The 62-room Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge lies in the heart of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a private conservancy of 28,000 acres located at the foot of the Taita Hills and adjacent to Tsavo West National Park, one of the world's largest game reserves.
The Sanctuary provides a safe environment to over 50 species of mammals and 300 species of birds within 28,000 acres of rolling savanna and woodland habitats. Since the lodge is unfenced, animals such as gazelles and elephants are commonly sighted on the grounds and at the watering hole near the swimming pool.
The Background
The picturesquely verdant Taita Hills lie to the south and west of Voi town and rise abruptly above the plains of Tsavo West National park. The highest point in the Taitas is Vuria (2,209m), from which there are stunning views of Kasigau, Mawenzi, Kibo, Ngulia and the Chyulus.
Wundanyi is the Taita district capital where you can also see one of the many ancestor shrines of the Taita, The cave of skulls. This cave, just outside the town, shelters the exhumed skulls of 32 Taita ancestors and remains a traditional advice and guidance centre wherein the Taita people may consult with their dead.
The forgotten world of the Taitas
Because the forests that cap the Taita Hills have been isolated from the other Kenyan forests for many centuries, they shelter unusually high levels of endemic species. Bird species include the Taita Thrush, the Taita White-eye and the Taita Apalis. The Taitas also host a unique rear-fanged snake, Amblyodipsas teitana, an endemic toad, Bufo Teitensis, and three butterflies, the Taita Glider, Taita Charaxes and Taita Swallowtail found only in the Taitas. At least nine plant species are found nowhere else on earth whilst the African violet (extensively sold as a pot plant in Europe and America) grows well on their moist slopes.
Beautiful birds
Highlights of the birdlife include extremes such as ostrich and golden pipit, while perhaps the most conspicuous are the white-headed buffalo weaver and the brilliantly plumaged golden-breasted starling. Raucous hornbill are also prevalent as are such hole-nesting birds as parrot, barbet and roller.
Wildlife highlights:
Coke’s hartebeest, bush, duiker, klipspringer, suni, Bohor reedbuck, impala, Grant’s gazelle, fringe-eared oryx, bush buck, lesser kudu, eland, steenbok, Kirk’s dik-dik, waterbuck, vervet and Syke’s monkey, yellow baboon, golden, black-backed and side-striped jackal, mongoose, squirrel, cheetah, caracal, serval, African wild cat, lion, leopard, African civet, elephant, Burchells zebra, buffalo, Maasai giraffe, African hare, ant bear, aardwolf, bush baby, bat-eared fox, porcupine, genet, zorilla, honey badger, tortoise, hedgehogs, hyrax, spotted and striped hyena, otter, terrapin and monitor lizard.
Accommodation
All rooms at Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge are equipped with ensuite bathrooms with permanent showers and WC, running hot & cold water and 240V power.
- Suites (2) - The elegantly furnished 1 bed-roomed suites are spacious with a lounge area and well appointed bathrooms.
- Standard Rooms (60) - Rooms at the Lodge are with double, twin or triple beds depending on room type. All rooms have a private viewing balcony commanding views of the adjacent Taita Hills or the well maintained gardens and surrounding Sanctuary. The elegantly furnished rooms are spacious with a sitting area and well appointed bathrooms.
Dining and Bars
Chala Restaurant
The Main restaurant serving buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with live cooking counters preparing specialty dishes. Cuisine includes Pan-African, Pan-European and Pan-Asian. The lodge also offers the lobby bar. Champagne breakfasts can be served in the bush and bush dinners are offered at Kudu Point, the highest point within the sanctuary.
Child-friendly
The lodge welcomes children and offers activities, babysitting, children’s menus and additional beds.
Meetings and events
The lodge offers two meetings and events rooms with a combined capacity of 150 guests (full AV and equipment provided).
What to do and see
- The lodge offers a swimming pool and sundeck, a shop and a series of educational talks and cultural displays. There is also a photo-hide adjacent to the waterhole. Game drives are offered daily as are guided walks in the sanctuary.
- Traditional Music & Dance: A local trio of musicians play traditional music during dinner. This is followed by authentic Taita dancers performing in the Lobby, with additional musicians and where your active participation is genuinely encouraged.