Kalepo Camp sits surrounded by acacia trees on a dry river bed beneath the Mathews Mountains in the Kalepo Conservancy in the heart of northern Kenya’s Samburuland. It is a permanent, private-use, family-friendly camp that offers exclusive access to 390,000 acres of Kenya’s northern frontiers.
Overview
Kalepo, the brainchild of and run by safari hospitality veterans Robert and Storm Mason, puts the emphasis on restrained luxury and what they call slow safari. The feel of the camp is airy and relaxed, combining modern luxury with a down-to-earth familiarity with local textiles and traditions. The lounge and dining area are beautifully appointed, pillared with reclaimed tree trunks and open-sided to afford views of the camp’s surroundings, featuring wooden furniture in the local style, tiled walkways, ample lounging spaces with comfortable sofas and cushions, as well as tables for communal dining.
Food & service
The Masons’ background in high-end hospitality shows throughout Kalepo Camp. Everything that emerges from the kitchen is prepared with sophistication and love. Much of the produce used in the dishes comes from the camp’s carefully tended herb and vegetable garden. Taking in everything from western favourites to Swahili cuisine, the menu here can be adapted to any and all dietary requirements upon request.
Rooms
Accommodations at Kalepo Camp comprise three tents with double / twin beds, all of the same luxurious standard and all en-suite with outdoor showers, which together accommodate six adults comfortably. There is a family unit in addition to these which can take a further four, and throughout extra children can be offered camp beds. As in the communal areas, the minimalist yet welcoming décor combines subtly modern comfort – bedside lamps, high-quality bedlinen and toiletries – with an authentic local feel from exterior showers and plentiful local arts and crafts.
Activities
Kalepo Camp’s range of activities is diverse. They include visiting Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, a facility dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing orphaned or abandoned elephants; helicopter trips to otherwise inaccessible destinations such as the peak of Mount Kenya or Lake Turkana; guided bush walks and a visit to the famous ‘singing wells’; and spending time with the Samburu people.