Opened in 2007, Satao Elerai Camp is a small, high-end safari camp situated on a private game concession at the foot of Kilimanjaro, some 12km south of Amboseli National Park. It is one of a small number of safari camps in the Amboseli region, and has the advantage of access to both the National Park itself and its own private game concession (the Elerai Conservation Area).
From its perch on a small boulder-strewn hill, Satao Elerai Camp enjoys dramatic views of the Amboseli plains in one direction and Mt Kilimanjaro in the other. The camp’s 12 safari tents and 5 suites have been positioned so as to make the most of the mountain and savannah views, as have the public areas.
Satao Elerai’s guest facilities have been built around a group of natural boulders, into which the lounge, bar and pool have been neatly integrated. The main hub and lounge area is split level, with a ground-floor bar and dining room and an upper level observation room. The overall style is low-key, with Satao Elerai tending towards comfort and convenience in its facilities rather than style. There’s an excess of concrete, and the smart lobby area sits incongruously with the rustic, bush camp vibe apparent elsewhere. But these are small complaints – Satao Elerai is one of the most pleasant and best located safari camps in the Amboseli region.
Satao Elerai Camp is open throughout the year.
Accommodation
Satao Elerai offers 17 rooms, of which twelve are spacious safari tents and five luxury suites.
Satao Elerai’s tents are permanent structures, situated on raised stone plinths covered with cedar wood flooring and sheltered by makuti thatch roofs. All of the tents have been positioned overlooking Kilimanjaro. Inside, they are comfortably furnished with double/twin beds, folding safari chairs, and day beds. Each tents has its own en-suite bathroom (with solar-powered shower).
The five suites are rather more lavish in presentation, featuring spacious interiors and wide French doors which open out onto a private verandah overlooking the Amboseli plains. The bathrooms get the most impressive upgrade – incorporating natural rock and acacia wood, they feature separate bathtubs and shower units.
Satao Elerai’s suites are more comfortable, but we actually prefer the standard tents, as the view of Kilimanjaro, one of the camp’s few unique selling points, is better than that of Amboseli.
Dining
Breakfast is a full cooked breakfast to order accompanied by a light buffet of cereals, preserves and pastries, usually served on return from an early morning game drive. Lunch and dinner are set menus, with a choice of mains and usually with a vegetarian option. The menus are a mix of Kenyan specialities and more familiar international fare.
Meals are served in the open-air dining area or out on the terrace overlooking Kilimanjaro.
Facilities
Lounge and bar
Observation floor
Dining room
Freeform swimming pool
Activities
4x4 game drives (on the Elerai Conservancy and in Amboseli National Park)
Night drives (conservancy only)
Guided bush walks (conservancy only)
Child Policy
Satao Elerai accepts children of all ages. Do note, however, that the camp is unfenced.
