Campi Ya Kanzi

Campi Ya Kanzi is situated at the foot of the legendary Chyulu Hills, this luxury safari camp offers an incomparable combination of 5-star luxury & rustic comfort, first class wilderness adventure, amazing wildlife, and authentic immersion in Maasai culture.

The Chyulu Hills are one of the most iconic landscapes on the continent: the “Green Hills of Africa” that Ernest Hemingway came to again and again and that inspired him to write “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” while camping in the hills and plains, where the view of that famous mountain is supremely beautiful. With wildlife roaming in abundance, massive granite outcroppings rising over rivers and lava flows that cut across the plains and a deep and mysterious cloud forest on the crest of the green hills, this landscape is truly one of the great wilderness experiences anywhere.

Altitudes range from 2 100 m in the Chyulu Hills to 920 m in the plains in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The different habitats host many different species of mammals (more the 60 large mammals, including elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, gazelles, etc.), more than 400 species of birds and more than a 1 000 different species of trees.

Two years in a tiny tent were spent by Luca and Antonella to build the lodge, with the help of a team that more than 20 years later still work with them: Pashiet, Parashi, Samson, Matasha, Lengou, Ayienda, Munghesia, Nyambu, Raioiri, Nyamburi, Nalamai… the list goes on and on.

Campi ya Kanzi offers what they like to call ‘appropriate luxury’, which is less about infinity and plunge pools and Wi-Fi in your tent, and more about living a real safari experience in the Maasai wilderness, 1 900 square km exclusively for their guests!

The 5-star luxury African safari includes beautiful accommodation in your choice of suites, tented cottages or a private villa. Each room is decorated with a delicate touch of African themed and rustic elegance.

All electricity and hot water are provided through a solar power system and they collect all the water from the rains and recycle the used water in a pond for the wildlife. To make sure every guest has a neutral carbon footprint during their stay, they offset their emissions towards the UN REDD+ Chyulu Hill Carbon Project.

Your personal Maasai tracker and guide will take you through an endless array of beautiful landscapes and sundowner spots that will surely leave you breathless. The camp is limited to 16 guests at a time, to ensure that you always feel like you are exploring the wilderness exclusively. The camp caters for children of any age and there are two rooms close together ideal for families.

Kanzi House is a private villa and a pool cottage that sleep 6 guests. The House features a Jacuzzi, an 18-meter swimming pool, a fire pit, and a beautiful view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kanzi House provides a luxurious private experience while allowing guests to explore the savanna around Campi ya Kanzi. Dining can be arranged either inside or out; al fresco dining is available next to the pool or in the open dining area beside the pool cottage. Guests at Kanzi House will be served by dedicated cooks and waiters, a dedicated safari guide, and a dedicated vehicle. Ecological sustainability has not been compromised at Kanzi House. The swimming pool does not use water from a borehole that is transported from miles away. Instead, it is simply collected from the rains. It also serves as is the anti-fire reservoir.

Campi ya Kanzi is truly the ultimate African safari holiday, a thrilling outdoor adventure of memorable wildlife encounters and authentic connection to the Maasai people. The lodge has been built in partnership with the Maasai community of the 114 000 ha Kuku Group Ranch. Campi ya Kanzi has a unique commitment to community development and environmental sustainability: they are leaders in real ecotourism.

The benefits to the community include employment of Rangers that protect and patrol the ecosystem from illegal activities, employment of young Maasai Warriors to protect the lion population and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, support of 5 health facilities to service nearly 19 000 community members with healthcare and support 26 schools, 62 teachers and over 8 800 students!

The camp offers a truly amazing array of activities that are authentic and will immerse you in the wilderness, wildlife and culture.

The camp offers scenic flights around Kilimanjaro and over the Chyulu Hills, visits to Tsavo and the famous hippos of Mzima Springs, an old-fashioned ‘fly camping’ tented overnight safari, horse-back riding, short or day long bush walks, transcendental meditation courses, and yoga classes, visits and presentations by conservation scientists at the nearby Chyulu Conservation and Research Centre….the list of things you will find nowhere else, goes on and on!

Rates are all inclusive, nothing extra unless you want to tip the staff. All safari activities are included, except these special activities and services: scenic flights, horse-back riding, massages, optional excursions to Tsavo West (by car) and to Amboseli (by air) National Parks, guaranteed guiding by Luca. Other extra activities are a transcendental meditation course, yoga classes, a photographic course, fly camping, a night in Tsavo East at the Sheldrick elephant orphanage: these last activities need to be pre-booked in advance.

In front of Kilimanjaro, with a Maasai warrior taking you on safari, among elephants and lions, you will experience your dream luxury African safari adventure guaranteed!