Campi ya Kanzi features Maasai-led walking safaris in Kenya. Experience the thrill of tracking game on foot with traditional Maasai! Located in Kenya's prime game area between Amboseli and Tsavo parks, the camp provides luxury tented camp lodgings for your exclusive private safari.

Our safaris are unique. Since there's no mass tourism and the ranch's environment is still pristine, the wildlife are unspoiled by human contact. You'll have an unforgettable experience due to our unique combination of…
    Professional guides
    Local Maasai trackers
    Outstanding scenery
    Wildlife that's truly wild!
    Finest Italian cuisine

Campi ya Kanzi means "Camp of the Hidden Treasures" in Kiswahili. For you, it means the ultimate in luxury tented safari camps. The camp lies within a 400-square-mile private ranch in southern Kenya, in sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Maasai own this land, making it one of the last unspoiled areas of Africa. Connecting three national parks, the property is home to a vast wildlife population.

Campi ya Kanzi has two goals:
    Help the Maasai preserve their wildlife heritage.
    Treat you to the most memorable vacation of your life!

Tembo ("elephant") House is the heart of the camp. The clubhouse has a thatched roof and is beautifully constructed of local materials such as lava rocks and native timbers. It's open to the outdoors, and from its terrace you'll have a spectacular view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Tembo House has a large lounge where you can enjoy our books about Africa, or relax with a refreshing drink after your safari.

You'll also take your meals at Tembo House. Crystal glasses, fine table settings and candlelight dinners will be a high point of your Campi ya Kanzi experience. Our cooks are specially trained in the preparation of fine Italian cuisine (home made fresh pasta, risotto, biscuits, bread, ice-cream...), which we feature along with International and local dishes. Fresh daily vegetables are supplied by our organic vegetable garden, as well as fresh milk from our organic dairy and fresh eggs from our chickens.

Campi ya Kanzi accommodates a maximum of 14 guests in seven thatched roof guesthouses. One of these is named "The Hemingway Suite" for the famous author who wrote of the nearby Chyulu Hills in his "Green Hills of Africa." Each guesthouse enjoys a different view, and accommodates one or two adults.

They feature either twin beds or a king-size bed, made at the camp with local logs, with specially made linen imported from Italy. A table, two safari chairs, a colonial trunk, shelves and hangers for your clothes, and daily fresh flowers complete the interior décor.

The guesthouses are constructed of stones, fabric, and wood and they feature a full elegant bath with shower, bidet, basin, and flush toilet; brass plumbing fixtures add an unexpected touch of elegance and comfort with hot and cold running water.

Each guesthouse has a wide veranda to provide superb views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Tsavo Hills. Our state-of-the-art solar system provides 220-volt electricity for your guesthouse.

Campi ya Kanzi is a special retreat far removed from the hectic pace of the modern world. If necessary however, you can reach your home or business with the camp's satellite phone.

With only seven guesthouses, there is ample distance from one to the other to guarantee every guest's privacy. Each guesthouse has a dedicated Maasai attendant assigned to it. At night, Maasai guards patrol the camp to ensure your complete safety.

Campi ya Kanzi is managed by Luca Belpietro and Antonella Bonomi. Forty-two people from local Maasai villages help them with the cooking, housekeeping and maintenance at the camp. All of them are dedicated to making your safari at Campi ya Kanzi the most memorable vacation of your life.

Luca Belpietro will be your host and professional guide at Campi ya Kanzi. He was born in Italy, and with his family has been a part of Africa since 1969. With his father, he toured Africa on many sporting safaris.

Luca has divided his time between Italy and Kenya. He has a degree in economics and wrote his thesis on Sustainable Development and Environment Conservation: Wildlife as a Natural Resource in Kenya. Following this, he had a successful career as managing director of a financial consulting firm.

However, he never forgot his dreams of Africa, and stayed involved in wildlife conservation in Kenya. This led to the creation of Campi ya Kanzi. Luca speaks fluent English, Italian and Kiswahili. He is a freelance writer for an outdoor magazine, and founder and managing director of Luca Safari Ltd.

Luca: "As a child, I started sleeping in a tent in the backyard of my house, dreaming of Africa. I've always been fascinated by Africa, its wildlife and its people. Now that my dream is reality, I look forward to meeting you and assisting you on your African safari."

Your hostess at Campi ya Kanzi will be Luca's wife, Antonella Bonomi (they just got married in the Chyulu Hills!). She comes from the same Italian town as Luca, and graduated with a law degree. After working for a while at her family's vineyard, she visited Africa with Luca and found that she shared his passion for the country and the Maasai people. Antonella is fluent in Italian, English and Kiswahili. She also knows a little French and German.

