Elephant Watch Camp

Elephant Watch Camp is a luxury eco-camp located in the heart of Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, offering an intimate and conservation-focused safari experience. As the

Elephant Watch Camp

Conservation focused luxury on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro, Samburu

Elephant Watch Camp is a luxury eco-camp located in the heart of Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, offering an intimate and conservation-focused safari experience. As the name suggests, the camp is famous for its close encounters with elephants, particularly the well known families studied by the Save the Elephants organization, which was founded by Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton. Guests at Elephant Watch Camp have the rare privilege of observing and learning about individual elephants, their behaviors, and their family dynamics, making it an ideal destination for wildlife lovers, researchers, and conservationists.

Unlike the traditional tented camps of the Masai Mara, Elephant Watch Camp blends sustainable luxury with a rustic, bohemian charm. The camp features handcrafted furniture, vibrant fabrics, and open-sided designs, allowing guests to feel completely immersed in nature. The emphasis here is on eco-conscious living, with the camp running on solar power, using only locally sourced organic food, and maintaining low environmental impact tourism.

Apart from elephants, Samburu National Reserve is home to rare and endemic species such as the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk (collectively known as the Samburu Special Five). The reserve also has a healthy predator population, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. With expert local guides and close collaboration with conservationists, Elephant Watch Camp offers a transformative safari experience that goes beyond just game drives it’s about understanding, protecting, and appreciating wildlife in a deeply personal way.

Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp

Best Time to Visit Elephant Watch Camp

June to October (Dry Season & Best Wildlife Viewing) – Animals gather around the Ewaso Nyiro River, making them easier to spot, and the weather is warm and dry.

November to March (Good Wildlife & Fewer Tourists) – The short rains bring lush greenery, newborn animals, and fantastic birdwatching opportunities.

April & May (Low Season, Heavy Rains Possible) – The landscape is at its most vibrant, but the roads may be muddy, and wildlife can disperse due to abundant water sources.

Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp

How to Get to Elephant Watch Camp

By Air

Daily flights from Wilson Airport (Nairobi) to Samburu’s Kalama or Buffalo Springs airstrips take about 1 hour. From the airstrip, the camp provides a scenic game drive transfer (30 to 40 minutes) through Samburu National Reserve.

By Road

A 5 to 6 hour drive from Nairobi via Nanyuki, passing through picturesque highlands before descending into the arid Samburu landscape. A 4×4 vehicle is necessary, especially in the rainy season.

Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp

Highlights of Elephant Watch Camp

  • Close Encounters with Elephants – Guests can observe, learn about, and photograph elephants from close range, often recognizing individual family members.

  • Eco-Luxury & Sustainable Living – The camp is 100% solar-powered, uses locally sourced food, and practices low-impact tourism, making it one of the most environmentally responsible camps in Kenya.

  • Exclusive & Intimate Experience – With just six cottages, the camp offers a highly personalized safari, with expert guides and deep insights into elephant conservation.

  • Unique Wildlife Beyond ElephantsSamburu is home to the Samburu Special Five, as well as big cats, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife, offering a diverse safari experience.

Activities at Elephant Watch Camp

Walking Safaris / Bush Dinner / Bush Breakfast / Bush Lunch

Ameneties at Elephant Watch Camp

Wi-Fi / Laundry Facilities / Electricity (generator or solar-powered)

Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp
Elephant Watch Camp

book your safari

Let’s help you plan the best wildebeest migration safari, and book you in the best camps for your best experiences of wildebeest sightings and crossings.

Gallery of Elephant Watch Camp

Related Camps to Stay

These are related camps and lodges that you can consider for your Kenya and Tanzania Safari. 

Elephant Bedroom Camp

Elephant Bedroom Camp

Nestled along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in the heart of Samburu National Reserve, Elephant Bedroom Camp offers an...

Saruni Samburu Camp

Saruni Samburu Camp

Saruni Samburu is a luxury safari lodge set on a dramatic hilltop in the 200,000 acre Kalama Conservancy, just north of...

Previous Wildebeest Sightings

Explore the nearest safari camps and lodges where the wildebeest migrations were seen and spotted. We recommend these wildebeest migration camps and lodges.

Tanzania Wildebeest Safaris - Wildebeest Migration - Wildebeest Sightings

Large Wildebeest Herds Moving Across Southern Serengeti

Large herds of wildebeest have been spotted moving across the Southern Serengeti, with many calves seen traveling alongside them. The groups...

New Wildebeest Birth Recorded in Southern Serengeti

New Wildebeest Birth Recorded in Southern Serengeti

Another wildebeest birth has been observed on the Southern Serengeti plains, adding to the ongoing calving activity in the region. The...

Calving in Southern Serengeti

Another wildebeest birth has been recorded in the Southern Serengeti during the ongoing calving season. The mother was observed delivering her...

Who We Work With

our Every Day Partners helping us to bring you latest wildebeest updates

Below are our proud partners and colleagues who help us get the best wildebeest sightings during the wildebeest migration from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. We appreciate everyone who supports our efforts and brings knowledge to our readers and visitors.

Book a Wildebeest Safari for 2027

Get in touch with us directly and our experts will be ready to help you with the planning

Personal Information
Add Your Personal Information here for to be able to get in touch with you easily and in an efficient way.

Avoid The Pressure To Book Your 2026 Wildebeest Safari.

We have had so many people miss availability for their migration safaris in 2025. Contact us now to secure your spot for this amazing spectacle in 2026. 

Subscribe to the best Inspirations, Wildebeest Sightings, and Predictions Newsletters

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Get notified about new wildebeest sightings