Kipalo Hills Lodge Mbulia Conservancy Tsavo West

Kipalo Hills Lodge is a secluded safari retreat perched on the rugged flanks of the Mbulia Hills, overlooking the 12,000-acre Mbulia Conservancy. Situated just outside Tsavo West National Park, the lodge offers commanding views across the surrounding plains, with the Ngulia Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the distance.

Intimate, conservation-driven, and community-owned, Kipalo Hills delivers a unique safari experience focused on environmental preservation, cultural immersion, and wilderness exploration. With just eight tented suites, guests can expect privacy, attentive service, and the unfiltered beauty of Kenya’s wild south.

Location & Accessibility

Kipalo Hills is located within the Mbulia Conservancy, in Taita-Taveta County, at the northwestern boundary of Tsavo West National Park. It is part of a key migratory corridor linking Tsavo with Tanzania’s Mkomazi Reserve.

How to Get There

By Road:

✓ From Nairobi: Approximately 6.5 to 7 hours via Mtito Andei or Maktau
✓ From Mombasa: Around 5 hours via the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway and Voi
✓ The last 15 km is off-road and requires a 4WD vehicle, especially during the rainy season

By Air:

✓ The lodge offers pick-up and drop-off with a booking
✓ Accessible via Kipalo Airstrip (private charter), Maktau, or Taita Hills Airstrip

By Rail:

✓ Nearest SGR(Standard Gauge Railway) Station: Mtito Andei
✓ Transfer time: Around 1 hour; pre-arranged transfers can be scheduled through the lodge

Accommodation

Kipalo Hills features eight open-fronted tented suites built on elevated platforms to maximize views and the breeze. The tents are thoughtfully spaced along the ridge for seclusion and immersion in nature.

Tent Categories:

7 Standard Tented Suites

✓ King-size or twin beds
✓ Mosquito nets and bedside tables
✓ En-suite eco-bathrooms with flush toilets and hot bucket showers
✓ Private verandas with canvas safari chairs and panoramic sunrise views

The Rock Suite

✓ Includes all the standard features
✓ Popular for honeymooners and special celebrations
✓ Offers a private plunge pool, extra lounge space, and enhanced privacy
✓ The suite is constructed with a blend of canvas, local stone, and sustainably harvested timber
✓ For more information on the Kipalo Hills Lodge Rock Suite Tsavo West National Park | Click Here

The Honeymoon Private Villa

✓ On-call medical assistance
✓ King-size bed with mosquito netting
✓ Daily housekeeping and turndown service
✓ Solar-powered lighting and charging station
✓ Private plunge pool built into the natural rock
✓ Spacious furnished deck with uninterrupted views
✓ Laundry service (complimentary for extended stays)
✓ Private indoor living room and dedicated dining space
✓ Multiple bedrooms (ideal for couples or small families)
✓ Rooftop terrace with lounge area and romantic star bed
✓ Exclusive-use privacy (no shared spaces with other guests)
✓ En-suite bathrooms with both indoor and outdoor showers
✓ Eco-conscious design using canvas, stone, and sustainably sourced wood
✓ Double basins and eco-friendly toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion)
✓ For more information on the Kipalo Hills Lodge Tsavo West Honeymoon Private Villa | Click Here

Dining & Cuisine

Meals at Kipalo Hills are prepared fresh using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Dining typically takes place in the open-sided banda or outdoors under the stars.

Dining Experience:

✓ Breakfast: Includes bush breakfasts, fresh fruit, eggs, cereals, pastries, and local honey
✓ Lunch: Three-course or buffet-style meals, often served under acacia trees
✓ Dinner: Candle-lit, gourmet-style with locally inspired dishes and international touches
✓ Bush Meals & Sundowners: Available on request at scenic locations around the conservancy

Beverage options include house wines, local and international beers, spirits, cocktails, juices, and herbal teas. Tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

Activities & Experiences

Kipalo Hills offers a diverse array of safari and cultural experiences that emphasize intimacy, education, and conservation. All activities are led by experienced local guides and trackers.

Activities include:

✓ Stargazing – Ideal due to minimal light pollution
✓ Sundowners – Served on elevated rocky lookouts with uninterrupted views
✓ Guided Bush Walks with insights into flora, insects, tracks, and local ecology
✓ Night Drives to observe nocturnal species like civets, bush babies, and porcupines
✓ Birdwatching – Over 300 bird species recorded, including hornbills, eagles, and sunbirds
✓ Morning and Evening Game Drives within Mbulia Conservancy (Tsavo West access can be arranged)
✓ Cultural Visits – Engage with Taita communities through music, dance, storytelling, and conservation talks

Each experience is tailored to guests’ interests and conducted in small or private groups for a more personal encounter with nature.

