Desert Rose Lodge
Desert Rose is a unique eco-friendly lodge located at 5,500 ft above sea level on the verdant cedar forest slopes of Mt Nyiru, which towers majestically above the Elbarta plains, between Karisia Mountains and Lake Turkana in North Kenya. Naturally built and boasts a close bond with the local Samburu tribe.
Desert Rose Lodge Highlights
Desert Rose is a unique eco-friendly lodge located at 5,500 ft above sea level on the verdant cedar forest slopes of Mt Nyiru, which towers majestically above the Elbarta plains, between Karisia Mountains and Lake Turkana in North Kenya. It’s the only lodge in Kenya where all the design elements, from furniture and fireplaces to baths and toilet paper holders are hand-made. Desert Rose is located at the foot of a Samburu holy mountain, Oldonyo Nyiru, and the lodge presents a unique opportunity to be part of the most important celebrations of the community, which traditionally take place at the top of the mountain.
- Unique relationship with Samburu tribe, offering guests insight into the traditional lifestyle.
- It uses only the natural sources of energy, from a gravity fed water system to solar water heating and power.
- Phone calls can only be made on a satellite phone, otherwise there is no network coverage.
- Driving, walking, flying and camel safaris are offered, providing a unique perspective on this area.
Desert Rose Lodge Game Viewing and Activities
The stunning landscape and interesting vegetation provides great inspiration on a variety of our abundant walks. Game in the area is shy and scattered. It is a home for genets, bushbucks, warthogs, ostriches, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, vervet monkeys, zebras, gerenuks, and soon, the elephants that used to live in the cedar forest of Oldonyo Nyiru. In very close proximity to the lodge we have an exciting natural rock slide and a perfect picnic site, a fun spot to spend the midday hours. There are a multitude of walks one can take from the lodge in the dry rugged country on the valley floor or high in the Cedar and Podo forest. Not usually accessed by outsiders, Desert Rose guests are an exception by the Samburu community living in the area. The depth of the bond with the community means that Desert Rose guests are always invited to local celebrations, granting the guests a rare insight into Samburu life and their distinctive sense of style. The standard camel walk takes half a day or a full day but on request the lodge can organize a multi-day safari. Nights are spent in tents or just mosquito nets surrounding a fire.