Antonella: "When I came here for the first time, I saw a paradise on Earth and knew I had to live here. After I moved to Kenya, I did my best to create Campi ya Kanzi as a place where I would like to live. I look forward to sharing it with you."

Imagine a day that begins with the aroma of Kenyan coffee or tea brought to your tent by your personal Maasai attendant. Enjoy your coffee or tea and the view of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the veranda, and then head out for your morning walk or game drive. After your safari, return to the camp for a breakfast that includes fresh local fruit such as mango and pineapple. Following breakfast, you can enjoy an escorted safari on foot, or just relax at the camp. At lunchtime, we can organize a grand picnic for you featuring fresh vegetables from our garden, or you can dine at Tembo House and then take an afternoon siesta.

At other safari camps, guests frequently find themselves tied to an inflexible, predetermined safari schedule. Not so at Campi Ya Kanzi: our guests really appreciate that they can work directly with their professional guide to design each day's safari and activities.

In the Bush

You'll make your private safari game drives in one of our six Land Rover Defenders. Your armed professional guide and Maasai game trackers will always be with you to ensure your safety in the bush. On a foot safari with your guides, you'll see many species of game and birds in their natural environment. Since this is your Maasai tracker's native land, he'll be able to introduce you to local medicinal plants and discuss animal tracks and behavior and share with you his lore of the Maasai culture and traditions.

Wildlife

The ranch is immense and has a wide variety of natural habitats, so it's home to a remarkable range of wildlife and bird species. This diversity makes it a very valuable area for conservation in Kenya. It also ensures a truly thrilling safari for our guests! Of course, we have lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and the common animals of the plains, but also many rare species such as the African wild dog, lesser kudu, and cheetah thrive on the ranch. Conservation efforts have been so successful that black rhino have recently moved onto the ranch!

More than 50 species of mammals and almost 400 bird species inhabit the ranch. The most recent game count revealed an abundant local wildlife population: 312 giraffes, 289 buffaloes, 115 elephants, 37 lions, and 16 leopards. We also have hundreds and hundreds of gnus, zebras, waterbucks, Grant's gazelles, Thompson's gazelles, baboons, hartebeest, and impalas. A walk through the gentle hills near the camp will reward you with a view of mountain reedbuck, the graceful klipspringer. While exploring the riverbanks, you might catch a view of the shy lesser kudu or the rare gerenuk.

You'll find different wildlife on your safari to one of the nearby watering places, where lions, elephants, and other large game animals gather in the evening. For an authentic tribal experience, you can also visit the local Maasai village where your tracker lives. Towards the end of the day, you'll find that early evening is also an excellent time for a safari. At dusk, you can make an easy climb up one of the beautiful volcanic hills surrounding the camp. This provides a stunning view of animals grazing on the golden plains below you.

In summary, wildlife is abundant and varied. You'll discover something different every day of your visit!

Wind Down and Relax

Back at the camp after a long day outdoors, you'll find that enjoying a drink beside the fireplace is particularly attractive. Accompanied by the magic sound of the African night, a delicious five-course candlelight dinner provides a peaceful close to your exciting day.

The Maasai have always been special. Their bright red robes set them apart visually. Spear in hand, they are calm and courageous regardless of the danger. The armed British troops who drove the Maasai from their lands in the late 19th century had great respect for these fearless tribesmen. Up until recently, the only way for a Maasai boy to achieve warrior status was to single-handedly kill a lion with his spear.

When you see a Maasai for the first time, you will likely agree with what Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) wrote about her experience in East Africa in her book Out of Africa:

"A Maasai warrior is a fine sight. Those young men have, to the utmost extent, that particular form of intelligence which we call chic; daring and wildly fantastical as they seem, they are still unswervingly true to their own nature, and to an immanent ideal. Their style is not an assumed manner, nor an imitation of a foreign perfection; it has grown from the inside, and is an expression of the race and its history, and their weapons and finery are as much a part of their being as are a stag's antlers."

Kenya recognizes over fifty tribes of native people. The Maasai are one of these tribes, making up about 1.5 % of the country's population.

In common with the wildlife with which they co-exist, the Maasai need a lot of land. Unlike many other tribes in Kenya, the Maasai are nomadic and pastoral: they live by herding cattle and goats. The Maasai's chief god is Engai, the sky-god. They believe that Engai gave them all the cattle in the world.

