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Saruni – set up by world renowned journalist Riccardo Orizio (have a listen to our podcast episode featuring Riccardo) – are one of our favourite safari companies in Kenya. We love receiving their updates as they’ve always got something exciting happening be it from Saruni Samburu, Saruni Rhino, Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild.
In 2003, Saruni set out with a mission to craft unforgettable adventures in the Maasai Mara and Samburu and make a positive impact on the land, its people and its wildlife. Now two decades later, they take a look back and celebrate their dedication to this commitment.
Two decades of carefully curating safari experiences in Kenya, Saurni’s journey has been a delightful weave of new discoveries in the timeless beauty of the Masai Mara and the undiscovered gem that is Samburu.
Stepping into the Kenyan wilderness reveals the true spirit of adventure guided by passionate Maasai and Samburu warriors deeply connected to their land and culture. In their company, Saruni’s guests have not only learned the natural ways of the wild over the years, but also witnessed their active role in its conservation.
Saruni’s commitment has been to ensure that the rich heritage of the local communities is preserved and that their livelihoods flourish. Twenty years on, they remain dedicated to this commitment of providing jobs, income, training and guidance for the local Maasai and Samburu people. At Saruni, all the guides and 80% of the staff are from the local Maasai and Samburu communities.
The spirit of Saruni has had a deep respect for nature and a profound sense of responsibility towards their environment. Their safari story in the Maasai Mara and Samburu is interwoven with the incredible four conservancies that they are part of: The Mara North Conservancy and Lemek Conservancy in the Mara and the Kalama Conservancy and Sera Conservancy in the Samburu.
The setting up of these conservancies, driven by their commitment to sustainable practices, has seen the conservation of 1,016,500 acres of land between Masai Mara and Samburu, allowing for biodiversity to thrive and creating a haven for the remarkable wildlife that calls these regions home.
Saruni has perfectly pioneered the concept of tourism protecting acres and acres of otherwise uncared for land, which was previously subject to poaching, over grazing and poor communities. The communities in these areas Saruni has so sensitively protected are now flourishing, as is the wildlife. This exact model is one that is needed in so many places across Africa, and wonderful safari companies like Saruni are slowly but surely trying to move into other heavily poached areas, to turn them into conservation areas and use tourism to benefit the local people. Your stay at somewhere such as this makes a huge difference to saving Africa’s wildlife, and also helping to ensure the conservation of local communities in these areas.
As Saruni raises a toast to the last two decades, they eagerly anticipate the journey ahead. Looking to scale their impact even further by partnering with like-minded champions of conservation. Here’s to decades of dedication of protecting wildlife, positively impacting landscapes and communities, and incredible adventures!