The road to Kilalinda is perfect - mile upon arid mile of cracked red earth, sun-scorched scrub, commiphora thorns the size of knitting needles. But when you arrive, Nature rolls out her red carpet - and the desert disappears.

Nothing will prepare you for that first sight of Kilalinda. As you descent the path to the camp, the barren wilderness suddenly gives way to a most unexpected paradise. A waiter emerges from a cool, tiled reception with that cold drink you have been dying for. You take it and walk into the lounge, sink into a soft sofa, and allow yourself to be transported to a different world - a world of cool breezes and lush lawns, of giant red Canna lilies and tiny sparkling sunbirds, of perfect, unblemished peace.

Below you, the green grass dips down to the turquoise splash of a crystal swimming pool; beyond that, a soothing breeze blows off the gently rolling river, dispersing all memories of the road, welcoming you on an entirely different journey - a journey of the soul.

Kilalinda is a place of constant little surprises, of subtle, stirring revelations. Located on the edge of Tsavo East, in the welcoming shadow of the Yatta Plateau, the camp sits on a sandy promotory overlooking the Athi River - a little drop of luxury in the harsh wilds of Tsavo. This is hippo and crocodile country, but in this dry land it's an oasis for virtually every species in Tsavo, and herds of delicate impala, shy bushbuck and raucous baboons often come down to join you at the water's edge.

It's very easy to forget you're in such a wild place. As a quiet refuge between Kenya's two largest cities, Kilalinda is designed to take its guests as far from urban life as possible - to give them a 'home from home' in the middle of the bush. Each guest room is uniquely designed and immaculately decorated , with a combination of sisal sacking walls, twisted olive pillars and cool clay tiled floors, complemented by cushion-laden sofas and homespun fabrics - all crafted in complete kindness to the environment.

Accommodation consists of 6 cottages in total. Each cottage has its’ own individual character each with its own bathroom tiled with locally hand-made tiles, shingle roofs, private veranda, and built so as to make maximum use of the cool breeze that blows up and down the river during the different seasons. The cottages are located along the river giving each room its own view and sandy beach. Privacy is a must. One of the cottages is much larger with its own Jacuzzi / plunge pool. All the cottages can accommodate extra beds. The main house consists of a large open circular building that includes a dining room with a large table that sits 16 guests and a lounge cum bar area which overlooks both the river and the pool.

Game drives in open  4 wheel drive vehicles
- Night game drives
- National Park excursions
- Fishing
- River trips in inflatable rafts
- Escorted game walks
- Bird watching
- Fly camps
- Star Baths

The aim at Kilalinda is to re-introduce game to an area that has been greatly depleted due to poaching in the 70/80s and also to educate the local community in conservation and how it could actually become profitable for them. A conservation fee is charged per person per day and is managed by the Kilalinda Trust. The conservation fee will be used to improve education, build a Rhino sanctuary and for the re-introduction of wildlife species to the area.

Kilalinda has been built with all local materials without felling any trees or ruining the natural environment. The furniture has also all been made locally. All the locals who helped build the lodge have been trained in different departments and now help run the lodge. Food scraps are made into compost for use in the organically grown vegetable garden.

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The attention to luxurious detail continues in the catering, in which Kilalinda is in a class of its own. Lunch may be served on the poolside lawn or on a sandy "patio" overlooking the river - with homemade pizzas and pastas, bountiful salads and fresh baked breads, all washed down with the finest wines.

Dinner in the grand dinning room will be a sumptuous candle-lit feast prepared by our experienced chef. But while the accent is on five-star cuisine and service, the setting is always homely and unpretentious, with every dish and dressing prepared in our own kitchens and all the herbs and vegetables grown in our gardens.

The emphasis at Kilalinda is always on relaxation. Our highly trained staff are here to take care of your every wish. but if you want something more than relaxing by the pool with a good book, our expert guides are on hand for game walks or drives, where all the Big Five await. our rugged open top Land rovers have been specially designed to tackle Tsavo's tough terrain in absolute comfort.

And if you are really energetic, you may take up the managers' personal favourite - a sunrise breakfast or romantic sundowner on a panoramic platform nestled high in the branches of a giant baobab tree. Here, you'll experience the unique magic of a new African day - the sun creeping over the land, lighting up the Chyulu hills and the mystical snow-dome of Kilimanjaro, painting the grey-green bush a thousand shades of pink and gold, and waking the dawn chorus - the purring call of the doves, the rhythmic squawk of the go-away birds, the vast ranging duets of the slate-coloured boubous. If you're lucky, you may see the long dipping necks of a passing herd of giraffe, or the head of an elephant, its grey disguise unmasked by the red Tsavo earth.

As the sun brings a new day to the wilderness of Tsavo, Kilalinda's guests will be waking to another day in paradise. For nowhere else in Kenya offers such a combination of natural tranquility and personal indulgence. And few places in the world offer soul-stirring peace.

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