Ashnil Aruba Lodge

Ashnil Aruba Lodge is a mid‑range safari lodge in the heart of Tsavo East National Park, set beside Aruba Dam with easy, often dramatic wildlife viewing right from the lodge. It suits couples, families, and groups who want comfortable lodge facilities plus strong game‑viewing access in Tsavo.

Location & Setting

The lodge sits inside Tsavo East, on the banks of Aruba Dam, a 1950s reservoir originally built as a sport‑fishing and recreation point and now a key wildlife watering spot. The surrounding terrain is classic Tsavo savannah—open, flat grassland that makes spotting elephants, zebras, and other plains game relatively easy, especially around the dam. It is about two hours by road from the coast at Mombasa and roughly five hours’ easy drive from Nairobi, making it a convenient stop on combined beach‑and‑safari itineraries.migration.

Accommodation & Style

Ashnil Aruba Lodge has 40 African‑inspired deluxe ensuite rooms, plus six luxury tents and four triple rooms, giving a total of 46 rooms and 6 tents. Interiors follow a modern safari lodge style: simple, clean lines, earthy tones, and practical furnishings, with each unit including a seating area, wardrobe, and en‑suite bathroom. Some descriptions also mention a newer “club wing” of upgraded rooms with contemporary interiors, private terraces, and enhanced amenities.

Rooms & Comfort

All rooms and tents are ensuite, with baths or showers and free toiletries provided. Beds are draped with mosquito nets, and rooms include essentials like fans, a seating corner, and a safety deposit box; some units offer terrace space or sunbeds facing the dam or gardens. Room configurations include twin, double (king bed), and triple, which is helpful for families and small groups.

Facilities & Dining

The main open‑sided restaurant sits in the central building and overlooks the dam, with seating for around 150 guests plus a wooden deck shaded by canvas umbrellas for extra space at meal times. Buffet service typically combines international, oriental, and traditional African dishes, with hot and cold buffet platforms in the middle of the restaurant for easy access. The lodge also offers a bar, lounge, swimming pool, gift shop, spa and massage services, children’s playground, kids’ club, and evening entertainment such as themed dinner nights and live sport broadcasts.

Connectivity & Practicalities

Wi‑Fi is available in selected public areas (mainly reception and some communal spaces), boosted by antennas due to generally weak park network coverage. The lodge provides free private parking and can help arrange road transfers from nearby airports or rail stations, such as Voi Railway Station about 32 km away. 

Experience & Activities

Guests use the lodge as a base for game drives in Tsavo East, with frequent sightings of elephants, zebras, lions, and other large mammals—sometimes visible from the pool or restaurant while they drink at the dam. Offered activities include guided game drives, walking tours, and cultural or nature classes, plus occasional themed evenings. The lodge often features in longer itineraries that link Nairobi or Mombasa with Tsavo East and other parks.migration.

Atmosphere & Service

Reviews generally rate Ashnil Aruba Lodge around 4/5, highlighting its dam‑side setting, pool views with wildlife in the distance, and friendly staff. The atmosphere is that of a busy but welcoming safari lodge: not ultra‑luxury, but comfortable, scenic, and well aligned with mid‑range expectations.

Ideal For

Ashnil Aruba Lodge is ideal for mid‑range safari travelers, families, and groups wanting a comfortable lodge inside Tsavo East with strong wildlife viewing right on the doorstep. It suits beach‑and‑bush combinations from Mombasa, classic road safaris from Nairobi, and guests who value a dam‑side setting with easy, relaxed game‑viewing between drives.