amenities

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge has several activities on offer including guided day and night game drives, dining in the wild, cultural visits to nearby villages, nature walks, day excursions to Mzima springs in Tsavo West National Park, famous for its hippos and crocodiles, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, or Aruba Dam and Lugards Falls, or Taita Hills in Tsavo East National Park.

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge has an in-house museum that displays some of the World War 1 memorabilia as part of the rich history of Taita Taveta County.

The region to the west of the sanctuary is also rich in World War 1 history while a crater lake near the Tanzania border is a mere 60 km away.

The Lodge has a large pool with scenic views, as well as an award winning spa, Tulia Spa.

Rates

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge is very affordable, with rates for a single and double standard room during low season at Ksh 10,500 and Ksh 12,000 respectively, while Ksh 11,700 and Ksh 14,200 during peak season. The rates are highest during the Easter weekend at Ksh 18,500 for both.

For reservations or enquiries contact centralreservations@sarovahotels.com or +254709111000.

Photography by Travel with Eliud.