In the land of giants
Welcome to Angama Amboseli, an intimate lodge in the heart of Kimana Sanctuary. Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy, the Sanctuary is renowned for its lush landscape and remarkable density of wildlife — along with its famed backdrop, Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Set within a fever tree forest where some of Africa’s last Super Tuskers roam — elephants with tusks so large they drag along the ground as they walk — Angama Amboseli is a gentle start or finish to any East African safari.
Another contemporary take on African design with nods to the giants of this landscape, each of the 10 suites is a mix of canvas, concrete and rattan with earthy, neutral colours. What’s an Angama suite without a view to wake up to? Each is orientated so that Kili can be seen from nearly every corner — from the bed to the shower — while floor-to-ceiling screen doors are all that lies between you and the mountain.
– A butler’s lobby leads into the bedroom with a super king extra length bed and overhead fan
– The bedroom also features a personalised drinks armoire and writing desk with charging station
– Screened doors and shutters lead to a shaded outdoor seating area and a pair of Fermob rocking chairs
– A dressing area connects the bedroom and bathroom with two matching wardrobes
– The bathroom, with a double vanity and double shower, has screened doors leading to an outdoor shower
Two sets of family suites are available — two standard suites connected by a secure inter-leading passage way. Each set can sleep up to two adults and four children. Children are most welcome here with a games room and many child-friendly activities — not to mention our staff who delight in taking care of young guests.
Kimana means a place to stay awhile and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that. The main Guest Area offers flexible indoor-outdoor dining with a baraza to wind down the days by the fire, telling stories with a drink in hand or marshmallows for roasting. The nearby Studios house a safari shop, games room, art gallery, makers’ studio and a photographic studio, perfect for capturing Amboseli’s iconic scenes.
For cooling off or dozing off, watching the mountain or a little elephant theatre. The raised rim-flow swimming pool features a drinking trough just below, made especially for resident herds. It’s perfectly placed as the ellies like to while away the hours in this area of camp, too.
Kimana Sanctuary is the first community conservancy established in Kenya and owned by 844 Maasai families. Thanks to its perennial stream, the Sanctuary boasts the greatest habitat diversity and wildlife density in the area attracting scores of eland, reedbuck, warthogs in their hundreds, along with giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Even the elusive leopard, cheetah and serval can be seen here along with many species of bird. Angama Amboseli has exclusive traversing rights and unrestricted game viewing.
Elephants are the stars here as large breeding herds move in procession through the Sanctuary. There’s also a good chance you’ll see one of the famed Super Tuskers — elephants whose tusks are truly a phenomenon, weighing more than 100lbs each. Some of the few remaining Tuskers in Africa love to feed on the lush vegetation around the lodge in particular.
The entrance to Angama Amboseli is located at the ‘pinch point’ — all that remains of a centuries-old migratory path connecting Amboseli National Park to the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National Park. Supported by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, this portion of the corridor is just 85 metres wide at its narrowest, running between agricultural land and across a busy highway making it a striking example of human and wildlife co-existence. The sights and sounds of the neighbouring communities and farms that guests may encounter highlight the complexities of conservation in the 21st century.
Derived from the Maasai word for “salty dust”, Amboseli National Park is just a 45-minute drive from the lodge which guests can enjoy on a half- or full-day excursion with a picnic lunch. This is one of the best places in Africa to see huge herds of elephants marching single file across dusty pans or having a “bath” in the dry lake beds. In the savanna and woodlands, you may spot lion or cheetah, while in the wetlands, hippo, flamingo and some of its other 400-odd species of birdlife can be found.
Managing the Sanctuary since 2018, Big Life Foundation, is a non-profit organisation working across 1.6 million acres of land in the Greater Amboseli Ecosystem and directly with communities so that conservation benefits all. Employing hundreds of local rangers in land management and anti-poaching units, they also focus on human-wildlife coexistence, critical habitat protection and education and healthcare initiatives within the communities. Guests will have the opportunity to visit Big Life HQ and see conservation in action.
Location & access
Access is easy: it’s a 3h30min drive on a paved road straight from Nairobi to the gate. There are also scheduled flights with Safarilink landing at Kimana Airfield in the Sanctuary, as well as Amboseli National Park and the Chyulu Hills, both about 1h30min drive away. Private charters are always welcome at the Sanctuary’s airfield.
Angama Amboseli’s fully inclusive rates are family and single-traveller friendly, always categorised per guest per night, with one rate across seasons.
FROM US$1,650 PER GUEST PER NIGHT
INCLUDED: Guided safaris in Kimana and Amboseli; guided walking; all meals and drinks; laundry; WiFi; on-property guest experiences and child-minding
EXCLUDED: Kimana Conservation Levy; Amboseli National Park Fees; Angama Foundation contribution; French Champagne and reserve wines, community visits and gratuities
From the Founder
An oasis within the Amboseli ecosystem, the safari experience here will complement the wide open plains of the Maasai Mara perfectly, and be a gentle addition to any itinerary to East Africa. We are excited to bring the Angama brand of hospitality to this corner of Kenya, and to partner with Big Life Foundation and the local community landowners to sustain this fragile conservation area.
– Steve Mitchell, CEO & Co-Founder
