Thirteen cottages set in lush gardens beneath towering acacias, minutes from Amboseli's Kimana Gate, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising over a waterhole that never runs quiet.
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Overview
A Fireplace, A Mountain View
Tawi sits within its own private Kilitome Conservancy, just minutes from Amboseli National Park's eastern Kimana Gate, where the lodge's own waterhole draws elephants past the dining room all day long.
Built from timber, stone and thatch in classic safari style, Tawi's two-storey communal building holds four lounges, a dining room and two bars — every one of them facing a busy waterhole that has made the lodge as much a wildlife hide as a place to stay. Thirteen individual cottages are spread through well-kept gardens on either side, each raised on wooden beams with its own veranda, a four-poster bed, a writing desk and a cosy fireplace for cool Amboseli evenings. Gold-rated by Ecotourism Kenya, Tawi channels its conservation fees into the Big Life Foundation's anti-poaching work across the wider Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem.
An independent lodge since 2009. Tawi is not part of a larger safari group — it is an independently run, Gold-rated eco-lodge, with its private conservancy bordering Amboseli National Park directly at Kimana Gate.
13
Guest Cottages
2,400ha
Kilitome Conservancy
400+
Bird Species
1
Waterhole at the Door
Cottages
Raised on Beams, Facing Kili
Every cottage sits on raised wooden beams with its own veranda — a quiet vantage point over the gardens, with Mount Kilimanjaro visible even from the bathtub.
Guest Cottage — Veranda & Fireplace
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Four-Poster Bed & FireplaceA sumptuous four-poster double or twin beds, a large storage trunk, writing desk and a cosy fireplace for the cooler Amboseli nights.
02
En-Suite Bath & Twin VanitiesFlush toilet, twin washbasins, separate shower and a generous bathtub round out each cottage's private facilities.
03
A Veranda Over the GroundsRaised on wooden beams with a few steps up to a veranda set with loungers and comfy chairs — a favourite spot to watch for passing wildlife.
04
Solar-Powered ComfortLighting and water systems run on solar power, in keeping with Tawi's Gold Ecotourism Kenya rating.
Experiences
Camels, Walks & the Waterhole
Tawi's private conservancy adds camel rides and nature walks to the classic Amboseli game drive, all within a private concession bordering the National Park.
On Foot
Guided Nature Walks
Late-afternoon walks with Maasai guides, close enough to touch the flora and hear Amboseli's 400-plus bird species overhead.
Slow Travel
Camel Rides
A gentle camel-back circuit of the conservancy, timed to finish with Kilimanjaro glowing at sunset.
Day & Night
Game Drives
Morning, midday and night drives through Amboseli National Park and the private Tawi conservancy, tracking the Park's famous elephant herds.
Culture
Maasai Village Visits
Village visits, storytelling and traditional dance connect guests to the enduring traditions of the local Maasai community.
Adventure
Fly Camping
An overnight fly camp experience for guests seeking a more immersive night under the Amboseli sky.
Wellness
Spa Treatments
Massages and treatments available at the lodge, with the waterhole in view from the treatment room.
Dining
Watching the Waterhole
Every dining space at Tawi — the terrace, the dining room, the lounges — looks out over the same waterhole, so meals double as one of the best game views on the property.
01Breakfast and lunch on the open veranda, overlooking the waterhole
02A three-course lunch and four-course dinner, European and Swahili influenced
03Bush meals set out on morning game drives
04Sundowners overlooking the Amboseli plains
The Waterhole Deck — Dining Room View
Location
Minutes from Kimana Gate
Tawi's private Kilitome Conservancy sits directly against Amboseli National Park's eastern boundary, giving guests immediate access to the Park's marshes, dry lake bed and Kilimanjaro views.
A private concession bordering Amboseli National Park at the Kimana Gate, just minutes away.
Gold-rated by Ecotourism Kenya, with solar-powered lighting and water throughout the lodge.
The waterhole in front of the main lodge draws elephants, zebra, impala, kudu and gerenuk day and night.
Conservation fees support the Big Life Foundation's rangers across the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem.
Fly
Twice-daily scheduled flights connect Nairobi's Wilson Airport to the Amboseli or Tawi airstrip.
Drive
A roughly four-to-five-hour drive from Nairobi reaches the lodge directly by road.
Arrive
A short transfer from the airstrip brings guests straight to Kimana Gate and into the private conservancy.
Gold Rated
An Eco-Warrior Lodge
Tawi holds Ecotourism Kenya's Gold rating and was named Eco-Warrior Lodge of the Year — every stay supports the conservancy and its community partners directly.