Larsen's Camp - Samburu
 

Hello Fodorites

Does this camp have it's own website? I am trying to find some information about it, here are my questions:

1) What type of vehicles do they use for gaemdrives?

2) Do they do full-day gamedrives?

3) Do their gamedrives also cover Shaba and Buffalo Springs?

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Gaurang

Africa -

Larsen's can be found under the Wilderness Lodges website below:

http://www.wildernesslodges.co.ke/

Select Larsen's for details.

If you arrive with your own guide/driver you can arrange game drives when convenient, even full days. However, most camps do the morning and afternoon drives only. For anything longer (full days), I'm sure there is a supplement to pay.

While Samburu and Buffalo Springs are quite close, Shaba is quite a distance.
But for specifics, as to where they do their game drives and whether there are additional park fees if traversing the other reserves, you should inquire directly to the camp.

Sandi

Thanks for the link and info, you're a star :)

They definitely cover Buffalo Springs. Samburu and Buffalo Springs are one large park, divided by the river. When I visited, we crossed the river many times during the day. I did not stay at Larsen's and I arrived with my own vehicle and drive since I wanted to do full-day drives.

Thanks thit cho, where did you stay?

I don't believe their game drives would cover Shaba. That probably needs to be separately arranged either through the camp or with your tour operator if you arrive with your own vehicle. Let us know what you find out.

I'm scheduled to stay at Larsens and Joy's camp (Shaba) in December.

I haven't been to Larsens but feel I should add the following...

I'm sure it is very nice but I have some friends in Nairobi who tell a different story. An English friend of mine moved to Kenya 15 years ago and married an African lady. When they went to Larsens he went to the dining room first and was given a lovely table and treated well. When his wife arrived the mode changed, the staff were rude and the next day they were given a far inferior table. The reason was almost certainly that, when his wife appeared, they realised they were locals (and part African locals at that) and that big tips would not be forthcoming...

Afterwrads my friends wife wrote a letter of complaint and received an apology from the camps owners and the offer of a free return visit but the damage was done and they never took up the offer ...

Phil

Are there differences in wildlife you are likely to see or in terrain between Buffalo Springs and Samburu?

Is there an advantage to staying in one or the other? Would a couple nights at both be good plan or more of the same?

Thanks!

Unlike a few years ago you can travel freely from Samburu to Buffalo Springs so it doesn't matter which side you stay on. Buffalo springs side only has one lodge (serena) so is a bit more quiet ..

Thanks for the info. Here is a link to a map of Samburu & Buffalo Springs. The map shows it as a mass of land, only separated by a river. Of the main camps (Elephant Watch, excluded), Larsens seems to be the most centrally located. I have emailed Wilderness Lodges to find out more info on their guiding and game-drives. So I'll report back if I get any info.

This time HERE is the link....

http://www.shoortravel.com/samburumap.html

Samburu is a wonderful park but is quite small so central location doesn't matter ...

After having been closed for a number of years, Larsen's has been completely refurbished and under new management since last year. The new Larsen's is quite lovely, fresh and an added addition in the park. With the exception of Elephant Watch, prices here are higher than Serena and Intrepids. Bedouin is being relocated; Joy's in Shaba opens this month and is the most expensive in the three areas.

I stayed at Samburu Serena, but as others pointed out, its a small park and its easy to cover the entire park in a short visit, although, for me, the best viewing was along the riverfront (great leopards). My primary reason was to see the Samburu Big 5 (Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk, Somali Ostrich and Beisa Oryx) and the Vulturine Guineafowl, and we saw lots of each, plus elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo and leopard. Its a nice, smaller park, with lots of game (not in Masai Mara numbers, but similar to Amboseli).

I have just received a reply from George, who is the camp manager at Larsens. Here are his answers to my questions (this was based on a group of 5 people):

1) Vehicles?

1. We are currently using 4x4 Landrover TDIs and Toyota Hilux whose roofs can be opened during game drives and are going to revamp the float with new Toyota Landcruisers (4x4) in the next couple of weeks with roofs which can be opened too during drives. Each vehicle can comfortably take six (6) people inorder to ensure a window seat.

2) Guides?

Yes we shall allocate to you the same driver/guides during your entire stay unless due to unforeseen circumstances.

3) Gamedrives?

3. Normally morning game drives are between 6.30am - 8.30am while afternoon drives are from 4.00pm - 6.30pm. We are flexible on our timings so long as it is within the hours of 6.30am and 6.30pm (No night driving allowed). We can also offer full day drives with picnic lunch on request.

4) Buffalo Springs and Shaba?

4. Yes, we cover Buffalo Springs during game drives but one has to pay an extra USD$30 per person to go into Shaba reserve.

It is very pleasing to know that they are flexible with their gamedrives and offer picnic lunches.

Gaurang,

Go for the whole day drive. They seem to have very short game activities, under normal circumstances. What do they expect clients to do between 8 30 Am and 4 PM???

Hari