Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is situated in the Shaba National Reserve. This Reserve is part of a conglomeration of reserves in the Eastern Province, descending from Mt. Kenya, at the entrance to the vast scrub desert that reaches beyond L.Turkana are situated Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve and the third contiguous National Reserve.
The Ewaso Nyiro River whose origin is the northern slope of Mt. Kenya around the Nanyuki Township borders all the reserves. The river's name is derived from the local community's language "Samburu native" which means the river of brown or muddy water.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is the only lodge in the 239 sq. km Shaba National Reserve. The reserve was gazetted as a conservation area in 1976. Thirteen (13) years later, the lodge became officially operational. This is an 85-room, three-star lodge whose dÈcor perfectly blends with the adjoining environment. The lodge is set on a natural oasis surrounded by natural springs and the water is channeled into cascades and fishponds on the entire premises.The Lodge basks in a legacy bequeathed by Joy Adamson of the 'Born Free' fame. She was wife of a prominent conservationist, George Adamson, who was a senior game warden of the area. Joy raised her adopted animals next door to the current Sarova Shaba Game Lodge's site. She first came to Kenya in 1910 with her first husband whom she latter divorced.
In 1956, George, in his capacity as the game warden was compelled to kill a man-eating lioness, which had three newly born cubs. So orphaned before they could imprint on any animate object, they were taken in by Joy Adamson who became their foster mother. She named them 'Lustica', 'Big One', and 'Elsa'. She later found that she could not handle three fast growing lionesses, therefore she reluctantly sent the cubs to Blydrop, Rotterdam when they were five months old.
Located in the Semi-desert Shaba Game Reserve in the Central Kenya the Sarova Sarova Shaba Game Lodge Lodge offers the guests a chance to see the bounty of unique wildlife made famous by the film “Born Free”. In March 1998, the Lodge played host to the cast and crew of the “ Born Free”, true-life story of George and Joy Adamson and starred both Kenyan actors and International film stars. The majority of the filming took place in the Game Reserve but some of the scenes were actually shot in the lodge. Access
Distance: 314km from Nairobi
By Air: 45 minutes from Nairobi (Wilson Airport) to Samburu or Sarova Shaba Game Lodge airstrip
By road: 5hrs from Nairobi - recommended 4x4 wheel drive or Tour Van
