On the eastern edge of Amboseli, the people of the Tawi-Kilitome Conservancy have set aside a stretch of community-held Maasai land where the elephants still move as they always have, crossing between Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills along ground their herds have walked for generations. Tawi Lodge stands within it. From the beds, the bathtubs and the verandas of its thatched cottages, Mount Kilimanjaro fills the horizon, its crater shifting through the day from a rosy dawn to a sharp silhouette at dusk.
The Kimana Gate into Amboseli lies a short drive away.
Because this is private land rather than national park, the guides here can do what no vehicle confined to park roads ever could, running night drives and walking guests out through the bush on foot to read the tracks the ground still holds. And Amboseli itself is never far. The Kimana Gate into Amboseli lies a short drive away, so that a single morning can move between conservancy and national park in the space of a few hours.
The waterhole sets the rhythm of the day. Elephant herds pass through the heat and again after dark, buffalo and giraffe cross the open ground beyond, and the pool, the dining terrace and several cottage decks all turn toward it, with Kilimanjaro rising behind. Out across the wider conservancy roam zebra, impala and warthog, part of an ecosystem in which more than 400 bird species have been recorded.
The double-storey main building holds several lounge areas
Against the dust of the surrounding plains, lawns, ponds and acacia shade form a cool, green pocket. The double-storey main building holds several lounge areas, its two bars and a mezzanine library set above, while a mobile bush bar shelters under a tortilis tree and a small spa fills the hours between drives. Time has been generous here, giving the gardens room to mature and the lodge itself room to settle among Amboseli’s private conservancy properties.
Tawi Lodge exists because of a partnership. With help from the African Wildlife Foundation, around 100 Maasai families came together to form the conservancy on which the lodge now stands, an arrangement that returns a direct income to the community through land lease payments and a share of guest bed-night fees, and one that draws much of the staff from the surrounding area. It is a working agreement between the lodge, the landowners and the wildlife that moves across their ground.
That corridor role is why elephants gather so thickly in view of camp. The Amboseli ecosystem is known for its long-tusked bulls, some of the last of their kind, and its herds follow these trails east toward the Chyulu and Tsavo systems. Where farming families and crossing animals once collided, a seven-kilometre elephant fence has eased the pressure, and the Tawi Conservancy Trust has reached further still, supporting Lemong’o Primary School with water tanks and fencing and helping build classrooms and a borehole at Engumi School.
The Amboseli ecosystem is known for its long-tusked bulls, some of the last of their kind.
Thirteen cottages spread across the gardens, spaced for privacy along gravel paths and each turned toward Kilimanjaro. Their rounded walls echo the shape of a Maasai home, and thatch, timber and stone keep the palette local. Inside, a fireplace waits for cool nights, a four-poster bed anchors the room, and the bath is set so the mountain stays in view. Two cottages interconnect by a shared veranda for families, while a suite adds a private lounge, a kitchen and its own plunge pool for those who want more room to spread out.
The kitchen leans on East African ingredients, much of it grown in the lodge’s own garden, with bread, yoghurt and juices made on site. Dinner might come in the main dining room, out on the lawn, or by firelight in the conservancy under a night sky largely free of other light. And the days reach well beyond game drives in park and conservancy, into guided walks and camel walks, sundowners at the tortilis-tree bar, and visits to the neighbouring Maasai community, its nursery and its school.
accommodation
Thirteen thatched cottages, each facing Mount Kilimanjaro from bed, bathtub and private veranda, with four-poster beds, en-suite bath and shower, and a fireplace. Two interconnect via a shared veranda for families. A larger suite adds a private lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms and a plunge pool.
activities
Game drives run in both Amboseli National Park and the private Tawi-Kilitome Conservancy. Night drives, guided bush walks, camel walks and bush meals are possible only on the conservancy, not inside the park. Also included: visits to the local Maasai community and spa treatments.
conservation
The Tawi-Kilitome Conservancy protects a wildlife corridor on land leased from around 100 Maasai families, who receive land payments and a share of guest fees. A seven-kilometre elephant fence reduced human-wildlife conflict. Tawi Lodge supports Lemong'o Primary School and holds an Ecotourism Kenya Gold rating.
Get in touch and let’s start the conversation. An initial consultation helps us understand what you’re looking for, whether that’s specific experiences, luxury touches, or marking a special occasion, and from there we’ll guide you through what’s possible so you can decide if we’re the right fit.
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
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Amboseli and Chyulu Hills
By light aircraft from Nairobi's Wilson airport to the Amboseli airstrip, a flight of about forty-five minutes, with the lodge meeting you for the short transfer across the Tawi-Kilitome Conservancy on Amboseli's eastern edge. We arrange the flights as part of your trip, and if you would like the aircraft to yourselves we can arrange a private charter, typically a Cessna Caravan or Pilatus PC-12, timed to suit your day.
These small planes carry soft bags only, around fifteen kilograms per person including hand luggage, so pack into a duffel. Nairobi is also four to five hours away by road if you prefer to drive.
It is. At roughly 1,150 metres Amboseli lies below the height at which risk drops off, so the CDC and TravelHealthPro both class it as a malaria area and tablets are generally recommended. Transmission runs all year and is a little higher in and after the wet season.
Health advice can shift year to year, so please check the current guidance with a travel clinic or your doctor before travelling, and take sensible precautions against mosquito bites after dark.
Expect warm, bright days and cooler mornings and nights, with Kilimanjaro filling the horizon and usually clearest at first and last light. The rains come around November and again from March to May, turning the plains green and busy with birds while making some tracks muddy.
Bring neutral, dust-friendly clothes, a warm layer for the open vehicle at dawn, strong sun protection, and closed shoes for the walking and camel outings. Binoculars and a good camera earn their place with the elephants here.
For the surest game viewing and the clearest mountain, come in the dry months of June to October or January to February, when wildlife concentrates on Amboseli's swamps. The green months after the rains are lush and excellent for birds, with fewer visitors, though a little wetter underfoot.
Amboseli's resident elephants are a year-round draw, so there is no truly poor time, only different trade-offs between clarity and greenery.
Yes. Because Tawi stands on private community land rather than inside the park, its guides can run night drives, walking safaris and camel walks, and read tracks on foot, all of which the national park does not allow. The Kimana Gate into Amboseli is a short drive away, so a morning can move between conservancy and park in a few hours.
Inside Amboseli itself you are restricted to daytime driving on the roads. The private conservancy is what lets the day stretch after dark and out of the vehicle.
Yes. Two of the cottages interconnect through a shared veranda for families, and a larger suite adds a private lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms and a plunge pool, so there is room for a family to spread out. The waterhole in front of the lodge means the animals often come to you.
Some activities, such as walking and night drives, carry a minimum age, so let us know your children's ages and we will shape the days around them and lay on a private vehicle if it helps.
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our approach
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
