Whilst not featuring as one of the seven wonders of the world, Tsavo East National Park, in my view, really should be one! It is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya and is filled with a magnitude of beauty across it which includes the magnificent and majestic wildlife. There are several places where you can stay in Tsavo East National Park and I’m now here to share with you Sentrim Tsavo East Camp which will make you feel like you’re on the set of “Out of Africa”. The camp blends in with nature and its habitat and you can enjoy your meal times with elephants everyday. If you’re excited by this prospect, do read on and get an insight into an experience at this unpretentious and unique camp.
A wonderful camp which allows you to connect with nature
The camp site as a whole is clean, quiet (with the exception of animal sounds, of course) and well laid-out. There are also several decorations of animal skulls including that of buffalos. The camp consists of 24-hour security, a gift shop, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and hot tub and a beauty spa. There is also room available for conferencing which has a capacity for a maximum of 30 persons. The rooms are all within tents (see below for more information).
From the moment you enter the camp, you will be looked after by kind and courteous staff. Staying here will be like being taken back-in-time as there is no television or telephones available; wi-fi is advertised, however it is only available within the restaurant from 6pm and rarely works. This means that you need to be prepared to essentially say goodbye to the rest of the world during your stay and I have to say that this is not a bad thing! As human beings who are in an era all about technology, it is actually delightful to be able to switch off, be mindful and one with nature. Enjoy the gift of connecting with your surroundings rather than social media. It should be noted that the generator for electricity within the entire camp is only available during certain times in the morning and evening.
All of the meals are served in the restaurant which is featured in the photograph. The restaurant is open for from 6.00am until 9.00am for breakfast; 12.00pm - 3.00pm for lunch and from 7.30pm - 9.00pm for dinner. The food selection is basic in options and flavours available albeit it is palatable and filling. The best part about meal times at this camp is having the opportunity to eat with the animals. Turn to your right or left and you may see some elephants munching away at some greens too whilst you tuck into your green beans selection.
Animals are around all day and night
There is a raised viewing platform/look-out point next to the restaurant. To access the platform you will have to climb about 12 steps in order to reach the top; so it’s not like you’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, so you should be fine and the view is certainly worth it! This is because there is an amazing waterhole in front of the camp that is supplying and inviting elephants, buffaloes and other herbivores as well as occasionally leopards, lions and cheetahs.
As the camp is protected entirely by an electricity fence, you should have no fear of certain animals getting too close as your safety and comfort is paramount. The animals and especially the elephants do like to pop over to say, “hello” but do it from an easily viewable distance. You will find that some of the experiences that you will have from the camp will stay with you forever; mine has to be a gentle elephant appearing near the electric fence to say, “goodnight” as I walked from the restaurant to my tent after dinner.
The only animals that will be cheeky enough to pass the electric fence are the comical and quirky monkeys and their rather noisy bird friends. If you’re a light sleeper, you may wish to take earplugs with you whilst staying at this camp. This is because you really will be one-with-nature as you will be hearing the animals throughout the night and it is certainly possible that you will hear elephants, lions, cheetahs and leopards roar. You may also be kept awake at certain points by some very loud birds (as I certainly was).
A tent and porch await you
The camp has a total of 25 spacious ensuite rooms in tents which include four-poster beds, mosquito nets, a dressing table and two chairs as well as tea and coffee making facilities. The bathrooms are clean and you will definitely have a lovely warm shower (which is oh so very much needed after every game drive looking for animals in the park!). You will be provided with toiletries which will be replenished upon request. The rooms also include fans but not air-conditioning.
The tent rooms give you a real feel of adventure because you can hear all of the animal sounds and also that of your neighbours in the tent next to you. What is really exceptional about this camp is how close and secure it is to wildlife and how the views of nature are so incredibly beautiful. Waking up and hearing and seeing the animals whilst the sun is rising or setting is truly an incredible spectacle. Witnessing the stunning surroundings and the wonderful animals retreating is a gorgeous experience.
For those that are not familiar with staying in a tent, fear not as the tents at this camp are made from a combination of materials including cement, netting and a thatched roof. I would advise you to ensure that during the day and night-time you ensure though that you keep your tent room door closed due to the amount of bugs that can get in and will be difficult to usher out. During the night-time, you should also ensure that your light at the front of the porch is switched off as you may find yourself having to swarm through a lot more bugs if you wish to go outside and check out the animals in the middle of the night (which is very tempting when you hear the roars!). You are also advised to take a torch with you due to the fact that there will be limited light during certain times.
Get ready for an unforgettable experience
Sentrim Tsavo East Camp is a gateway to a paradise of animals and is a truly beautiful place to stay in. Its surroundings are tranquil and you will create memories that you will treasure for eternity. Spend your mornings enjoying the views from the camp, take a game drive during morning and early afternoon, enjoy the pool during the hottest parts of the day and then place yourself in the restaurant, on the viewing platform or/and on your porch and get ready to see the animals going about their day. The price to stay at Sentrim Tsavo East Camp varies contingent on the season and date upon which you travel and it is advised that you check-out Booking.com for the best available price for your stay.
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