Lion’s Bluff Lodge, Lumo Conservancy

The Lion’s Bluff Lodge is a secluded eco-lodge that is about 50 kilometres from Tsavo East located within the Lumo community Wildlife sanctuary. Sitting on a rocky hill that has clear views of the Taita hills, Pare Mountains in the North, Usambara and Kilimanjaro ranges. The lodge is approximately 232 kilometres from Nairobi with two ways of getting there that is by either air or road transport. The lodge is perfect for honeymooners, private parties, photographers and nature lovers. The lodge was formerly known as the Lion Rock Tsavo camp and is a mid-range accommodation facility that has almost a 360 degrees view of the vast Kenya plains around it.

The lodge is just 5 kilometres from the gate which is accessible by vehicle. When you get to Voi, it will take about two days or less as you drive on the Taveta road. The next turn is a left and this will take you to the Lumo community wildlife sanctuary which is approximately one kilometre off the main road.

Amenities at the Lion’s Bluff Lodge

Amenities in the rooms at the lodge include a safe deposit box, bathrobes, en-suite bathrooms with a bath/walk-in shower that has both cold and hot running water, a hair dryer, WIFI in all the rooms to help guests keep in touch with their family and friend, King-sized beds, coffee and tea making facilities, butler services, complimentary bottled water, private balcony, writing desk, wardrobe/closet, a seating area, air conditioning, complimentary toiletries, wake-up service, well-stocked minibar and housekeeping.

Other facilities that are found in and around the lodge include complimentary laundry services and a dining room where all the meals are served by a well-trained staff and prepared by experienced chefs. Three meals are served per day which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and dinner and guests who have dietary requirements are well-catered to but only if notice is given during the booking process, a swimming pool, a well-stocked bar that serves different types of drinks including international beers, cocktails, wines, soft drinks, whiskeys and spirits. Although most of the meals are served in the restaurant, dinner is often served under the stars.

It also offers free parking space, a gift shop, Fitness and Health facilities which include massage parlours, a treatment spa and gym, and 24-hour front desk services. If you want to upgrade you can choose Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge.

Activities offered at the Lion’s Bluff

The different activities that are offered at the Lion’s Bluff lodge in Tsavo West National Park include:

Night game drives: Night game drives usually come at an extra cost and guests are provided with a 4×4 safari vehicle, experienced tour guides and a spotlight to help easily the nocturnal wildlife.

Day game drives: two game drives are offered per day to all the guests at the lodge that are interested in this activity. Both morning and afternoon drives around the National Park reward you with sights of wild animals and birds.

Village visits: these will take you to the Masai villages where you meet the locals and learn more about their unique culture. you are welcomed to the villages with song and dance from the locals, explore the Bomas, get some souvenirs in form of crafts like jewellery, clothes and bags and you can also participate in the Eye Go Game spotting which is used to create awareness and source funds for the local community.

Bird walks and guided nature walks: Tsavo west National Park is home to over 400 recorded bird species which can be seen during the guided nature walks around the National park and the lodge. Other activities that are offered at the camp include a walk through the Taita hills, World War 1 battlefield trips, sundowners, a visit to Lake Chala and Jipe, bush breakfast and a walk to the Grogans castle among others.

The presence of Lion’s bluff lodge has positively impacted the surrounding community in many different ways and these include creating employment for the locals in form of construction, security and other jobs around the sanctuary and this has empowered the community, and there has been a support to the local community in terms of construction of schools, supporting the Musongari Primary School, planting trees to keep nature thriving, constructing boreholes, and exploring the community where you learn from the different workshops where you learn more about crochets, carvings and cooking local meals among others.

When to visit Lions Bluff lodge

Lions bluff lodge has three types of rooms that can be booked all year round except April and May, the wettest months when it closes. The weather and temperature at the lodge keep on changing with an approximate range of between 14 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. The best time usually depends on the activities that you plan on carrying out on your safari to Tsavo but the best time is during the dry season (June to October). This is however the most difficult time to get a room due to the high number of tourists in this season and that is why we advise that you book at least 6 months before your planned trip to get better services from the lodge.

Accommodation at Lion’s Bluff Lodge, Lumo Conservancy

The lodge has three types of rooms that include two family rooms, one room that is wheelchair accessible and 3 triplet rooms with a mountain view and they are non-smoking rooms as well. The Bluff lodge has 12 luxurious intimate rooms that offer an intimate feel to guests staying at the lodge. The rooms are strategically located in an area with breathtaking views of the surrounding areas including the wildlife. The lodge also has several campsites which include Leopard’s Lair, cheetah campsite and the cheetah permanent tented camps with costs ranging from $520 to $720 but this can either go low or high depending on the type of room chosen and the season of travel.

The Leopards Lair: These are self-catering bandas that are located on the same rock hill point as Lion’s bluff and offer an untamed camping experience to tourists. Guests get to spend their safari evenings enjoying drinks as they watch the African sunset. There is a watering hole nearby where animals gather to cool off making it easy for guests to watch the wildlife. Although the Bandas are self-catering, a lounge which also acts as a dining where you can enjoy your meals.

The cheetah campsite: The campsite is located within the Lumo wildlife sanctuary and is under the ownership of Lion’s bluff. Guests are invited to make use of the campsite which offers the ultimate safari camping experience with several activities offered by the management.

Cheetah Tented Camp: There are 4 permanent tented camps at the Bluff and these are located on the lower part of the lodge. The staff at the camp is always available to make sure that you are comfortable and engage in the different safari activities. Each of the 4 tents has a private veranda for game viewing, en-suite bathrooms with a bucket shower and twin beds. The good news is that guests can either be booked on an exclusive use, full board or game package.

The recent addition to Lion’s bluff is a stone-walled two-bedroom cottage constructed in a traditional way. The interior of the rooms is furnished with comfortable beddings, and high ceiling walls, there is a private veranda and the exterior walls are painted with the red Tsavo soil giving it a unique touch.