Kibo Safari Camp, Amboseli

Where Kibo Safari Camp is

Kibo Safari Camp stands just outside Amboseli National Park, about 1 to 2 km from Kimana Gate (the camp's own site says about 1 km) on the park's eastern side, in the Kimana area of Kajiado County. Because Kimana is so close, you are inside the park quickly each morning. The road from Nairobi runs via Emali and the Loitokitok road.

Kimana Gate is also the park's link to Tsavo West, which makes Kibo a practical base if your safari continues south. As the camp is outside the park, we include KWS entry in our packages as listed on each package page.

Getting to Kibo Safari Camp

By road, the camp is reached from Nairobi via Emali and the tarmac Loitokitok road, which is a drive of roughly four to five hours depending on traffic. By air, we confirm the right airstrip and transfer for your dates when you book a fly-in. Our vehicle stays with you for the whole safari, so the gate formalities are handled for you.

Kilimanjaro views, honestly

The camp sits at the foot of the mountain and the tent verandas face Kilimanjaro, so a clear morning means coffee with the summit in front of you. The open-air dining terrace under the acacias has panoramic views as well. The mountain is a Tanzanian peak that cloud often covers after mid-morning, so plan to look early. Kilimanjaro stands in Tanzania and Amboseli gives you the classic view of it from the Kenyan side. The summit is clearest at dawn and again in the late afternoon, and cloud usually builds around it as the day warms. January to February and June to October are the clearest months. March to May brings the long rains and the most cloud.

Tents and the private wing

The camp offers self-contained canvas tents for single, double, triple and family stays, each with a flush toilet, a shower and a wash basin, and beds made locally from bush logs. The camp's own website gives 110 tents, while some older agent listings still quote 73, so we treat around 110 as the current figure and confirm availability for your dates. The separate Kibo Private Wing has 10 tents with a lounge tent, a campfire and its own views, and suits groups who want their own space. Pool access from the wing is at a fee.

Facilities and meals

Facilities include a lounge and bar, a dining room, a swimming pool, a spa and massage service, an art gallery, a gift shop and conference space. Dining is served on an open-air terrace and uses produce from the camp's own farm. In the evening the camp hosts a bonfire with Maasai dances. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are catered for when you tell us in advance.

A typical day at Kibo Safari Camp

You leave camp before first light, so you are at Kimana Gate when it opens and at the swamps while the elephants are feeding and the mountain is clear. You are back for breakfast and a swim, then out again in the late afternoon. In the evening there is a bonfire with Maasai dances and dinner on the terrace.

Who Kibo Safari Camp suits

It suits travellers who want comfort, a pool and the mountain on the doorstep while keeping the budget for game drives: families, friends, small groups and first-time safari guests. It is a larger camp. If you want a smaller one with fewer tents, our lodge comparison shows the alternatives, including Tawi Lodge nearby.

How Kibo Safari Camp fits our packages

Kibo is a practical budget base because it puts the savings into the days you spend in the park:

• 2 Day Amboseli Safari: one night, a sunset game drive and a dawn on the mountain.
• 3 Day Amboseli Safari: two nights, with a full day at the swamps and Observation Hill.
• Amboseli Group and Family Safari: a relaxed pace for families and groups.
• Amboseli Photography Safari: dawn and dusk shoots positioned for elephants and the mountain.
• Amboseli and Tsavo West Safari: Amboseli nights followed by volcanic Tsavo West.

Rates at Kibo Safari Camp

Typical published rates: roughly USD 205 to 300 per person per night depending on season, ask us for the current rate. Rates are per person sharing a room on full board and change with the season, so we confirm the price in writing before you pay.

Book Kibo Safari Camp with us

Tell us your dates and group size and we reply with a clear price. We book Kibo for you as part of the safari, including the park drives.