Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Salt Lick Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a private wildlife conservancy at the foot of the Taita Hills. With its functional airstrip close to the lodge, the sanctuary covers a protected area of 28,000 acres at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level (3,600 ft.).

For decades, Salt Lick Safari Lodge has been one of Kenya’s flagship lodges, famed for being among the World’s Most Photographed Lodges. Favorite amongst travelers in search of unique accommodation, Salt Lick Safari Lodge is a luxurious safari escape set in the heart of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary overlooking a waterhole and the vast Tsavo plains.

How to get there

Road: Driving to Salt Lick Safari Lodge from Nairobi takes approximately 6 hours and 3 hours from Mombasa. It is a scenic drive through the Highlands of Kenya, experiencing its varied biodiversity.

Flying: The Lodge is just a mere 8km drive from the sanctuary’s private airstrip, which is served by both private charters and helicopters.

Train: This remains one of the most fantastic opportunities to see more of the real Kenya as you leave behind the city life. The Madaraka Express train, scheduled once per day, takes 2hrs 41mins from Nairobi /Mombasa, takes 1hr 25 minutes with a stopover at Voi Terminal, and with a transfer to the lodge by a van, taking you 45 minutes.

Accommodation

Salt Lick Safari Lodge has 96 unique rooms, all elevated on stilts and built across two levels, with ensuite bathrooms. We can accommodate you in these rooms at three levels with double, twin, or triple beds, depending on your preferred occupancy.

Occupancy Rules

✓ Subject to the availability of triple rooms
✓ Interconnecting rooms are NOT available at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
✓ For safety reasons, children under the age of 5 years are not allowed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
✓ Lodge Rooms – Maximum 2 adults or 2 adults and 1 child (adults and children age 5 and older)
✓ Non-smoking guidelines – All rooms are non-smoking. However, we have designated smoking zones within the lodge and bar/lounge areas

Rooms Information

✓ Total Rooms: 96
✓ Twin Lodge Rooms – 37
✓ Triple Lodge Rooms – 22
✓ Double Lodge Rooms – 37
✓ Categories: Waterhole View Rooms 42 & Park View Rooms 54

Facilities include:

✓ Ample parking
✓ Bureau de change
✓ Hair dryer on request
✓ Private bathroom with a shower
✓ Interconnecting rooms are not available
✓ Free Wifi. All rooms are accessed via stairs
✓ Daily laundry service is available on request at a cost
✓ Electric current: 220 Volts, 50 cycles AC. Shaver outlets 110/220 volts, 50 cycles AC
✓ Mosquito netting in all bedrooms. An electric fan is in all Guest rooms. Safe deposit box

Salt Lick Safari Lodge Experiences:

Days are as action-packed or as relaxed as desired, and Salt Lick offers a range of unique and adventurous activities for all ages to explore the wilderness and experience the more than 50 different species of mammals and over 300 species of birds the sanctuary has to offer.

These activities give our guests the rare opportunity to spend time with wildlife rangers who work tirelessly to keep endangered species safe. Some of the experiences are:

✓ Wildlife talks on request
✓ Day and night Game drives
✓ Animation services on request
✓ Salt Lick Special Water Hole Experience
✓ Afya Bora Spa at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa
✓ Visit to the World War I Museum and battlefields
✓ Swimming pool at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa
✓ Bush breakfast, Bush dinners, sundowners, and picnic activities
✓ Excursions to local villages, Mzima Springs, Ngulia rhino Sanctuary, and Lake Jipe

Inclusions:

✓ Swimming at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa
✓ All-day game viewing tunnel at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
✓ Full board accommodation; Lunch, dinner & breakfast

Exclusions

✓ Beverage
✓ Local airstrip transfers
✓ Guided day and night game drives
✓ Exclusive use of a game drive vehicle
✓ Any additional payable activities or extras
✓ Gratuities and anything of a personal nature
✓ Sanctuary Entry Fees apply for stays at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
✓ Bush breakfast, Bush dinners, sundowners, and picnic activities

