Campi ya Kanzi

Situated between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks directly in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Campi ya Kanzi (“Camp of the Hidden Treasure” in Swahili) certainly lives up to its name. Surrounded by 280,000 acres of Masai reservation, this award-winning, boutique eco-lodge sets a new standard for authentic romantic luxury safaris, while also giving back to the local Maasai community. From traditional game drives and game walks to immersion in Masai culture and Italian hosts who treat everyone like family, this picturesque luxury safari lodge in Kenya will impress any seasoned world traveler.

Property Details

Campi ya Kanzi in Amboseli National Park consists of six thatched-roof luxury tented cottages, two tented suites, and Kanzi House, a private villa in the bush with a private Jacuzzi and swimming pool. The entire lodge was built alongside the local Masai community and constructed with natural stone, canvas, and wood from local trees fallen by elephants. Cottages feature state-of-the-art solar power energy, hand-crafted tables, safari chairs, colonial trunks, kilim rugs, and brass lamps, as well as elegant en-suite bathrooms with shower, bidet, faucet, flush toilet, brass plumbing, and solar-heated water. Private verandas provide an incredible view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Tsavo Hills, the Chyulu Hills, and the lodge’s waterhole where zebras and giraffes often visit.

Tembo House is the heart of the camp, equipped with a large lounge, library, and kitchen. Fashioned with lava rocks and native timbers from the surrounding National Forests, Tembo House blends Italian and Masai in both décor and hospitality. Owners Luca and Antonella make guests feel like family, hosting nightly candlelit dinners over fine Italian cuisine paired with wines from Antonella’s Italian vineyards bottled especially for Campi ya Kanzi. All meals feature vegetables, eggs, and milk from the organic farm onsite.

Campi ya Kanzi offers an incomparably private safari experience, tailor-made to fit guests’ interests and previous African experiences. One of the advantages of being outside of National Parks is the total freedom to get out of the safari vehicle and walk. Masai trackers provide hands-on lessons on how to read footprints and identify scats of the surrounding wildlife, including lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, elephant, cheetah, hippo, gazelle, warthog, and many more. The Masai are very proud of their home and enjoy sharing their cultural heritage with visitors.

Given the diversity of landscape and wildlife, each day offers an opportunity to explore something new and different than the day before. Take a longer day to hike into the uninhabited cloud forest of the Chyulu Hills, one of the most iconic landscapes known as the inspiration behind Ernest Hemingway’s penning of “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Spend a night in the fly camp, visit the orphan elephants in Ithumba, enjoy a Kilimanjaro scenic flight, or simply revel in a long night of Italian wine and stories by the fire. No matter the preference, Campi ya Kanzi in Amboseli is dedicated to making each visit absolutely perfect. Book this luxury safari lodge in Kenya today.