Ashnil Aruba Lodge is a mid-range safari lodge in the heart of Tsavo East National Park, positioned on the banks of Aruba Dam an artificial reservoir built in 1952 that has become one of the park’s most reliable wildlife magnets. The dam’s calm waters and surrounding grasslands attract enormous concentrations of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, zebra, giraffe, and predators throughout the day, offering a standard of wildlife viewing that rivals far more expensive properties in the park. The lodge is operated by Ashnil Hotels, the same Kenyan group that runs the Mara and Samburu camps, and offers a consistent level of quality and service at an accessible price point.
Forty-six rooms and 6 tents, all with African-inspired décor, private en-suite facilities, seating areas, and views of the dam, provide comfortable accommodation in the heart of Tsavo. The main restaurant, built on a wooden deck overlooking the dam at all angles, seats up to 150 guests and serves international, oriental, and African cuisine. A swimming pool overlooks the dam one of Tsavo’s most atmospheric settings for a midday swim, watching hippos and wildlife across the water. A lounge bar, conference facilities, and WiFi complete the amenity set. Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles cover Tsavo East’s vast and relatively uncrowded landscapes.
Tsavo is served by several airstrips. Tsavo West’s Finch Hattons Airstrip and Kilaguni Airstrip are reached by charter flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport (WIL) in approximately one hour. Tsavo East is served by Voi and Manyani airstrips. Scheduled charters operate with SafariLink and Air Kenya. By road, Tsavo is approximately 4–5 hours from Nairobi and 4–6 hours from Mombasa along the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa highway. The SGR Standard Gauge Railway connects Nairobi and Mombasa with stations at Mtito Andei and Voi, both close to park gates.
Our safari designers will build a bespoke itinerary entirely tailored to you.