A new luxury safari brand, Saruni Basecamp has emerged in Kenya following the acquisition of Saruni by Basecamp Explorer. The merger combines Basecamp Explorer's properties in the Masai Mara with Saruni's locations in both the Masai Mara and Samburu regions.
The newly formed Saruni Basecamp operates 12 safari lodges and camps across Kenya, focusing on community-based conservation and tourism. The properties offer exclusive game-viewing experiences, including night drives and off-road excursions, as well as conservation-oriented activities such as tree planting and visits to wildlife education centers.
Notable among the properties is Basecamp Masai Mara, where Barack and Michelle Obama once stayed. In Samburu, guests at Saruni Rhino can participate in on-foot rhino tracking in Sera Conservancy, home to 25 eastern white and black rhinos.
According to Jeremiah Mutisya, CEO of Saruni Basecamp, the company aims to balance its roles as both a nonprofit foundation and a for-profit safari business. "Our vision at Saruni Basecamp is to create a lasting, positive impact on people and the planet. To achieve this, we've developed a sustainable community model that we are now scaling through our community conservancies," he said. "With Saruni properties now part of our portfolio and more in the pipeline, we're excited to expand our impact on both the land and the communities that sustain it."
Saruni Basecamp boasts a fully local Kenyan management team at corporate headquarters, and 90% of camp staff is hired from local rural tribal communities near the camps. The company said its "hire local" philosophy means that guests feel like they are walking in the shoes of a Masai or Samburu warrior when they arrive at camp and partake in the cultural activities and excursions available through the collection. There is also a strong emphasis on education: Saruni Basecamp said its goal is for guests to have an immersive cultural and ecological experience that they can take back home with them.