The Maasai refer to the neighboring tribes of farmers and hunter-gatherers as "Ndorobo," meaning poor folk. The Maasai measure wealth by the number of cattle, so people without cattle are considered poor.

The Maasai do not have villages with permanent buildings. Instead, they construct a "enkang" (corral) for a group of families. The enkang is a circle of huts, one per family, enclosed by a circular fence of thorn bushes. The woman of each household constructs the hut from cattle dung and clay. Periodically, the group will abandon their enkang and construct a new one in an area with better water and grazing.

The Maasai have not fared well in modern Africa. Until the British settlers arrived, fierce Maasai tribes occupied the most fertile lands. The Maasai struggled to preserve their territory, but their spears were no match for armed British troops, and their lawyers never had a fair chance in British courtrooms. The Maasai lost about two-thirds of their lands and were relocated to less fertile parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Other tribes of Kenya have adapted more readily to the "progress" of modern times. In contrast, the Maasai have persisted in their traditional ways, so as Kenya takes more land for national parks and agriculture, they suffer.

One positive trend for the Maasai in recent years has been the development of a specific form of eco-tourism. Although other tribes in Kenya regard wildlife as food or a menace to their crops, the Maasai co-exist with wildlife. Occasionally, a lion will take a cow or some goats and have to be caught and released in a national park, but this is rare. Normally, the Maasai and the wildlife simply live together peacefully.

This peaceful co-existence creates the potential for a form of low-impact tourism, like Campi ya Kanzi. The Kuku Group Ranch where the camp is located has 400 square miles of land, and is occupied by only 3000 Maasai. The ranch is rich in wildlife since it adjoins Tsavo West National Park, Chyulu National Park and Amboseli National Park. Animals are fully protected in these national parks, and they use the ranch as a corridor connecting the Parks.

Part of the fees visitors pay to Campi ya Kanzi are returned to the Maasai owners of Kuku Group Ranch. Thus, by sharing their vast lands with a maximum of 12 visitors from Campi ya Kanzi, the Maasai of Kuku Group Ranch benefit in several ways:

•  They maintain their lands in a natural state.
•  They generate income to improve their nutrition and their children's education.
•  They preserve their traditional ways and dignity.

Your visit to the camp helps the Maasai retain their heritage.

Campi ya Kanzi lies within Kuku Group Ranch in southern Kenya. The ranch is a 400 square mile plot of land owned by Maasai herdsmen.

The ranch stretches from the Chyulu Hills to the foothills of majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (19,342 feet). The altitude of the ranch ranges from 3,000 to 6,900 feet, so the land includes a number of different environments.

Habitats range from the grasslands of the savanna to green river woodlands and cool mountain forests. The Chyulu Hills on Kuku Group Ranch were formed by a lava outflow less than 500 years ago. They are well known for their great biodiversity. The ranch also contains pools, springs, two rivers and a lake, making it a draw for great numbers of large game.

Protecting the Natural Environment

Nowadays, we are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the environment and enjoying it in the most ecologically sound manner possible. We at Campi ya Kanzi are proud to say we are among the most environmentally friendly camps in all of Africa. The camp has been built with local materials only, and not a single tree has been cut.

Our 220-volt electricity is provided by solar power, and water is heated with solar heaters. In the kitchen, we cook meals using a special charcoal produced by the United Nations Environment Project. We compost our food scraps for use in our vegetable garden. Water is our most precious resource; after use, our gray water passes through lava filters that cleanse it before it is used in the garden or put in a pond for wildlife.

Eco-tourism and the Maasai

Campi ya Kanzi is the living example of the new policies of the Kenya Wildlife Service, which encourages local people to become involved in the conservation of wildlife. This approach to conservation is based on the self-interested involvement of the Maasai, rather than the creation of laws and bans.

For example, when lions kill Maasai cattle, the Maasai naturally wish to eliminate the lions to protect their livelihood. However, if the same lions produce profit through tourism, the Maasai realize that it is best to co-exist with them. The Maasai now see the benefit of having wildlife on their land, so they protect the animals and view them as extension of their ranching activities.

For each guest accommodated at Campi ya Kanzi for one night, $20 is set apart for the Maasai community. The money is spent as follows:

•  Reimbursement of animal damages, compensating Maasai who have incurred loss through damage by wildlife.
•  For education, through scholarships awarded on merit and to those who are too poor to afford education. The funds also pay for school supplies and help pay teachers' salaries.
•  For health, by providing basic medical facilities and medicines.