Important Information

✓ Altitude: The lodge is located at (2,475 – 3,960 feet) above sea level
✓ Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Policy: The Sanctuary gate closes at 18:00
✓ Reception: Check-in time at the lodge is noon, while check-out time is 10:00 hrs
✓ Rainfall: August to September and March to May experience some sporadic rains
✓ Temperature: January to March are the warmest months, and June to September is a cooler climate
✓ Gift shop: The curio shop offers essential toiletries, books, safari wear, and truly memorable souvenirs
✓ Children’s policy: For safety reasons, children under the age of 5 years are not allowed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
✓ Personnel on call: A Duty manager, Clinical Officer, and Security personnel will be a phone call away should you require their attention
✓ Conference: Conferences and Incentives can be accommodated at our sister property, Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa, which is 8 kilometers away
✓ Alternative Dining: Bush breakfast, Barbeque lunch, ‘Out of Africa’ dinners all set up in the wild with open Sundowner cocktails at Kudu View Point
✓ Food and dietary requirements – As a small and exclusive lodge, Salt Lick Safari Lodge can cater to all dietary requirements. Food allergies and dietary requests should be arranged before arrival
✓ Climate and seasons: Salt Lick Safari Lodge enjoys a spring-like climate almost all year round. Mornings are brisk, midday is rather warm, and evenings are always cool enough to appreciate a fire
✓ Eco-tourism – Salt Lick Safari Lodge has always strived to operate in harmony with our beautiful environment. The lodge runs on solar power, water from a natural spring, uses natural cleaning products and toiletries wherever possible, follows a strict recycling policy, and grows fruits and vegetables. Our 2.5-acre organic garden produces a large variety of fresh produce served at the lodge during meal times
✓ Weddings and events: Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is widely known as a beautiful and exclusive venue for weddings and events. Conferences and Incentives can be accommodated at our sister property, Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa

Unique Features to visit

✓ Reforestation – The program aims at habitat restoration, which will eventually improve the ecological health of the sanctuary after the original vegetation had been degraded by bush fires, overgrazing by mega herbivores, droughts due to climate change, and other natural impacts. The reforestation project was first established in 2010 as a pilot project and covers 0.5sq. Km and so far over 10,000 indigenous tree species have been planted.

✓ WWI Excursions – Battlefield tourism specializes in tours of battlefields, cemeteries, memorials, and related historic sites all around the world. It focuses on historic battlefields where the fighting is long past and is much more strongly linked to heritage and commemoration. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary has taken the lead in East Africa by identifying all these leads and has come up with an exciting historical journey told in pictures and an artefacts museum at Taita Hills Resort & Spa.

✓ Community and Cultural Tourism – We partnered with local communities with the aim of exploring Taita culture. The group indulges in social activities, which include the making of traditional foods and basketry. They have support from the county government to develop trails leading to 17 caves where skulls of ancient Taita leaders were preserved.

✓ Salt Lick Tunnel – This unique guest experience at Salt Lick Safari Lodge allows guests to observe wildlife up close as they come to quench their thirst at the waterhole. The experience is more rewarding during dry spells/season as large groups of elephants, buffaloes, zebras and various antelopes (sometime trailed by big cats) come for scarce water which is provided for by a well-positioned water hole.

