Joy’s Camp Isiolo, Kenya

£501.00

Set in the semi-arid Shaba National Reserve, this tented camp overlooks a fertile spring. Accommodation is in spacious canvas bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and the kitchen prepares dishes with an Italian influence. Activities include game drives and walking safaris.

Category: Uncategorized

Description

Reviews (0)

Location

The camp is one of two lodges in the Shaba National Reserve, and the only one that offers game drives in Shaba (the other lodge tends to use Samburu National Reserve across the river). Built on the site of Joy Adamson’s tented home, the camp overlooks a natural spring.

Style and Character

Joy Adamson, conservationist and author of the bestselling book Born Free, lived in the area for many years. There is a small gallery at the reception area displaying pictures of Joy’s old camp, newspaper cuttings and memorabilia. The décor of the lodge takes inspiration from the colours worn by the pastoralist Boran people, with silky cushions decorating the open-fronted bar and lounge area that are typical of the area. It’s not a luxurious camp – it’s a comfortable place with a laidback feel.

Service and Facilities

The service is relaxed and laidback. As this is the only camp that game drives in Shaba you’ll be hard pushed to see other vehicles around. I found my guide to be very knowledgeable. Game drives to nearby Samburu National Reserve can be organised, along with visits to local schools and to Magado Crater, a natural crater east of the camp. Zimbabwean managers George and Theresa van Wyk have recently started placing a strong emphasis on walking safaris. The shop sells watercolour and drawing equipment for those wanting to capture Shaba’s vistas and landscapes. There’s a swimming pool, too.

Restaurant
Bar
Pool
Wi-Fi

Rooms

There are 10 spacious tented suites (seven doubles and three twins). Interiors feature wooden trunks and underfloor lighting, while beds have silk throws that are typical of the area. The décor is Eastern in feel: lanterns serve as bed-side reading lamps while the partition wall that separates the bedroom from the bathroom features triangular shaped niches with LED light bulbs that are atmospherically lit in the evenings. All rooms have private decks that look out over a large swamp area. Bathrooms feature double sinks and rain showers.

Food and Drink

The cuisine is international with an Italian touch, with fresh ingredients sourced from a farming area in the nearby town of Isiolo. The camp has a small vegetable patch with lettuce and herbs. Once a week a traditional Swahili meal is served, which consists of beef stew with ugali (a maize flour dish), sukuma wiki (collard greens), irio (mashed potatoes, corn, peas and greens) and kachumbari (tomato and onion salad).