3-Day Taita Hills & Salt Lick Extended Safari (From Coast)

Taita Hills

Rates From $580

About This Tour

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden treasure tucked between the historic hills of southern Kenya and the vast Tsavo plains. This unique sanctuary offers a fresh, quiet escape from the busy coastal beaches or city streets. Guests here experience a wild, open landscape where elephants, lions, and giraffes roam freely across ancient migration paths.

The jewel of this journey is your stay at a world-famous lodge built on high stilts. This clever design elevates you right above the action, letting you watch herds of animals walk directly beneath your room. By day, you will explore the bush on guided drives, and by night, you will fall asleep to the gentle sounds of the African wild.

This short safari perfectly blends thrilling wildlife sightings with comforting, peaceful rest. It is designed to give you a deep connection to nature without requiring a long, exhausting journey.

Our Community Impact

JohnBow Tours and Travel proudly partners with the local communities surrounding the Taita Hills region. Your visit directly supports local schools, healthcare clinics, and clean water projects in nearby villages. We employ local guides who share their deep ancestral knowledge of this land, keeping their heritage alive and thriving. By choosing this safari, you help create sustainable jobs and empower the families who have coexisted with this wilderness for generations.

Our Sustainability Promise

We are deeply committed to protecting the delicate ecosystem of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The lodge we partner with uses smart energy conservation systems and strictly manages waste to keep the environment pristine. During our game drives, we strictly follow off-road driving bans to protect the soil, nests, and natural habitats of the wildlife. For every guest who books this safari with us, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to local reforestation projects to plant indigenous trees.

Why This Safari Works

This package is popular because it delivers a rich, authentic wild safari experience in just three days. It features very short travel times, making it an excellent add-on if you are already vacationing on the Kenyan Coast. Staying at a single, highly unique lodge means you do not have to pack and unpack your bags every day. The balance of scheduled, early-morning game drives and long, lazy afternoons by the waterhole lets you truly relax.

Your Trip at a Glance

A snapshot of your entire experience, from key highlights to where you'll stay and what to expect each day.

  • 4x4 Land Cruiser
  • Couple
  • Cultural Visits
  • Family
  • Full Board
  • Game Drives
  • Photography Safaris
  • Private Safari
  • Solo Traveller

Trip Summary

  • Day 1: Coast to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (Afternoon Game Drive)
  • Day 2: Full Day Wildlife Exploration in Taita Hills
  • Day 3: Morning Game Drive & Transfer back to the Coast

Destinations

  • Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Where You Stay

  • Salt Lick Safari Lodge (All 2 Nights)

Safari Highlights

  • Staying in a room built on high stilts right over a busy animal waterhole.
  • Creeping through the secret, safe underground tunnel to photograph elephants from ground level.
  • Watching massive herds of elephants drink under the golden glow of sunset.
  • Exploring the rich World War 1 history at the local Taita Hills Museum.
  • Thrilling night game drives to spot elusive leopards and active lions.
  • Dining on delicious, locally sourced meals while watching zebras graze below.
  • Spotting the beautiful, rare birds that call the mountain forest home.
  • Breathing in the fresh, cool air of the scenic Taita Hills.

Featured Destinations

Where You Stay

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Salt Lick Safari Lodge, Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Itinerary Highlights

  • Morning departure from Diani or Mombasa.

  • Scenic drive to the sanctuary with check-in and lunch at the lodge.

  • Exciting afternoon game drive.

  • Nighttime animal watching right from the lodge deck.

Itinerary information

Your adventure begins with a comfortable morning pickup from your coastal hotel or airport. You will watch the coastal coconut palms slowly fade into the rugged, dry red soils of the Tsavo ecosystem. Arrive at the sanctuary in time for a warm welcome, lunch, and check-in to your incredible room on stilts. In the late afternoon, set out for your first game drive to find elephants, giraffes, and grazing gazelles. As darkness falls, enjoy dinner at the lodge while watching thirsty animals gather at the floodlit waterhole below.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Itinerary Highlights

  • Early morning game drive to catch predators on the hunt.

  • Guided history tour of the World War 1 museum.

