My baby sister had been in the United States for close to 10 years. In these 10 years, she had been home only twice. Throughout her stay in the United States, she complained that she missed everything about home, especially the vibrant people, the flavourful cuisine, and the breathtaking landscapes. This time, as she planned to come home, she mentioned wanting to go for a getaway in the wild, just to get a sense of what she had been missing back in Kenya. For my sister, all she wanted was to feel fully immersed in nature.
And true to form, she asked me to find the best tour operator in Kenya to help plan our trip. I did not need to look further as my best friend had gone on a getaway in the Masai Mara a few months back and used the services of Adequate Safaris. According to my friend, Adequate Safaris was not only extremely professional but also committed to ensuring all the details of your trip are planned from A to Z to ensure your trip is unparalleled. So, based on my friend’s recommendation, I contacted Adequate Safaris to help in planning our trip to Salt Lick Safari Lodge, which is located in the heart of Tsavo Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Salt Lick Safari Lodge is framed as being among the world’s most photographed lodges.
And when I say that our visit to Salt Lick Safari Lodge was truly exceptional, please believe me! The entire experience at Salt Lick Safari Lodge was out of this world, for lack of a better word. So, here is the gist of how it went down! Allow me to share a few things you should know about Salt Lick Safari Lodge to make sure your trip is unmatched. Let’s dive in!
Salt Lick Safari Lodge: Location
Salt Lick Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the breathtaking Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, which is on the edge of Tsavo National Park. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a private conservancy at the foot of the Taita Hills. Salt Lick Safari Lodge is accessible through several means, including:
Access by Road
The lodge is about 400 km from Nairobi, which took us about 6 hours to get there. The main reason why we opted to drive from Nairobi to Salt Lick Safari Lodge is the fact that we wanted to enjoy the breathtaking views along the way, while we moved through the highlands and diverse biodiversity.
By Train
You can access Salt Lick Safari Lodge using the SGR train, allowing you to truly experience the real Kenya as you leave the city life behind. The SGR train, scheduled once per day, takes about 2 hrs and 41 minutes from Nairobi, followed by a 45-minute transfer to the lodge.
By Air
You can also access Salt Lick Safari Lodge via a private airstrip inside the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, which is served by private charters and Helicopters. The flight from Nairobi to the Tarita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary takes approximately 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the airstrip, which is in proximity to the lodge, you will be transferred to the lodge, which is 8 km away.
Accommodation
Salt Lick Lodge has 96 unique rooms, all elevated on stilts and built across two levels.The rooms are built across two levels and have en-suite bathrooms. My sister and I shared a double room, which fits up to 2 people. Our room had a triple bed, with soft, fine linen for added charm and comfort. The room gave us a chance to enjoy the scenic views of the breathtaking landscapes and majestic wildlife.
You can also decide to stay in rooms with double or triple beds, depending on your preferred occupancy.
All the rooms have mosquito nets, a ceiling fan, a coffee and tea maker, luxurious furniture, a bedside light switch, a digital safe deposit, wardrobes, a reading table, and views of the waterhole.
Salt Lick Safari Lodge imposes some occupancy regulations on the guests, including:
- A maximum of 2 adults in a room
- Maximum of 2 adults and a child (5 years and above).
- Interconnecting rooms are not allowed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge.
- Children under the age of 5 years old are not allowed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge for safety reasons.
- Check-in time is 1200hrs and check-out time is 1000hrs.
Facilities and Services
The facilities and services that make your stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge enjoyable include:
- Daily laundry service (available upon request and at an extra cost).
- Bureau de change
- Free WiFi
- Stairs to access the rooms
- Hair dryer upon request
- Ample parking
- Private bathroom with shower
- Shaver outlets
- Mosquito nets in all rooms
- Electric fans in all rooms
- Safe deposit boxes.
Dining/Cuisine
My sister and I really enjoyed the diverse, flavourful meals served at the lodge. The meals were a perfect blend of local and international flavours, ensuring expectations were met and exceeded. What we found exemplary about Salt Lick Safari Lodge is the fact that they ensure to cater to all dietary needs of guests. However, there is a need to inform the lodge about visitors’ food allergies and dietary requests before their arrival. Other dining options you can enjoy at Salt Lick Lodge include: bush meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), ‘Out of Africa’ dinners set up in the wild with sundowner cocktails served at Kudu Viewpoint.
