Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Amboseli Sopa Lodge is a family-friendly retreat with a rustic charm, set on 200 acres of private land at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Located just 20 km from Amboseli National Park (Kimana Gate), the lodge blends traditional design with warm hospitality and makes an ideal base for exploring Amboseli’s famed landscapes and wildlife.

It was here, in the 1930s, that Ernest Hemingway found inspiration for his stories, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Today, Amboseli remains rich in wildlife, from elephants and lions to prolific birdlife, while the lodge gardens themselves host monkeys, mongooses, gazelles, and even the occasional leopard.

Location & Accessibility

Location: Foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, edge of Amboseli National Park, 250 km from Nairobi

By Road:

✓ 3.5 to 4-hour drive from Nairobi
✓ Last 4 km on all-weather murram road
✓ 20 km from Amboseli National Park, Kimana Gate

By Air:

✓ 1-hour transfer from airstrip to lodge
✓ 40-minute flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Amboseli Airstrip

Accommodation

Amboseli Sopa Lodge offers 83 rustic cottages, decorated with Maasai themes, each with a private veranda set amidst mature gardens.

Room Types:

✓ 22 rooms with one queen-size bed
✓ 1 Presidential Suite with dining room, kitchenette, lounge, and expansive veranda
✓ 21 rooms with one king-size bed (2 wheelchair accessible, one honeymoon suite)
✓ 40 rooms with two queen-size beds (24 convertible to triples, six interconnecting for families)

Total: 83 rooms, including Honeymoon Suite, interconnecting family rooms, and accessible rooms

Amenities:

✓ Hairdryers
✓ Mosquito nets
✓ Daily housekeeping
✓ Telephone (at reception)
✓ Verandas with garden views
✓ Laundry & turndown service

Dining & Cuisine

Venues:

Kibo Restaurant – round, thatched design, mountain views, wildlife carvings

Mawenzi Terrace – outdoor dining shaded by acacia trees, buffet & barbecue setup

Bars:

✓ Mawenzi Bar (Maasai artifacts, fireplace centerpiece)
✓ Hemingway’s Bar (360° panoramic views, evening wildlife sightings)
✓ Pool Bar (rodavel-style, poolside drinks & snacks)

Culinary Highlights:

✓ Children’s menu available
✓ Special diets accommodated
✓ Gala dinners & private barbecues
✓ Sundowners with snacks, canapés, or open bar
✓ Bush breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (with champagne options)

Facilities & Services

✓ Bars & lounges
✓ 24-hour electricity
✓ Babysitting services
✓ WiFi in public areas
✓ Gift shop & boutique
✓ Outdoor dining terrace
✓ Sauna & spa treatments
✓ Traditional Maasai dances
✓ Weddings & gala event setups
✓ Swimming pool & children’s pool
✓ Handicraft market (Maasai beadwork, carvings)
✓ Conference facilities (2 rooms, largest seats 110)

Activities & Experiences

On-Site & Nearby Activities:

✓ Game drives in Amboseli National Park
✓ Birdwatching (over 600 species recorded)
✓ Nature walks around the lodge
✓ Board games & cultural evenings
✓ Swimming & relaxation by the pool
✓ Maasai cultural market & performances

Incentive & Group Options:

✓ Gala dinners
✓ Champagne bush breakfasts
✓ Bush BBQ dinners & sundowners
✓ Maasai dance & storytelling evenings

Wildlife Highlights:

✓ Big Five sightings
✓ Rich Maasai culture
✓ Large elephant herds
✓ Mount Kilimanjaro views
✓ Observation Hill (panoramic park views & swamps)
✓ Species include leopard, cheetah, wild dog, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, lion, crocodile, hyrax, mongoose, kudu, dik-dik, nocturnal porcupine, and plains game

Inclusions

✓ All meals (buffet & à la carte)
✓ Scheduled cultural performances
✓ Accommodation in private cottages
✓ Daily housekeeping & laundry services
✓ Access to lodge gardens, pool, and public facilities
✓ Bush breakfast or sundowner setups (when pre-booked)

Exclusions

✓ Gratuities and tips
✓ Spa & wellness treatments
✓ Scenic flights or balloon safaris
✓ Optional bush meals not pre-booked
✓ Amboseli National Park entrance fees
✓ Airport transfers outside Amboseli Airstrip
✓ Premium wines, champagne, and imported spirits
✓ Personal expenses (souvenirs, boutique purchases)

Amboseli Sopa Lodge Non-Resident Accommodation Rates Per Night Includes;

Full Board Accommodation

Notes

* Check-In 12 Hours
* Check-Out 1000 Hours
* Picnic Lunch 20 US Dollars
* Amboseli National Park | Click Here
* Extra Lunch or Dinner 25 US Dollars
* KIli Suite Supplement per room: 150 US Dollars 
* Reduction for Half Board: 5 US Dollars per person per day
* Easter Supplement: 40 US Dollars Per Person Per Day, will apply on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st of April 2025
* Christmas supplement of 50 US Dollars per person will apply to all bookings on the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st of December and on the 1st of January

Child policy

* Children under 3 years of age (sharing with adult/s) are free of charge
* Children are welcome. Babysitters and special meals are available on request
* Children 4-12 years sharing their room: 75% of the twin/double room rate
* Children 4-12 years sharing with 1 or 2 adults: 50% of the per-person adult twin rate

Accommodation Rates Exclude:

* Flights
* Activities
* Park Fees
* Game drive
* Alcoholic drinks
* Gratuities/ Tips
* Domestic Flights
* Excursions from the lodge
* Medical/ Travel insurance
* Items of a personal nature
* Transfer to and from the lodge
* Medical evacuation and flying doctor insurance

Notes

* Child refers to persons from three years but below 11 years
* Resident refers to persons of other nationalities residing in Kenya with valid documentation from the Kenyan government
* Citizen – A native or inhabitant of East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan) with valid identification documents or a passport
* Daily – Fee paid for a single entry to a national park, national reserve, or sanctuary, and which shall be valid for no longer than twenty-four hours

Amboseli Sopa Lodge has 83 guestrooms comprising 71 double rooms, nine single rooms, one presidential suite, one honeymoon suite, and two rooms for physically challenged guests. Each guestroom is brightly decorated with Maasai-themed murals and is tastefully fitted with air conditioning, sofas, a work desk, a verandah, and an en-suite bathroom.

The presidential suite has two bedrooms, a vast lounge area, a private dining room, an attached kitchenette, and a veranda that is simply vast.

The onsite restaurant serves a variety of local and international cuisine. The restaurant has a small but attractive recessed bar and an outdoor terrace where guests can dine and enjoy the views of Kilimanjaro.

The thatched-roof restaurant is elegantly decorated with multicolored marble shards, suspended chandeliers, and clay tiles with evenly spaced carved wooden panels. The central fireplace is decorated with wood carvings.

There are 3 bars: Mawenzi bar, Hemingway’s bar, and the pool bar. The Mawenzi bar is divided into two by a massive central fireplace: the inner section and the outer section. The pool bar is set in a brightly colored, rondavel-style building adjacent to the pool.

Hemingway’s Bar is perched on top of massive boulders at the highest point of the property; it offers uninterrupted 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes and is the perfect place for an evening sundowner.

The lodge has conference facilities that provide an ideal venue for corporate events. The lodge also features a sauna and swimming pool. The well-manicured lawn is suitable for weddings. 

Amboseli Sopa Lodge activities include game drives, nature walks, bird watching, bush meals, sundowners, village visits, Masai dancing, bush and outdoor dining, card & board games, etc.

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com