  • Relaxed afternoon watching animals from the underground tunnel.

  • Late afternoon game drive ending with a sunset in the bush.

Itinerary information

Wake up to the fresh scent of the African bush and enjoy a quick coffee before your early morning game drive. This is the best time to spot lions, cheetahs, and hyenas before the sun gets too hot. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and some relaxed downtime. In the afternoon, take a fascinating walk through the Taita Hills Museum to learn about the region’s unique World War 1 battlefields. Later, embark on another game drive, searching the hidden valleys for leopards, Cape buffaloes, and colorful bird species.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Itinerary Highlights

  • Final sunrise game drive to spot any missed wildlife.

  • Delicious breakfast at the lodge.

  • Mid-morning check-out and scenic transfer back to Mombasa or Diani.

Itinerary information

Start your final day with a short, quiet sunrise game drive to capture your last photos of the wild landscape. You might catch a herd of elephants walking gracefully across the red dirt paths. Return to the lodge for a relaxed breakfast as the sun warms up the hills. After breakfast, pack your bags and check out of this magical resort. Your driver will safely guide you back to your beach hotel or the airport, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the wild.

  • Meals: Breakfast

  • Accommodation: N/A

JohnBow Safari Expert Insight

❝ Salt Lick Safari Lodge is one of the most photographed properties in the world for a very good reason. The sheer thrill of waking up, opening your window, and looking directly into the eyes of a wild elephant drinking water just meters below you is unmatched. It is a compact, highly reliable sanctuary that consistently delivers spectacular wildlife viewing in a very short time. ❞

~JohnBow Safari Expert Team

Rates

Competitive rates for unforgettable experiences

Season2 Guests4 Guests6 Guests
Jan to Dec 20th 2026$875$655$580

Important Rate Notes

  • Child Safety Policy: For safety reasons due to the elevated design of the walkways and decks, children under the age of 5 are not permitted at Salt Lick Safari Lodge.
  • Baggage Limit: Please pack light, soft-sided bags for your transfers to help maximize space and comfort in the safari vehicles.
  • Seasons and Pricing: Green Season rates exclude Easter holiday weekends, during which high-season rates and holiday surcharges apply.
  • Health Advisory: Taita Hills is a low-risk malaria area, but we still highly recommend using insect repellent and consulting your doctor before travel.

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation at Salt Lick Safari Lodge.
  • Return private road transfers from Mombasa, Diani, or Voi Train Station.
  • Daily, professional guided game drives in a custom safari vehicle with a pop-up roof.
  • All sanctuary and park entry fees for Taita Hills.
  • Clean bottled drinking water inside the safari vehicle.

Optional Addons

  • SGR Train Upgrade: Travel in comfort from Nairobi or Mombasa to Voi station via the modern Madaraka Express train.
  • Night Game Drive: Explore the sanctuary after dark with specialized spotters to find active nocturnal predators.
  • LUMO Sanctuary Visit: Extend your daily drives into the neighboring LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary for broader exploration.
  • Private Bush Dinner: Enjoy a highly romantic, private candlelit dinner set deep in the heart of the wild sanctuary.

What's Not Included

  • Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
  • International and domestic flights.
  • Tourist entry visas for Kenya.
  • Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature.
  • Tips and gratuities for safari drivers, guides, and lodge staff.

Ready to start planning your Safari? Tell us your travel dates, who you are traveling with, and what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

You will easily see huge herds of elephants, lions, and buffaloes. However, there are no rhinos inside this private sanctuary, and leopards are highly elusive and mostly spotted during night drives.
The lodge is built on elevated wooden platforms and stilts with open-air viewing decks. This unique architectural design poses safety risks for very young, active children, so the lodge maintains a strict child limit.
Extremely close! The lodge is built directly around active, natural salt licks and waterholes. Large herds of elephants, zebras, and waterbucks frequently walk directly beneath the wooden walkways and drink water right below your room balcony.

See What Our Travellers Have To Say

info@johnbowtoursandtravel.com
Kenya Cinema Plaza, 3rd Floor Room 3-8. Moi Avenue, Nairobi