Opening in Jun 2026. Amboseli National Park is the stuff of myth, of legend, thanks to its position in the shadow of the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, the particular grandeur of its landscape and the famous herds of elephants that inhabit it. The lodge is located in a 128-acre private concession adjoining the national park, that has been conceived in response to this landscape and its people, the Maasai. The tones and textures of local materials; an earthy, organic palette; the thoughtful adaptation of traditional Maasai elements – the design of the lodge is at once strikingly innovative and deeply rooted in the specifics of its context.
The name Amboseli is a corruption of empusel, which means “salty dusty place” in Maa, the language of the Maasai. “Salty and dusty” may not sound immediately appetizing – but nor would a Margarita if you were to describe it as “salty and sour”. In fact, the landscape here, at the border between Kenya and Tanzania, is one of intoxicating beauty and powerful enchantment – a deliciously balanced cocktail of wildlife-rich habitats, from deep-green marshes in the heart of the park to stands of acacia forest in the east and great expanses of undulating savannah stretching all the way to the distant horizon. (A&K)
Newly built, Kitirua Lodge is architecturally dazzling – if “dazzling” can be used to describe a lodge so carefully conceived to meld with its environment and to reflect the traditions of the Maasai. The lodge comprises 11 Standard Villas, two two-bedroom Family Villas and the fully self-contained Geoffrey Kent Suite.
ALL-VILLA LODGE
• Striking contemporary design incorporating traditional Maasai elements
• The fully self-contained Geoffrey Kent Suite, which includes its own private pool, chef and guide
• 60m2 Standard Villas, including bedroom, bathroom, lounge and outdoor deck
It’s not all about elephants. The big cats are here too. Flamingos blush en masse as if embarrassed by their own beauty. The concentration of resident and migratory birdlife is among the greatest in east Africa. There’s also the opportunity to venture out after dark on night game drives in search of nocturnal species.
Twice-daily game drives, early morning and late afternoon, are likely to be the key coordinates of your stay, and elephants the focus of your attention. But Amboseli is an exceptionally diverse habitat; don’t miss the opportunity to explore it on foot, on a guided walk. Trips farther afield by other means are also possible (if you thought the view of Mount Kilimanjaro from your villa was impressive, wait till you’ve seen it from a hot-air balloon). Otherwise, relax at the lodge, take a dip in the pool or a treatment at the spa, swap stories around the campfire before dinner and savour the privilege of being in this extraordinary place.
Game Drives
Expert-led game drives in the early morning and late afternoon take you directly into this extraordinarily biodiverse habitat. Elephants are the stars of the show (and generally the easiest to spot), but Amboseli is also home to a tremendous variety of species, large and small.
Hot Air Ballooning
Some things really are worth getting out of bed for before dawn, even when you’re on vacation. A hot-air balloon flight over Amboseli, watching Kilimanjaro take shape in the first rays of new morning sunshine, is surely one of them.
Helicopter Flights
Fully personalized scenic helicopter flights give you a lilac-breasted roller’s eye view of large parts of the National Park and beyond. You’ll swoop and skim above an epic patchwork of marshland, grassy plains, lakes, extinct volcanoes and acacia forest.
Community Visits
Kitirua Lodge has a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with local Maasai communities. Join us in visiting some of these communities to see at first hand the work we’re doing to support healthcare services, education and community-enterprise initiatives.
Dazzling Mt Kili
Honeymooners Delight
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