Why Spectacular? Wildlife on your doorstep. A private camp for exclusive bookings, right on the banks of a huge river in Tsavo East National Park, with beautiful views of the Yatta Plateau.
Accommodation Summary: Three large sleeping tents, each for two people, with en suite bathrooms, a raised wooden platform with verandahs and a thatched roof overhead. Set away from the sleeping tents and across the lawn is another thatched structure housing a bar, dining and lounge area.
Maximum number of guests: Six, but exclusively yours with your booking.
Where: Tsavo (Tsavo East National Park)
Price Guide: £300 p.p.p.n. 
Overview: The three tents and main area are exclusively yours when you book the private section of Galdessa. Set away from the small, main camp you’ll enjoy the beauty and serenity of this spot in complete privacy. So if you’re watching hippos wallowing in the water, elephants wandering through the camp or listening to the sounds of the African night, you can do so without any interruption. Combine this with the camps stunning setting on the river, just below the Yatta Plateau, surrounded by doum palms, and you should start to gain a feeling for what makes Galdessa spectacular.
We recommend the private camp because there aren’t many places in Kenya where you can secure such an exclusive set up, even if your booking is just for two.
The joy of this, and what makes it so special, is that you have the opportunity to take in all the sights, sounds and peace without disturbance, and that is very rare. It so happens that you also get treated like Royalty, with personal service, choice of food, choice of eating times and private bar.
The camp itself has cleverly retained an authentic feeling having been decorated and furnished in a simple, traditional but luxurious way. It blends into the environment by using local, natural building materials, which all adds up to a sense that you’re a part of your surroundings rather than looking at them from afar.
It is set along the edge of the raised banks of the huge Galana River offering hypnotizing views in every direction. The camp itself comprises three stunning, luxury tented ‘bandas’ with permanent thatched roofs, beautiful wooden floors and decking areas. Guests are ensured their privacy as all the bandas are situated a good distance apart and natural foliage is used to subtly conceal their neighbour. The large solid beds in each tent are surrounded by mosquito nets while the comfortable mattresses, sheets and pillows draw you away from any sense of actually camping.
A separate area, also with a thatched roof and just up from the bandas, is where you’ll find the dining room - with a huge wooden dining table - a lounge with plenty of soft white sofas, and a private bar. Unless you are out and about this is where you’ll get together for meals and drinks. Your dedicated friendly waiters are always on hand to freshen glasses and will check when you’re ready to eat.
You can also see plenty of the wildlife that frequents the area without leaving the comfort of the camp. Hippos and crocodiles are almost always present, elephants cross regularly and the bird life is active and plentiful. However, the camp’s location is also good for game drives. In open four-wheel drive vehicles you can discover the river frontage and its seasonal tributaries, which are a favorite haunt for lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.
If you’re feeling energetic walking safaris are highly recommended and bush breakfasts and lunches can also be organised.
At the end of the day, after a hot shower you can wander up to the bar and enjoy a sundowner while waiting for your dinner. Then all that’s left to do is sit in those comfortable white sofas and enjoy the sounds of the African night.
Sustainable Rating: 
Galdessa works closely with Kenya Wildlife Service’s black rhino re-introduction project. The camp has been built with great care so it does not adversely impact the environment. It recycles its waste, uses solar power for electricity and has installed a water treatment plant.