By choosing Campi ya Kanzi for your safari, you will not only enjoy a unique and pristine wilderness, but you'll actively protect it and help the Maasai community.

The staff of Campi ya Kanzi consists of local Maasai. They are specially trained for their positions at the camp, and benefit directly from the camp's revenues. In this way, the success of the camp contributes to the local community and to the ranch's policy of conservation. The managing directors of Luca Safari consider Campi ya Kanzi the fulfillment of their dream.

Luca Belpietro has a degree in economics and wrote his thesis on wildlife as a natural resource in Kenya. He would be pleased to tell you more about how Campi ya Kanzi benefits conservation efforts in Kenya, and how you can play a part in protecting Kenyan wildlife by choosing Campi ya Kanzi for your luxury Kenya safari adventure.

Through the trust we have just founded, The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, we now also have community projects and adoption schemes for the wild animals of the ranch. Whether or not you visit our safari camp, we'd be delighted to have you involved in our wildlife conservation efforts and the perpetuation of the Maasai heritage.

A small contribution can really make a big difference in this part of the world!

Here are some of our favorite photos. Like all the other pictures on this web page, these were taken at Campi ya Kanzi.

Rates for Campi ya Kanzi?
How do I make a reservation?
How do I get there?
Is it safe?
When is a good time to go?
How is Campi ya Kanzi different from a national park?
What will I see?
What should I bring?
How long should I stay?
How can I learn more about the Maasai?
Are you near Shaba, where the survivor TV show was filmed?

Rates

INDICATIVE RATES:
Deluxe suites:

•  $370 per person per night, double occupancy
•  $480 per night, single occupancy
•  Additional $250 per person, per night, for a third bed (for child under 12 years old)

Hemingway suite, featuring wide veranda with a great view, king size bed, closet, double sink, and a bottle of champagne every evening on the veranda:

•  $430 per person per night, double occupancy
•  $650 per night, single occupancy

In addition, whichever accommodation you choose, there is a $20 per person, per day conservation fee. This money is set aside to help the Maasai community and to preserve their wildlife heritage.

Prices Include:

• Full board accommodations
•  Pure drinking water from our natural spring, bottled mineral water
•  Soft drinks, house wines, beers
•  Game drives in open specially modified Land Rovers and escorted game walks
•  Bird watching
•  Botanical escorted game walks
•  Cultural visits to your tracker house at the Maasai Village
•  Visits to the projects of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, including a Maasai school, the dispensary, the game scouts.
•  Bush breakfast, picnics, bush dinners and sundowners
• Excursions to Chyulu National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Park ( Park Fees entrance non included)
• Laundry
• Transfers from and to Campi ya Kanzi airstrip (this is a nice 10 minute game drive)

Not included:

•  Transportation to and from Nairobi
•  Medical insurance
•  Special wines, spirits, champagne
•  Air excursions (in the Ranch or to National Parks)
•  Gratuities
  

Booking and cancellation: A nonrefundable deposit of 25% of the cost of the safari is required to hold the booking. The remainder is due eight weeks prior to arrival. If the reservation is made within eight weeks of departure time, the entire cost of the safari must be paid. Cancellation must be in writing and will result in the loss of the deposit. If cancellation occurs more than 30 days before arrival, 50% of the cost of the safari will be charged. If cancellation occurs within 30 days of arrival, 100% of the cost of the safari will be charged.

How do I make a reservation?

Just use our enquiry form or our Contact page. We'll get back to you shortly to confirm availability.

How do I get there?

Our staff will meet you at the International Airport in Nairobi and help you with your transfer to our camp. If you arrive late in the day, we'll take you to your hotel in Nairobi. If you're coming in early enough, we'll make the transfer that same day. There are two ways to get to the camp: by air, or over the road.

Our recommendation is that you take our own air services. We have a one-hour non-stop flight directly from Wilson airport in Nairobi to the Campi ya Kanzi airstrip. We offer daily flights, 7 days a week, at the most convenient time for our guests. We'll handle the transfer from Nairobi International to Wilson. The total price of the transfer and flight is $200 per person one way, with a minimum of 2 passengers. The flight takes about an hour. Or you can fly either from Mombasa or Malindi, just one hour and 10 minutes flight, for $240 per person one way, with a minimum of 2 passengers. Maximum total luggage allowed is 15 kg (35 pounds) per passenger, in soft bag.

If you prefer to travel by road, we offer transport from Nairobi to the camp in a 4WD vehicle (maximum four passengers). This costs $500 one way per vehicle, plus $23 per person for the Tsavo National Park entrance fee. The trip is about 200 miles, and takes approximately six hours.

