galdessa camp

TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Perched atop the Galana River and framed by the Yatta Plateau, Galdessa Camp sits in perfect harmony with the landscape that surrounds it. This luxurious camp invites you to watch the natural world unfold in an undiscovered corner of Tsavo East National Park.

To discover a glimpse into Galdessa Camp, we invite you to scroll through the gallery below.

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galdessa camp rooms

Galdessa Camp features five tented bedrooms, sleeping up to ten guests. It can be booked in tandem with Galdessa Little, which accommodates a further six guests across three tented bedrooms.

Shaded by doum palms, each of Galdessa Camp’s tents sits beneath a thatched roof. Enjoy breathtaking vistas across the Galana River from your bedroom’s front deck or indulge in a shower under the stars.

voi reintegration unit

Voi is at the heart of the Trust’s past, present and future. More than 70 years ago, when David Sheldrick was the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park, he and Daphne raised their first orphaned elephants there. Since those days, generations of orphaned elephants have reclaimed their place in the wild from our Voi Reintegration Unit. The stockades sit at the base of Mazinga Hill, with uninterrupted views of the Voi River and the plains that dominate the southern sector of the park.

Guests are invited to join the orphans and their wild friends at the midday mud bath and for sunset at the Voi stockades. Take this special opportunity to experience elephants in their natural element and meet the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Keepers who are creating a future for generations of wildlife.

galdessa activities

  • Game drive circuits within the vast plains and riverbeds of Tsavo East

  • Relax in the swimming pool overlooking the Galana River

  • Wildlife viewing in the river below

  • Sundowners and picnics in enchanted, undiscovered corners of Tsavo

  • Exercise in the on-site gym

  • Strolls along the property’s protected, scenic walking path

  • Exclusive visiting privileges to meet the orphaned elephants and Keepers at the Trust’s Voi Reintegration Unit

important information

  • Guests have exclusive use of Galdessa Camp. No other groups will be booked in the property at the same time.

  • Galdessa Camp is self-catering, which allows you to feel at home and customise your trip according to your tastes.

    Guests are responsible for bringing their own groceries for the duration of their stay, along with any other essentials they might need. We provide both still and sparkling drinking water, along with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash.

    The lodge is fully staffed. Our friendly, knowledgeable team will take care of you during your stay, including turn-down, cleaning, laundry, and food and drink service, while our resident chef prepares all your meals.

    A comprehensive shopping guide can be provided by our office upon request. We can also handle catering logistics. When booking, please let our Nairobi office know if you are interested in this service.

  • Check-in is strictly after 10:00 am. Check-out is strictly before 9:30 am.

    Access to the orphans’ mud-bath is not possible on the day of check-out, as that experience is reserved for the arriving guests.

  • Apart from your food, beverages, and necessities, here are a few more ideas to help you pack:

    • Sandals, flip-flops, hat, sunglasses

    • High-strength sunscreen and insect repellent

    • A warm fleece or jumper for cooler evenings (particularly in July/August)

    • Personal first aid kit

    • Torch with spare batteries, binoculars, camera equipment

    • Portable speakers, playing cards, board games

  • A vehicle is required to get around our properties.

    If you need to make arrangements for a car and driver for your stay, please make a note with our Nairobi office when booking.

  • By air: 50 minutes by air from Wilson Airport (Nairobi) to Luggard’s Airstrip, followed by a 20-minute game drive to camp

    By train: 4 hours on Kenya’s new railroad from Nairobi to Voi station. From the station, you can meet your vehicle and drive a further hour or so on good roads to the camp.

    By car: About 5-6 hours by road from Nairobi, depending on traffic

  • Please note that park fees are not included in lodge rates. These are payable direct to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

    For quick and convenient park entry, pay KWS park fees in advance via the eCitizen online platform: kws.ecitizen.go.ke

  • If you wish to visit our nearby Voi Reintegration Unit from Galdessa, you must be a current foster parent to one of the orphans in our care.

    Adopt an orphan.

  • Guests at Galdessa have exclusive access to visit the orphans at the Trust’s Voi Reintegration Unit.

    Please note that guests at Galdessa Little may also attend orphan visits.

    Learn more about orphan visits.