Excursions
Game Viewing
Early morning and late afternoon game drive around Salt Lick Safari Lodge provide an ideal opportunity to view and photograph the diverse array of wildlife within the Sanctuary. The waterholes below provide a wonderful opportunity to view animals at close proximity in their natural habitat. The lobby and terrace bar offers excellent views and photographic opportunities, while an underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows provide unbelievably close yet safe access to a variety of animals as they drink.
Night Game Drives
Night game drives provide guests with an opportunity of seeing animals not usually encountered on a daytime game drive such as spotted and striped hyena, mongoose, jackal, civet, genet, porcupine and bush baby. Salt Lick Safari Lodge have highly trained rangers equipped with powerful spotlights to take guests on this experience of a totally different world after dark, when you may have the thrilling opportunity to see a predator actively hunting.
Most predators are more active at night so night drives also provide the opportunity of experiencing the ‘Circle of Life’.
The lobby and terraced bar offer excellent views and photographic opportunities, while an underground tunnel and bunker with ground level windows provides unbelievably close, yet safe, access to a variety of animals as they drink water.
Walking Safari
The sanctuary offers many diverse opportunities for you to experience the unique flora, fauna and culture of this fascinating ecosystem. Take a nature walk with a qualified ranger guide, with emphasis on the natural environment you encounter as you stroll through the bush. Marvel at the smaller wildlife normally unnoticed during a game drive yet still important for their impact on the ecology of this diverse ecosystem.
Activities
Wildlife Talks
An informative wildlife presentation in the evening by a qualified ecologist/ranger is arranged on request.
Salt Lick Tunnel/Special Water Hole
These enhance guest experience at the lodge as it brings our guests up close to observing mega herbivores looking to quench their thirst. The experience is more rewarding during dry spells/season as large groups of elephants, buffaloes, zebras and various antelopes (sometime trailed by big cats) come for scarce water which is provided for by a well-positioned water hole supplied by a borehole dedicated for wildlife.
Traditional Music & Dance
A local trio of musicians plays traditional music during dinner. This is followed by authentic Taita dancers performing in the Lobby, with additional musicians and where your active participation is genuinely encouraged.
Swimming
A beautiful free form swimming pool is open all day at the sister property Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa located nearby.
Curio Shop
There is a wide selection of souvenirs available at the Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa gift shop located in the lobby area of the lodge.
Reforestation
The program aims at habitat restoration which will eventually improve ecological health of the sanctuary after the original vegetation had been degraded by bush fires, overgrazing by mega herbivores, droughts due to climate change etc. The reforestation project was first established in 2010 as a pilot project which covers 35 trees per 0.5 sq. km. So far more than 10,000 indigenous trees have been planted and are thriving.
Guests visiting Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary are encouraged to be part of wildlife wellbeing & rehabilitation activities, like planting of a tree during their stay.
Day out with ranger
The Sanctuary boasts fifteen knowledgeable rangers with diverse experience. They are well versed in birding, bush craft, indigenous knowledge and flora/fauna identification. A ranger will explain and guide guests on conservation and natural history
Bush Meals/Sundowners
(upon request)
There are four bush activity venues within the sanctuary and all have basic toilet amenities and have magnificent views of the Taita hills, sanctuary, adjacent Tsavo plains and of course Mt. Kilimanjaro (during clear weather days). As part of Salt Lick Safari Lodge enhanced experience, these sites can be used for either bush breakfast, sundowner or bush dinner depending on the taste and size of the group involved
WWI Excursions
All the rangers are well versed on the World War One activities which took place in Taita-Taveta County more than a century ago. They have undergone special training on the subject several times and have visited all the sites within the Taita locality. They are able to interpret for guests the WW1 Museum displayed at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa.
Community and Cultural Tourism
We started partnering with a local cultural group sometimes in 2019 with the aim of exploring Taita culture. The group has already identified products (including traditional foods and basketry). They have support from the county government to develop trails leading to 17 caves where skulls of ancient Taita leaders were preserved.