Is it safe?

Unlike the National Game Parks, you will be free to get out of our Land Rover and approach game on foot, accompanied by our guide and trackers. Of course if you wish, you can remain in the vehicle. In the vicinity of the camp, guests should take normal precautions. For any urgent communication, the camp is equipped with a satellite phone and VHF radio.

When is a good time to go?

Anytime is good. Temperatures are very comfortable year-round, with daytime highs around 80ºF/28ºC. Nighttime lows are around 58ºF/14ºC. The coolest month is July, with January and February being the warmest. During the Short Rains of November, there may be brief showers several times per night. During the Long Rains (April to mid-May), there will be nights with a lot of heavy showers. During and after the rains the ranch is particularly attractive. At this time, everything is green and the elephant population is at its peak.

How is Campi ya Kanzi different from a national park?

Also, Campi ya Kanzi is very exclusive: our camp hosts a maximum of twelve visitors in our seven guest houses, and it is the only camp for visitors within the 400 square miles of Kuku Group Ranch.

For example, the ranch is almost the size of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. However, the Masai Mara has beds for over 1,500 tourists, plus campsites for 400 more. At Campi ya Kanzi, you will see lions, but they will never be surrounded by 27 mini-vans full of tourists!

What will I see?

We have some very interesting gazelles and antelopes (quite uncommon elsewhere) such as the lesser kudu, fringe-eared oryx, klipspringer, gerenuk and mountain reedbuck. Although seldom seen, the endangered African wild dog and the bush pigs of the forest are residents of the ranch. Other common animals include dik dik, duiker, hyena, jackals, serval, caracal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, wart hog, eland, waterbuck, bushbuck, cheetah, porcupine, aardvark, mongoose, and many others. In addition, the ranch is home to a spectacular array of bird life.

Of course, the ranch is very large and animals roam from place to place every day. Thus, there can be no assurance that on any given day you will see a particular species, or even that during your stay you will see all the species mentioned above. However, the ranch is rich in wildlife, and the longer you stay, the more you will see.

Our best record in one day of safari has been to spot 19 different species of mammals, for a total of 1,873 animals. Our record for bird species sighted in one day is 73!

What should I bring?

Clothes

•  Long pants
•  Shorts
•  Long-sleeve shirts
•  Short-sleeve shirts
•  Hat
•  Trekking shoes
•  Casual shoes
•  Light jacket
•  Sweater

For Safari…

•  Sunscreen
•  Sunglasses
•  Insect repellent
•  Binoculars
•  Flashlight
•  Batteries

Camera equipment

•  For photos of wildlife, bring your longest telephoto lens (200mm or longer recommended)
•  A monopod or tripod can be useful
•  Film, with a variety of speeds: In mid-day, at close range, ASA/ISO 50 to 200 speed will be fine. However, at dusk on a cloudy day, handholding a long lens, you may wish to use 800 to 1600 speed film.
•  Lens cleaning equipment

Don't Forget…

•  Toiletries
•  Prescription glasses
•  Sewing kit
•  Passport
•  Vouchers
•  Money pouch
•  Credit cards (at this time, the camp only takes VISA)
•  Travelers checks
•  Health card

The nearest store is six hours away over dirt roads, so double-check what you're bringing!

How long should I stay?

Also, resting longer in one place instead of rushing from one place to another makes a holiday more relaxing. Though the recommended stay is six days, there is no minimum requirement. Even if you have less than four days, you can still have a very enjoyable holiday with us.

How can I learn more about the Maasai?

While the primary focus of this page is the Campi ya Kanzi safari camp, we find that many people come to this page for information about the Maasai. We are happy to help them, since a wider understanding of this fascinating tribe can only be beneficial. 

Are you near Shaba, where the survivor TV show was filmed?

Like Shaba, we are in Kenya, and like Shaba, our natural wildlife reserve is within the land of the Maasai. We share a similar climate and habitat, so we have many of the same animals. However, because our camp sits between three national parks, we have a greater variety and abundance of wildlife to see. Another advantage is that our camp is on a private ranch owned by the Maasai, and Shaba is a "Natural Reserve." That means you can walk about on foot at our camp, but at Shaba you will be confined to your mini-bus. Campi ya Kanzi is located about 125 miles southeast of Nairobi, and Shaba is about 200 miles northeast of Nairobi.

© Campi Ya Kanzi / Private Wilderness Limited / Choices Wild Limited, 2003. All Rights Reserved.