Activities
Some of the activities we engaged in at Salt Lick Safari Lodge include:
- A wildlife talk (which was on request)
- Visiting the Salt Lick Tunnel for a chance to observe mega herbivores as they quench their thirst at the drinking hole up close. Since we had visited the lodge during the dry season, that is, in July, we were able to spot large elephant herds, zebras, buffaloes, and various antelopes (sometimes trailed by big cats).
- Bush meals (breakfast and dinner) (upon request) while enjoying the magnificent views of the Taita Hills, the sanctuary, adjacent Tsavo Plains, of course, Mt. Kilimanjaro on clear sky days.
- Spa treatment at Afya Bora Spa at Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa
- Swimming at Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa.
- Traditional music and dance during dinner as a local trio of musicians sings traditional music and authentic Taita dancers perform in the lobby. Our active participation was genuinely encouraged.
- We also bought a few souvenirs at the Taita Hills Resort and Spa gift shop.
There is a wide selection of souvenirs available at the Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa gift shop located in the lobby area of the lodge.
You can also enjoy animation services upon request.
Experiences
Game driving was among the best excursions my sister and I really enjoyed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge. As we were staying at the lodge for 5 days, we made sure to go on game drives on at least 3 days when we were there. We went on the game drives within the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, sometimes in the early morning or other times in the late afternoon, giving us a chance to spot and photograph abundant wildlife and picturesque landscapes. Going on game drives in the early morning and late afternoon was ideal for spotting wildlife during their most active hours. It is important to note that the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary gate closes at 1800hrs.
We also explored the underground tunnel and bunker at the lodge, which provided us with an up close and safe view of a wide array of animals as they drank water from the waterhole.
We also got to enjoy the stunning views of the jaw-dropping landscapes and majestic wildlife from the lobby and terrace bar. The experience at Salt Lick Safari Lodge was simply surreal.
Specifically, going on night game drives, accompanied by professional rangers equipped with spotlights, ensured that our experience at Salt Lick Safari Lodge was unparalleled. During the night game drives, we got a chance to spot animals that are not commonly seen during the day, including the mongoose, jackal, genet, bush baby, and the spotted and striped hyenas. Most predators are usually active at night, which allowed us to experience the ‘circle of life’.
On one of the days during our stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge, we went on a walking safari with a professional ranger guide, which allowed us to experience the unique flora and fauna in the area up close.
Another aspect that we found fascinating at Salt Lick Safari Lodge was its partnership with a local cultural group to educate visitors on the Taita culture. The local cultural group has identified traditional foods and basketry and worked with the county government to develop trails to 17 caves where skulls of ancient Taita leaders were preserved. By learning about the Taita culture and visiting the caves, your stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge will be truly exceptional.
We also made sure to visit the World War I (WWI) Museum and Battlefields at Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa during our stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge. A well-trained ranger explained to us all the WWI activities, which took place in Taita-Taveta County.
Other excursions you can engage in while at Salt Lick Safari Lodge include visits to local villages, Mzima Springs, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, and Lake Jipe.
Inclusions/Exclusions
Our package to Salt Lick Safari Lodge with Adequate Safaris was inclusive of:
- Accommodation on a full board basis.
- Return inter-county train tickets
- Return transfers from Voi Train Station to the lodge or resort.
- 2 game drives within the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Additional game drives attract an extra cost.
- East African Residents or Citizens Sanctuary Entry Fees
- A complementary tour to the World War I museum at the Taita Hills Museum.
The following were excluded from the Salt Lick Safari Lodge package:
- International flights
- Tips (tipping guideline is $10 per person per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, snacks, drinks, travel insurance, and visa fees, etc.)
- Drinks
Conclusion: Why Trust Adequate Safaris to Plan Your Visit to Salt Lick Safari Lodge?
My sister and I had the best time at Salt Lick Safari Lodge. From the stunning views of the breathtaking landscapes, majestic wildlife, to the amazing facilities and services, everything at Salt Lick Safari Lodge was to die for. Would I recommend you visit the lodge? I definitely would! Salt Lick Safari Lodge is worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. Salt Lick Safari Lodge is a must-visit if you are looking for unique accommodation and experiences.
Are you dreaming of visiting Salt Lick Safari Lodge? Worry not! Adequate Safaris has you covered! Our expert tour consultants will ensure that all your needs are met to ensure your stay at Salt Lick Lodge is exceptional and unforgettable. All you have to do is contact Adequate Safaris at de***@*************is.com and provide them with information regarding your desired travel dates, how many people will be travelling, their ages, and the duration of stay, and they will craft a personalized itinerary for a top-notch experience at Salt Lick Safari Lodge. Let’s explore Salt Lick Safari Lodge with Adequate Safaris today!
