Kipalo Hills

Kipalo Hills Lodge is located high up along the slopes of the Mbulia Hills, giving it sweeping, elevated views across the surrounding Tsavo plains, It offers breathtaking panoramas across the vast plains of Tsavo West National Park and beyond to the distant peaks of the Ngulia Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days. Its name, meaning (a place where one returns) in Taita, reflects the camp unique charm a retreat where guests come back again and again for its serenity, wildlife, and wilderness.

Kipalo Hills is part of the 12,000-acre Mbulia Conservancy, a critical community owned conservation area bordering Tsavo West. Established to safeguard the migration corridor for elephants and big cats, the conservancy is managed in partnership with local communities whose commitment ensures wildlife thrives alongside sustainable tourism. The lodges waterhole below camp often attracts elephants, buffalo, and nocturnal visitors, providing game viewing right from your veranda.

The camp blends rustic authenticity with comfort. Six tented suites and a spacious rock suite villa are set against rocky outcrops, each designed to capture sweeping views of Tsavo wilderness. The suites feature private verandas, en-suite bathrooms, and eco-conscious design. The elevated pool deck, carved into the hillside, offers a perfect vantage point for sunsets and wildlife watching.

Location & Access

• Situated in Mbulia Conservancy, adjoining Tsavo West National Park, Kenya.

• By air: Charter flights to the Kipalo Airstrip; scheduled flights to nearby Taita Hills or Maktau airstrips, followed by a lodge transfer.
• By rail: SGR train to Mtito Andei, then approx. 1 hr. road transfer.
• By road: Approx. 5–6 hrs. From Nairobi, or 4 hrs. from Mombasa, with the last stretch requiring 4x4 access.

Activities

• Day & night game drives in Mbulia Conservancy and Tsavo West.
• Walking safaris led by expert rangers and Maasai trackers.
• Bird watching, with over 500 species recorded in the region.
• Cultural visits to nearby villages, engaging with Taita communities.
• Fly-camping adventures along the Galana or Tsavo Rivers for an authentic wilderness night.
• Sundowners on hilltops with sweeping views across Tsavo.
• Wildlife watching at the waterhole, right below camp.