Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Circular, stilted rooms raised above a busy waterhole in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary — one of the most recognisable and photographed lodge designs in Kenya, decades into its run as a flagship property.

Salt Lick’s circular, stilted rooms — raised on legs above the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary’s waterhole — have made it one of the most recognisable lodge designs in Kenya, regularly cited among the world’s most photographed safari properties. The elevated units mean wildlife-watching happens from your own balcony as easily as from a vehicle, with elephant and buffalo regular visitors to the waterhole directly below.

Decades as one of Kenya’s flagship lodges have kept the property well maintained without losing its original character, and the neighbouring Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa adds a small museum of WWI memorabilia for guests curious about the region’s history beyond wildlife. It’s a genuinely distinctive stay for travellers who’ve already done a few standard tented camps and want something architecturally different.

Stilted Waterhole Room — elevated circular unit, private balcony over the waterhole.

Family Suite — adjoining stilted units for groups.