Sweet
waters Tented
Camp lies in the heart of 24,000-acre Sweetwater's Game Reserve,
with magnificent views across the plains to the snow capped peaks of
Mount Kenya. The 30 luxury tents overlook the waterhole, floodlit by
night, providing excellent and secluded rarely seen game viewing.
This game sanctuary is the closest reserve to Nairobi (2.5 hours
drive) home to all the big five game, and has the highest ratio of
game-to-area of any park or reserve in Kenya. At Sweetwater's, there
is plenty to do.
Game drives at Sweetwater's are indeed a pleasure. Game viewing may
also take the form of game walks accompanied by our Resident
Naturalist, and game rides on horseback. Camel riding, night game
drives and "bush" lunches or dinners are a delight. The Chimpanzee
Sanctuary & Information Centre, Morani the tame black rhino and the
Visitor's Information Centre are most informative and entertaining
and should all be visited while in the Game Reserve.
Accommodations
There are 30 luxury en-suite tents - 8 doubles, 14 twins and 8
triples. 10 of the tents are raised on a platform, 20 on the ground
floor. 10 extra beds can be made available. 4 baby cots and 2 high
chairs can be made available on request.
25 of the tents face a large waterhole, and beyond, the magnificent
views of Mt Kenya. The second row of tents is erected on raised
wooden platforms. All tents are covered by a thatch roof and are
cool even during the hottest day. Each spacious tent has a verandah
with two camp chairs and a table, both overhead and bedside lights,
a dressing table and cupboard with hangars and a suitcase rack, an
umbrella, a thermos flask filled daily with drinking water and four
glasses, windows with mosquito proofing gauze and flaps, zip-up
tents, insecticides and air fresheners, a flashlight. Each bathroom
has a shower stall, flush toilets, washbasin, shampoo, body lotion,
bath and shower gel, and bathrobes; Freshly laundered towels; Hot
and cold running water; No electrical outlets in tents.
Room service offers tea/coffee with wake-up calls. This service is
not a common feature at Sweetwaters but meals and beverages can be
served in tents on request.
Activities
of Interest
RHINO RESTAURANT
Set in the main building, the Rhino Restaurant's windows let in
a lot of natural light and a delightful breeze in this warm
climate. The restaurant has a view of the waterhole.
KHASHOGGI BAR AND LOUNGE
Also located in the main building, the Khashoggi Bar is a
comfortable lounge which extends into 3 sections: 2 of these have a
shared fireplace lit from 1700 to 2300 hours, while the third is an
annex to the rhino Restaurant. This annex has a small verandah,
which leads out into the Waterhole Bar, and is decorated in warm colours
with cushions and deep stuffed sofas and rugs. A
WATERHOLE BAR
Elevated some 20 feet off the ground, this Bar overlooks the
waterhole giving you a superb view of the wildlife visiting to
quench their thirst. The Waterhole Bar is an ideal venue for
small cocktail parties or dinner parties. Served here are
liqueurs, beers, soft drinks, wines, spirits, cocktails, tea and
coffee.
SWIMMING POOL BAR
Located by the swimming pool, the bar is really a verandah with a
generous barbeque pit. The area around the swimming pool is
ideal for private cocktail parties, dinners and barbeques.
Barbeque dinners are served on request, and curry lunches on
Sundays, weather permitting. This pool bar serves liqueurs,
beers, soft drinks, wines, spirits, cocktails, tea and coffee.
VIDEOS
Wildlife movies are screened in the Morani Room on guests' request.
BIRD WALKS
Our bird specialist escorts you through the surrounds of
Sweetwater's Tented Camp, pointing out many of the resident species,
which include Speke's Weaver, brown parrot, black cuckoo shrike and
green hoopoe.
MORANI AND THE VISITOR'S CENTRE
Morani deserves a special mention. Morani is a tame black rhino (a
rare phenomenon) born in 1974. He was brought to the ranch after his
mother was killed by poachers, and ever since is resident in his own
sub-sanctuary 8 km away from Sweetwater's Tented Camp. A visit to
Morani is an especially wonderful treat for children. At the
entrance to Morani's Boma is the new Visitor's Centre which is aimed
at teaching guests about the Game Reserve. A definite must!
CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE
A 200-acre Chimpanzee sanctuary has been set up at Sweetwater's Game
Reserve. A visit to this Sanctuary and the 30-minute boat ride
(subject to fine weather) on the river among the chimps attracts no
extra charge. The aim of the project, initiated by Lonrho East
Africa, Kenya Wildlife Services and the Jane Goodall Institute, is
to set up a colony where chimps can be introduced, rehabilitated and
taught to fend for themselves in an area similar to their natural
living conditions. Priority is given to orphaned and abused chimps.
The Sanctuary currently has 24 chimps, including two babies born in
the Sanctuary.
CAMEL RIDES
Seeing wildlife within the sanctuary, perched atop camels is a
unique experience. Sweetwater's Tented Camp has three camels each
carrying two people, and a guide always accompanies guests. The
camel safari lasts for 1 hour, and can be taken at any time, subject
to availability, from 0800 to 1700 hours.
DAY GAME DRIVES
On offer are 2-3 hours morning game drives, starting at 0630 hours
or 2-3 hour afternoon game drives, starting at 1600 hours.
Seat-in-car game drives are available (i.e., charges are made per
person, rather than per vehicle). Sweetwater's Tented Camp has three
available vehicles which can also be booked for exclusive use. Each
vehicle capacity is 7 seats, with 5 window seats. Full-day game
drives with a picnic lunch start at 0900 hours and finish off at
1600 hours, in which case the vehicles have to be booked for
exclusive use.
NIGHT GAME DRIVES
This is a special drive as night game drives are not permitted in
National Parks and Reserves in Kenya. Generally all sorts of
nocturnal animals such as aardvark, porcupine, silver-backed hyena,
and leopard can be seen. You can either go on the early drive (1900
- 2100 hours) or after dinner (2100 - 2200 hours). Seat-in-car night
game drives are available (i.e., charges are made per person, rather
than per vehicle). The vehicles can also be booked for exclusive
use. The vehicles' capacity is 6 seats.
WALKING SAFARIS
Accompanied by a naturalist/ armed guide, this is a very detailed
exposure to the natural habitat, where vegetation, bird, insect and
game species will be pointed out to you. Game walks are billed on an
hourly basis. Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted
to participate.
The Ereri multi-cultural Manyatta
Located one kilometer outside the Serat Gate on the north border of
Sweetwater's Game Reserve, this Multi-cultural Manyatta (village) is
the perfect introduction to the Tribes of Kenya. Watch
demonstrations, traditional dancing, observe building techniques,
buy jewelry and other souvenirs. You can also watch traditional
cattle blood letting (prior arrangement needed) Open 10.00 - 12.00
daily.
Rhino patrols
Venture on foot into the Sweetwater's Game Reserve to find and
monitor black rhinos. Experience the excitement of being in the bush
with nothing but nature between you and these magnificent beasts.
Join a rhino patrol with our experienced armed rangers to guide
you."
Wild dogs (LYCAON PICTUS) return to Sweetwater's after an absence of
30 years A pack of between 12-14 wild dog has recently been sighted
on a number of occasions within the Sweetwater's Game Reserve in
Laikipia. This pack currently appears to be moving between the
neighboring Ol Pejeta Ranch and the Sweetwater's game reserve,
having originated from northern Laikipia. This particular group is
well known to the Laikipia Predator Project which is based on Mpala
ranch to the north.
Wild dog are one of the rarest carnivores in Africa, having
disappeared from large parts of their former ranges. Indeed, this
species was all but eliminated from Laikipia 30 years ago,
persecuted by pastoralists and farmers alike. Their return
demonstrates how Laikipia has begun to emerge as one of Kenya's
foremost conservation areas. Laikipia now boasts a thriving wildlife
tourism industry and a density of wildlife second only to the Mara
area of
southern Kenya."
|
Room
Type |
Low
Season |
Mid
Season |
High
Season |
Christmas |
|
Standard Single |
130 |
225 |
236 |
283 |
|
Standard Double |
183 |
264 |
299 |
355 |
|
Standard Triple |
|
|
|
|

Season
Dates
Low:
01 April - 31 May
Mid:
Jan, March, June, Nov
High: Feb, July, Aug, Sept, Oct
Easter Supplement US$ 30 per person
Christmas Supplement = US$ 35 per person