Found on the banks of the River Galana, at the heart of Kenya's most extensive and beautifully unspoiled National Parks - Tsavo East 'The Elephant Park', lies the supreme getaway destination called Galdessa Camp. Galdessa means 'Baboon' in Walangulu, the inhabiting tribe of the Tsavo area.
The Camps' location at the banks of Galana - very unique to Galdessa Camp - makes for immeasurably abundant sightings of and encounters with some of Africa's greatest wildlife, like the elephant, rhino, buffalo and antelope, who regularly come to the waters to drink, as do many of these animals' natural predators... The game here are very much uninitiated in terms of people and safaris, given the locations' seclusion and magnitude. The Camp is also pro Eco-tourism, and is geared toward a very discerning kind of traveler, one who is seeking an intimate authentic encounter with the natural beauty of Africa. Tsavo East National Park is very much 'untouched', free from the notion of Mass Tourism. The Camp's grounds are often used by the animals, in particular the elephants who number in at around 8000. Galdessa is here in the midst of one of the continents greatest most successful conservation efforts, with 48 black rhinos in its back yard.
Accommodation at The Mara Serena Safari Lodge consists of: There are eight luxury bandas (semi-tented bungalows with thatched roofs) which are spread across 9.5 acres, which offers guests plenty of privacy. All have en-suite facilities and a veranda. The bandas are wonderfully integrated with the surroundings, set under the lovely shade of the doum palms. The bandas all look out to the river as well as the Yatta Plateau - which incidentally happens to be the world's largest fossilized lava flows, measuring as staggering 200Km across.
There are two main areas to the camp, the downstream portion with 3 bandas and the upstream portion that has 11 bandas. In the main lodge one will find a very spacious dining area, bar and extremely comfy sitting lounge.
The main lodge houses a spacious dining area, a bar, and a large, very comfortable sitting area. There is a distinctive coastal appeal to the décor of the camp, much owed to the thatch roof, natural stone floors, and lush over-sized sofas. Meals can be served outdoors, under the spectacular Tsavo night sky, or if you prefer a bit more privacy, in the river lodge, a smaller lounge found on the beach.
Enjoy game drives or walking safaris. The Camps unique locations make it one of the best places to see Africa's great game in their natural setting. Walk or drive along "Lugards", where you can spot lions, cheetahs, several cats, genets, Maasai giraffes, gerenuks, waterbucks, impalas, lesser kudus, Peter's gazelles, dik diks, zebras, fringed-eared oryx, elands, hyenas, mongooses, monitor lizards, crocodiles, hippos, and the elusive leopard, and end the day with cocktails, watching the sun set over the great Kilimanjaro.