Kilima Safari Camp was the first stop once we officially hit the road in Kenya, and of all the places we stayed, it ended up feeling the most luxurious. I wouldn’t call it flashy, but it is the kind of comfort where you can fully relax into the experience. I think this was the middle ground between a safari tent camp and a lodge.

First Impressions: Luxury, but Make It a Camp

Kilima is a tented camp, but you’re not exposed in the way you would think. Each tent has a proper door that locks, which immediately adds a sense of ease if you’ve never stayed in a camp before. The layout is spacious, so it feels more like a private suite than a tent.

The Rooms

Everything you could need is right inside the tent. The bathroom is full-sized and impressively spacious, with a standing shower, a separate toilet room, double sinks, and a vanity area. There’s also a desk for journaling or working, plus a beautiful wardrobe with a safe inside.

The beds were comfortable, and while the days in Amboseli can be very hot, the nights cool down enough to sleep, and there’s a fan to help cool the room. Nightly turndown service added an extra layer of care and gives one less step for you to do when you return from long game drives and dinner.

Service & Location

As with the other properties we stayed at, the service here was kind and attentive. Staff escorted guests to their rooms after dark, handled luggage during check-in and check-out, and made sure everyone felt safe and cared for at all times.

Another major plus is that Kilima Safari Camp is very close to the Amboseli National Park entrance, which means less driving time and more time actually spent on game drives.

Amenities: More Than You Expect

For a safari camp, Kilima offers an impressive range of amenities:

A large, inviting pool perfect for midday downtime
A spa for relaxation
A bonfire area to bring guests together in the evenings
A conference space where we attended a thoughtful lecture on Kenya’s conservation efforts
A bar and lounge area which also happens to have the strongest Wi-Fi on the property and is a comfortable spot to relax between meals and drives

Food & Dining

Meals at Kilima are served buffet-style for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the food was consistently excellent, with a wide variety of options that balanced local flavors and familiar comfort dishes. I’m talking french toast and bacon but also curried lamb and sauteed greens and of course fresh juices and fresh-cut fruit.

One of the standout features of the dining area is the outlook tower. You can climb up for panoramic views of Amboseli and, on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

Wildlife

Kilima is a property that feels alive. Wildlife is just…there. I woke up every morning to zebras and kudu right outside my porch, which you can see below. Monkeys with newborn babies sat on top of tents, in nearby trees and lingering along the walkways in the early morning. A warthog followed by mischievous babies wandered the yard, and you could see through the trees impalas standing quietly. It felt naturally immersive in a way that was different than my other stays, and I liked that unique element of this experience.

My Final Thoughts

Kilima Safari Camp is exactly what you hope for on safari: peace, comfort, wildlife, and a sense of being fully present in nature without sacrificing luxury. I certainly felt very grounded here. If you’re visiting Amboseli and want a stay that truly captures the spirit of a luxury safari camp, this is one I would recommend.

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