Saruni Basecamp

Masai Mara & SAMBURU, Kenya

Saruni Basecamp

Eco Lodges, Group Member

since December 2020

Saruni Basecamp is a leading operator of 13 camps and lodges across Kenya, located in the iconic Masai Mara and Samburu regions. Headquartered in Nairobi, the company employs over 400 staff members, the majority of whom come from the local communities with whom it works closely. Saruni Basecamp is a key partner in four conservancies, wildlife reserves owned and managed by the Masai and Samburu people and plays a pivotal role in supporting Kenya’s national conservation agenda.

Saruni Basecamp was formed in 2021 through the merger of two pioneering companies: Basecamp Explorer (founded in 1998) and Saruni (founded in 2003). Since their inception, both entities have played a catalytic role in shaping Kenya’s tourism sector, championing a model that places community and conservation at its core. Today, Saruni Basecamp continues to contribute to a broader national transformation, one rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term impact. The company is chaired by Norwegian conservationist Svein Wilhelmsen, who brings decades of experience in Africa and a lifelong commitment to sustainable development. Saruni Basecamp is supported by a group of international shareholders who are deeply committed to the principles of impact investing. Their long-term vision enables the company to pursue commercial success while remaining purpose-driven, combining business performance with meaningful contributions to people and the planet. This mission-driven approach is further reinforced through the operation of an affiliated foundation. At the heart of Saruni Basecamp’s philosophy lies the conservation of land and wildlife, the empowerment of local communities, and the use of safari tourism as a vehicle for protecting Kenya’s natural heritage. The company is dedicated to offering transformative travel experiences that inspire guests to become active participants in conservation, rather than passive observers.

CONSERVATION

Since its establishment in 2010, Mara Naboisho Conservancy has provided a haven for many wildlife, such as lions, cheetahs, and elephants under dire threat due to human expansion.

As a community-managed tourist destination, the region has a low impact due to strictly controlled and limited tourist vehicles, which helps protect biodiversity.

COMMUNITY

Collaborating closely with the Maasai community, we engage in conservancy partnerships where members receive sustainable revenue streams from lease fees paid to community landowners and conservation fees from daily park visits.

Today, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy provides guaranteed employment opportunities to the local Masai people around Naboisho.

CULTURE

Basecamp Maasai Brand is a flagship economic empowerment program incorporating traditional Maasai practices and income-generating projects to support local Maasai women.

Weekly cultural nights at the camps involve Masai dances, talks, and local cuisine.

COMMERCE

About 96% of Saruni Eagle View employees are from the local Maasai community, contributing to economic stability.

The Mara Naboisho Conservancy, where Saruni Eagle View is located, provides a guaranteed monthly income to 500 Maasai landowners and employment opportunities to local Maasai people living around Naboisho.

Saruni Basecamp Highlights

Land conservation: 1.2 million acres of land leased, 1 million exclusively and 200,000 acres in collaboration with other tourist partners
Wildlife conservation - the conservancy has become renowned for its bountiful biodiversity and is home to several wildlife species, such as lions, cheetahs, and elephants under dire threat due to human expansion.
Local employment: Saruni Basecamp employs over 400 staff members - 100% Kenyan, 86% indigenous, and 23% female
Preserving culture - the Enjoolata Information Centre preserves Maasai culture through workshops and community engagement.