Salt Lick Safari Lodge Non-Resident Accommodation Rates Per Night Include;

Accommodation on Full Board Basis

Notes

* Check-in time 1200hours
* Checkout time 1000hours
* Half Board reduction of 5 US Dollars per adult /child per night
* Day rooms are subject to the same occupancy rules as overnight rules
* Departure from the room after 1700 hours is charged at the overnight rate
* Day rooms can be booked for 50% of the double/single room rate for use until 17 00 hours inclusive of lunch
* Easter Supplement: 18th – 21st April 2025 (Inclusive) (inclusive) – 35 US Dollars per adult per night, 25 US Dollars per child (5 years to 11.99 years) per night
* Christmas/ New Year Supplement: 23rd Dec- to 1st Jan (Inclusive) 45 US Dollars per adult per night and 35 US Dollars per child (5 years to 16 years) per night
* Conservation fees at Salt Lick Safari Lodge/ Taita Hills Game Lodge – 35 US Dollars per person per night in the Low Season and 45 US Dollars per person in the High Season

Child Policy

* For safety reasons, children under the age of 5 years are not permitted at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
* Children aged 5 years to 16 years sharing with 1 or two adults – 50% of the adult sharing (half twin) rate per child – Maximum three guests per room
* Children aged 5 years to 16 years in their own room (minimum 2, maximum 3) – 75% of the adult sharing (half twin) rate per child – Interconnecting rooms are NOT available at Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Additional Meals

* Children pay 50% of the above meals rate
* Buffet dinner – 20 US Dollars per person
* Hot Buffet lunch – 20 US Dollars per person
* Hot Buffet breakfast- 20 US Dollars per person
* Additional picnic box meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) – 17 US Dollars per person

Salt Lick Safari Lodge Resident Accommodation Rates Per Night Include;

Accommodation on Full Board Basis

Notes

* Check-in time 1200hours
* Checkout time 1000hours
* Complimentary All day drinking water
* All Day Waterhole View Where The Magic Never Ends
* Enjoy Free Heritage Tour of World War 1 at The Taita Hills Museum
* Sanctuary Entry Fees to Apply – 500 Kenya Shillings per Adult per day /  250 Kenya Shillings per Child per day
* Every vehicle accessing Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary will be subject to Vehicle Entry Fees payable per vehicle, per night

Child Policy

* For Child Safety, children below 5 years old are not allowed at Salt Lick Safari Lodge
* If children are younger than 12 years, they should share rooms next to parents/adults (subject to availability)
* Children aged 5 years – 11.99 years in own room (minimum 2, maximum 3)  –  pay 75% of the adult sharing (half twin) rate per child
* Children aged 5 years – 11.99 years sharing with 1 or two adults  –  pay 50% of the adult sharing (half twin) rate per child Maximum three guests per room

Salt Lick Game Lodge has 96 unique rooms, all elevated on stilts and built across two levels, with ensuite bathrooms with permanent showers and WC, and running hot and cold water. We can accommodate you in these rooms at three levels with double, twin, or triple beds, depending on your preferred occupancy.

The rooms are designed in circular structures linked with walkways with thin bamboo railings. Each is tastefully fitted with a coffee and tea maker, wardrobes, a digital safe, a fan, and a work desk. The bathrooms are en-suite and have outlets for plugging in shavers.

The onsite restaurant is elevated like the other buildings in the lodge and serves Pan-African, Pan-European, and Pan-Asian cuisines. Guests can dine in the elegant dining area or outside dining in the bush overlooking the Taita Hills.

The bar, Vura Bar Lounge, has a shaded terrace with spectacular views of the main waterhole and surrounding grasslands. This is an ideal place to relax and have a cocktail or coffee while watching the wildlife below.

There is an underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows that provide unbelievably close yet safe access to a variety of animals as they drink. The lodge is a naturally ideal exotic wedding flavored with the culture and traditions of the Taita.

Details like venue decoration, marriage license, certificate, beads and handicrafts, flowers, music, dance, and photography are well taken care of by the hotel. The Tulia wellness tent offers a variety of body treatments, including Swedish, aromatherapy, and Ayurveda.

A beautiful free-form swimming pool is open all day at the sister property, Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa, located nearby.

Salt Lick Game Lodge activities include: day game drives, walking safari, wildlife talks, traditional music & dance, day out with a ranger, sundowners/bush dining, night game drives, and local village visits.

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com