Kimana Sanctuary

Kimana Sanctuary is a 5,700-acre community-owned wildlife reserve located in southern Kenya, offering breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. It forms a vital wildlife corridor linking Amboseli National Park with the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West ecosystems, allowing elephants and other animals to migrate freely across their ancestral range.

Established with a strong emphasis on conservation and community empowerment, Kimana blends biodiversity protection with sustainable tourism, ensuring that both wildlife and local Maasai families benefit.

The sanctuary is home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, cheetahs, and an astonishing variety of birdlife. With its fever tree forests, red-dusted plains, savannah grasslands, and seasonal marshes, Kimana offers diverse habitats teeming with life, making it a hidden gem for eco-tourists and nature lovers.

How to Get There

Kimana Sanctuary is located near the town of Intepsei in Kajiado County, Kenya.

From Nairobi (by road):

✓ Distance: 200 km
✓ Along the route, travelers may encounter frequent elephant crossings and other wildlife.
✓ Travel Time: Approximately 4–5 hours by road via the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway (A109) to Emali, then turning toward Amboseli and continuing past the park entrance.

By Train (SGR):

✓ From Emali, the drive to Kimana takes about 1 hour.
✓ Take the Nairobi–Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Emali Station.

By Air:

✓ Visitors can fly to Kimana Airfield, with Amboseli National Park and the Chyulu Hills reachable in about 1.5 hours by road.

History

Kimana Sanctuary was established in 1996 as Kenya’s first community-owned wildlife sanctuary. Created as an eco-project by local Maasai families, it is co-managed with conservation partners including the Big Life Foundation and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Lease fees paid for the land provide vital income for over 800 Maasai landowners, ensuring that conservation directly supports community livelihoods.

The sanctuary plays a crucial role in preserving one of the last remaining wildlife corridors in southern Kenya, safeguarding the passage of elephants and other species between major parks. Rangers employed by the community help protect wildlife and reduce human–animal conflict in a region where agriculture and settlement have expanded.

Today, Kimana stands as a model of community-led conservation, where cultural heritage, tourism, and wildlife protection come together to secure the future of both people and nature.

Important Information

Access to Kimana Sanctuary is strictly limited. Only guests staying at Angama Amboseli Lodge are permitted to enjoy game drives within the sanctuary. No outside safari vehicles are allowed inside the reserve.

A Conservancy Levy of USD 60 per person, is charged. This fee directly supports community conservation efforts and the protection of Kimana’s critical wildlife corridor.

Wildlife Viewing Experiences

✓ Morning & Afternoon Game Drives: Explore Kimana’s diverse habitats from red-dusted plains to fever tree forests on guided 2 to 3-hour drives. Spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelope, and warthogs in large numbers, with chances of seeing cheetah, hyena, jackal, and even lion.

✓ Sunset Safari: A late afternoon drive is highly recommended for breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro glowing in orange and pink skies as elephants and plains game graze in the fading light.

✓ Night Wildlife Encounters: After dusk, listen to the calls of hyenas and watch bushbabies leaping through the trees around camp, while nocturnal predators like jackals and small cats roam nearby.

Nature-Based Guided Walks

✓ Walking Safaris: Join expert guides on foot within safe parts of the sanctuary. Learn to track wildlife, explore fever tree forests, and experience the rich biodiversity of birds, insects, and small mammals up close.

Immersive Conservation & Community Experiences

✓ Eco-Project Insights: Learn how Kimana, Kenya’s first community-owned wildlife sanctuary (est. 1996), is jointly managed by local Maasai families, Big Life Foundation, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Gain insights into how rangers mitigate human–wildlife conflict and protect this critical elephant corridor.

✓ Tusker Encounters: Kimana is famous for its “big tusker” elephants. Guests may have the rare chance to observe legendary giants like the late Tim, once one of Africa’s largest tuskers, under ranger protection.

Kimana Sanctuary is a critical wildlife corridor linking Amboseli National Park, Chyulu Hills, and Tsavo West. Established in 1996 as Kenya’s first community-owned wildlife sanctuary, it spans 5,700 acres of fever tree forests, savannah plains, red-dusted landscapes, and marshlands. This unique habitat provides year-round water sources and attracts an astonishing diversity of wildlife, from elephants to elusive predators, along with over 400 species of birds.

Wildlife at Kimana Sanctuary

Large Mammals

✓ Zebra
✓ Giraffe
✓ Buffalo
✓ Antelope
✓ Warthog
✓ Wildebeest
✓ Elephant (including some of Africa’s biggest tuskers)

Big Cats & Predators

✓ Hyena
✓ Cheetah
✓ Black-backed Jackal
✓ Lion (occasionally spotted)

Other Mammals

✓ Baboons
✓ Bushbabies
✓ Bat-eared Fox
✓ Vervet Monkeys
✓ Small Cats (unidentified, seen raiding campsites)

Birdlife

✓ Large populations of water birds after the rains
✓ 400+ species of birds recorded in and around the sanctuary

Angama Amboseli Lodge is an intimate luxury safari lodge set within the heart of the 5,700-acre Kimana Sanctuary, the only lodge inside this exclusive conservancy. With just ten tented suites, the lodge blends seclusion, modern comfort, and immersive wilderness experiences, all framed by the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Nestled among yellow fever acacia trees, the suites are designed with inspiration drawn from elephants’ rounded shapes, natural textures, and earthy tones. At the same time, floor-to-ceiling screened doors ensure uninterrupted views of Kilimanjaro, even from the bed or vanity.

Accommodation options include Family Suites, Guest Suites with super king or twin beds, and a fully accessible Wheelchair-enabled Suite. Each unit features private verandahs with rocking chairs and binoculars, indoor and outdoor showers, personal drinks armoires, writing desks with ample charging ports, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The lodge’s main guest areas include a spacious open-plan lounge, bar, and dining space overlooking the sanctuary, as well as a circular rim-flow swimming pool where elephants often drink below.

The Studios Complex houses a safari shop, art gallery, weaving studio, games room, and a professional photographic studio offering rentals, tutorials, and printing. Guests can also enjoy the raised Mnara Viewing Tower for 360° views across Kimana and Kilimanjaro.

Dining is flexible and personalized, with options for bush picnics, private in-room meals, or evening gatherings around the baraza firepit.

Exclusive experiences include in-suite massages with Africology oils, walking safaris guided by expert naturalists, and night drives available only to Angama guests. Hot-air balloon safaris, Amboseli excursions, and professional photography support further enhance the safari experience.

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