Tsavo East, Taita Hills and Salt Lick three-day safari from Mombasa

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What makes the night special

Saltlick Safari Lodge is built on stilts above the open plains, with a floodlit waterhole directly below the rooms. After dinner, you can sit on your balcony and watch elephants, buffalo and other wildlife come down to drink, sometimes just metres away. Then, after dark, you can head out on a night game drive to see what the sanctuary’s nocturnal animals are up to. With wildlife gathering below your room and the sounds of the bush all around you, staying at Saltlick feels less like being in a hotel and more like sleeping right in the middle of the safari.

What travellers are saying

AI snapshot

4.6/5

Generated from real customer reviews

Summary: This safari offers an unforgettable wildlife experience with knowledgeable and engaging guides, stunning lodges, and incredible animal sightings. Despite occasional logistical hiccups and minor criticisms about early mornings and outdated mosquito nets, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
What visitors loved: Engaging and knowledgeable guides. Stunning lodges and views. Exceptional animal sightings.
Worth knowing: Early morning starts may be challenging. Consider updating mosquito nets for better comfort.

Why you’ll love this…

You’ll drive into Tsavo East for a raw, open‑plains game drive and lunch at Ashnil Aruba Lodge
There’s wildlife viewing in Taita Hills Sanctuary, home to elephants, giraffes, zebras and more
You’ll go on both after‑dark and morning game drives to spot the resident big game
The stilted rooms at Saltlick Safari Lodge give you wide‑open views over the sanctuary below
It’s a three‑day safari of big skies, close‑up wildlife moments and classic Kenyan landscapes

Important to know

Not allowed:

Children under five years old

Extra fees to be paid on-site:

Additional transport charges apply for pick-ups from Kilifi, Watamu, and Malindi. From Kilifi hotels. It’s 35 USD per person, with a minimum of two people. From Watamu and Malindi hotels, it’s 50 USD per person, with a minimum of two people

Know in advance:

Please make sure to fill in all the requests at check-out, under the "Additional Comments" section, the "name, last name and date of birth" for all participants (adults and children)
Please contact the local partner at least 48 hours before your tour to confirm your pickup details. Their contact info will be in your booking voucher
Meals included are as follows – day one includes lunch and dinner, day two includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and day three includes breakfast. Drinking water is provided in the safari vehicle
The duration of the tour may vary due to weather, traffic conditions and the location of your hotel
Your safari starts at approximately 5:00 am on day one and ends on day three at approximately 2:00 to 3:00 pm, depending on the location of your hotel

Remember to bring:

Passport for check-in at the lodge
Suitable, comfortable clothing

What people say about this experience

4.6/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 46 reviews

Review categories

Safety

5/5

Service

5/5

Staff

5/5

Value for money

5/5

All ratings (46)

5 stars (33)

72%

4 stars (10)

22%

3 stars (2)

2 stars (0)

1 star (1)

D
Denise and John
Travelled as a couple
21 September 2026
5
United Kingdom
Guide was fantastic and knew just where to go to see the animals. He was so happy, bubbly and had great English and German language. Excellent
K
Karen Olds
Travelled with a group of friends
1 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
Great experience, highly recommend
C
Catherine
Travelled as a couple
6 September 2026
5
United Kingdom
Enjoyed the variety of hotels, the room view at salt lick was amazing. Enjoyed going out on a variety of safari time. The driver Omar was so knowledgeable, friendly and determined to find the best spots to view the animals safely
M
Magicp
Travelled as a couple
17 August 2026
5
United Kingdom
An absolutely unforgettable three-day safari and the highlight of our Kenya holiday. We saw elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra, buffalo, hyenas and so much more. Staying at Taita Hills and Salt Lick was an incredible experience, especially watching the animals around the watering holes. Our game drives were fantastic and the scenery was beautiful. A truly magical experience that we will never forget and would highly recommend
L
Lee
Travelled with family
2 August 2026
5
United Kingdom
It was a brilliant experience. Our driver and guide Ezekiel was great. The game drives itinerary was well organised so you can see as much as possible in the time available. Both lodges were great and well ran.
J
Jennifer
Travelled with family
18 July 2026
5
United Kingdom
Our guide was fantastic! Hassan was so knowledgeable and took us to see each animal and explained about it. He absolutely made the trip! The elephants at Salt lick were amazing; coming close to the hotel’s open veranda to drink - what an experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This safari is run by Pollmans Tours and Safaris, one of Kenya’s longest-established tour operators. You travel in a safari vehicle with a guide throughout. Both Taita Hills Lodge and Saltlick Safari Lodge are permanent, staffed facilities inside the private sanctuary. National park entrance fees are included. Children under five are not permitted.

You will be away from your Mombasa hotel for two nights. Let your hotel know you will be away. There is no need to cancel your booking. Night 1 is spent at Taita Hills Lodge and night 2 at Saltlick Safari Lodge, both inside the Taita Hills Sanctuary. You return to your Mombasa hotel in the early afternoon on day 3.

The safari includes return transport from your Mombasa hotel, all national park and sanctuary entrance fees, and game drives on all three days including a night drive on day 2. Two nights at safari lodges and six meals are included: lunch and dinner on day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on day 2, and breakfast on day 3. Drinking water is provided in the safari vehicle. An English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout. An extra transport supplement applies for pickups from Kilifi, Watamu or Malindi.

Kenya’s dry seasons (June to October and January to February) are the best months for game viewing, as animals gather around waterholes and vegetation is thinner. The Taita Hills Sanctuary is private and less affected by seasonal crowds. The rainy season (March to May) brings lush green landscapes but heavier afternoon showers.

No particular fitness level is required. Game drives are done from a safari vehicle, and the lodges are comfortable with standard hotel facilities. You should be able to climb in and out of a 4x4 vehicle. The tour is not suitable for children under five. A passport is needed for check-in at the lodges.