Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Salt Lick Safari Lodge is an iconic and highly sought-after lodge located within the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary near Tsavo East National Park. Elevated on stilts, it offers a unique vantage point to observe wildlife, particularly around its surrounding waterholes, where animals gather throughout the day.

Highlights

Unique Architecture: The lodge’s design allows guests to stay in rooms elevated above the ground, offering 360-degree wildlife views from both rooms and common areas.
Uninterrupted Wildlife Viewing: The waterholes attract large numbers of elephants, buffaloes, and various antelope species, with frequent visits from predators like lions and leopards.
Scenic Taita Hills Sanctuary: Nestled in a private sanctuary adjacent to Tsavo East, the lodge provides a more intimate safari experience away from the busier national park, while still offering access to game drives in Tsavo East.
Rich Wildlife and Birdwatching: The surrounding savannahs are home to a variety of species, including the famed “Big Five.” The sanctuary is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with numerous native and migratory species.
Bura Restaurant and Vuria Bar Lounge: Enjoy panoramic views while dining or relaxing in the lounge, watching wildlife at the nearby waterholes.
Historical Significance: The nearby Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa has a small museum with World War I memorabilia, adding a cultural element to the stay.
Sustainability: Guests are invited to participate in tree-planting activities, part of the lodge’s environmental conservation efforts.

What to Expect

Accommodation: Each room at Salt Lick Safari Lodge offers breathtaking views, en-suite bathrooms, and direct access to suspended walkways connecting the rooms and lodge facilities.
Game Drives: Daily game drives in both Taita Hills and Tsavo East provide ample opportunity to spot a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, lions, and rhinos.
Bush Dining: The lodge offers special dining experiences, including bush breakfasts and ‘Out of Africa’ dinners, which allow guests to enjoy meals in the wild while surrounded by nature.

Salt Lick Safari Lodge is an excellent choice for travelers looking to combine luxury with an authentic wildlife safari experience, all while contributing to local conservation efforts. The elevated rooms and walkways provide an unmatched experience, making it one of the most photographed lodges in Kenya.

Accommodation Options at Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Salt Lick Safari Lodge offers 96 unique stilted rooms, each connected by elevated walkways. The rooms provide panoramic views of nearby waterholes, ensuring guests can witness animals such as elephants and buffaloes at any time of the day. There are two main types of rooms available:

Park View Rooms: These rooms offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, allowing guests to enjoy the scenic Taita Hills sanctuary.
Waterhole View Rooms: These rooms are perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, providing direct views of the watering hole frequented by animals.

All rooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and modern conveniences to ensure comfort in the wild. The lodge’s Bura Restaurant and Vuria Bar Lounge are elevated to further enhance the wildlife viewing experience

With its combination of luxurious stilted rooms and up-close wildlife experiences, Salt Lick Safari Lodge provides a truly unique and immersive safari experience.

Review of Salt Lick Safari Lodge, Tsavo East

Based on insights from reviews on Tripadvisor and Booking.com, Salt Lick Safari Lodge consistently receives positive feedback for its unique architecture and prime wildlife viewing opportunities, but there are some areas that guests feel could be improved.

Pros:

Exceptional Wildlife Viewing: Elevated rooms provide constant views of elephants, buffaloes, and other animals gathering at nearby waterholes.
Unique Stilted Architecture: The lodge’s stilts and suspended walkways give guests a bird’s-eye view of the wildlife, making it a highlight for photographers.
Friendly and Helpful Staff: Many reviewers praise the attentive staff, noting that they go above and beyond to make the stay comfortable.
Proximity to Animals: The closeness to wildlife allows for unforgettable, intimate encounters, especially elephants and various antelope species.
Panoramic Views from Dining Areas: The lodge’s Bura Restaurant and Vuria Bar offer stunning views, perfect for watching wildlife while enjoying meals.
Scenic Location in the Taita Hills: Surrounded by the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Salt Lick is set in an incredibly scenic location, with ample opportunities for photography and exploration.
Cultural and Historical Interest: The nearby Taita Hills museum provides guests with insight into the local history and World War I memorabilia, adding depth to the safari experience.
Eco-Friendly Focus: The lodge engages in conservation efforts, encouraging guests to participate in sustainable practices like tree-planting activities.
Diverse Birdwatching: Excellent for birdwatchers, with many native and migratory species flocking to the area around the waterholes.
Game Drives in Tsavo: In addition to the wildlife-rich sanctuary, guests have easy access to Tsavo East, known for its abundant wildlife and big game, including lions, leopards, and giraffes.

Cons:

Outdated Facilities: Some guests mention that the rooms and bathrooms could use modernization and are slightly dated compared to other luxury lodges.
Limited Food Variety: While most praise the quality of the meals, a few reviewers noted that the food options were repetitive and lacked variety, especially during longer stays.
Inconsistent Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is only available in common areas, and guests have commented that the signal is weak and unreliable, particularly for those needing to stay connected.
Expensive Drinks: Several reviewers have mentioned that drinks, particularly alcoholic beverages, are priced on the higher side compared to other lodges.
Crowded at Peak Times: Due to its popularity, the lodge can become crowded during peak travel seasons, particularly at the waterhole viewing areas, limiting the intimate experience for some guests.
Noise from Animals and Lodge Machinery: While close proximity to animals is an advantage, some guests reported disturbances from wildlife or from nearby lodge machinery.
Lack of Air Conditioning: A few reviews indicated that the lack of air conditioning in rooms made them uncomfortable during hotter months, especially for travelers not accustomed to Kenya’s climate.

Conclusion:

Salt Lick Safari Lodge stands out for its incredible architecture and access to non-stop wildlife action, especially at the waterholes right beneath the stilted rooms. It provides a memorable and unique safari experience in a conservation-focused environment. However, some areas, such as room modernization and food variety, may need attention to meet the high expectations set by its iconic status.