Facilities & Lodge Amenities

✓ On-call medical assistance available
✓ Private guiding is available upon request
✓ Curio corner featuring local crafts and beadwork
✓ Open-air lounge and fireplace for evening relaxation
✓ Infinity-edge pool with panoramic views of the valley
✓ Limited Wi-Fi access (available in common areas only)
✓ Laundry services (complimentary for multi-night stays)
✓ Solar-powered charging station for phones and cameras

Wildlife & What to Expect

While smaller and more private than national parks, the Mbulia Conservancy is vital for wildlife connectivity and offers a rich and often exclusive safari experience.

Wildlife regularly seen:

✓ Mongoose, civets, bush babies
✓ Giraffes, zebras, warthogs, buffalo
✓ Lesser kudu, dik-dik, eland, hyena
✓ Elephants (commonly around camp)
✓ Leopards (frequently sighted on rocky terrain)
✓ Rare sightings: African wild dogs and cheetahs

The conservancy’s low visitor density means uninterrupted game viewing, and your guide is often tracking just for your party.

Family & Group Friendly

✓ Flexible activity scheduling for children and teens
✓ Best suited for families with children aged 6 years and older
✓ Exclusive-use bookings available for families, friends, or small groups
✓ Cultural visits and guided walks are ideal for educational family travel
✓ Popular among photographers, couples, conservation enthusiasts, and private retreats

What’s Included

✓ Conservancy fees
✓ Laundry (multi-night stays)
✓ Sundowners and bush activities
✓ Cultural interaction opportunities
✓ All meals and purified drinking water
✓ Full board accommodation in a tented suite
✓ Game drives and guided walks in Mbulia Conservancy

Not Included

✓ Spa or massage services
✓ Personal items and gratuities
✓ Private or extended game drives
✓ Alcoholic and premium non-alcoholic drinks
✓ Entry fees to Tsavo West National Park (if planning to visit)
✓ SGR(Standard Gauge Railway) and airstrip transfers can be arranged

Why Choose Kipalo Hills Lodge?

✓ Remote and secluded – far from the crowded tourist routes
✓ Combination of authentic safari adventure and meaningful impact
✓ Located within a key wildlife corridor between Tsavo West and Mkomazi (Tanzania)
✓ Offers highly personalized service, perfect for slow travelers, honeymooners, and conservation-oriented guests
✓ Owned and co-managed by local communities, every visit supports anti-poaching and eco-education programs

Kipalo Hills Lodge Mbulia Conservancy Tsavo West Non-Residents Accommodation Rates Per Night Includes;

Full board accommodation, bush meals + Bottled water, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices, house wines, beer, non-luxury spirits + Game drives within the conservancy + Night game drives + Guided safari walks + Laundry service + Airstrip transfers from Manyani and Ikanga + Transfer to/from Voi train station

Notes

* Check out time : 10am
* Child policy: up to 2 years – Free
* Late check-out can be arranged but has to be prearranged
* Christmas supplement – 70 US Dollars per person per night. Minimum 3 nights’ stay – Valid (25th & 31st Dec 2025)
* Late departure can be arranged but must be prebooked and surcharge may apply for extra lunch ( 30 US Dollars  per person), activities and other services
* Check-out is at 10.00 am. Late Departure surcharge: Late departure can be arranged but must be pre-booked and a surcharge may apply for extra lunch 30 US Dollars per person), activities, and other services

 Non-Residents Accommodation Exclude:

* Conservancy fees
* Tsavo National Park fees
* Luxury spirits, champagne
* Airstrip transfers from Kilaguni (200 US Dollars per vehicle per way)
* Christmas supplement – 70 US Dollars per person per night. Minimum 3 nights’ stay – Valid (25th & 31st Dec 2025)

Kipalo Hills Lodge is a comfortable camp with delicious, fresh innovative cuisine and 8 luxurious double tents built to take the best advantage of the beautiful expansive views across the plains. Each of the eight luxury double mobile tents has an en-suite flushing loo and a traditional safari shower.

The tents are either twin or double with room for an extra bed. The tents are located far apart and all enjoy wonderful views of the spectacular scenery and impenetrable wilderness across the Mbulia Conservancy plains that stretch as far as the eye can see! A luxury suite is also available.

The onsite restaurant serves locally prepared foods and guests can dine in the dining area or in outdoors. The bar is well-stocked and serves alcoholic and soft drinks. Guests can relax in the lounge area. The lodge has an outdoor swimming pool with sunbeds and overlooks a waterhole which the resident wildlife visits from time to time.

The facilities incorporate the natural look of the rock as much as possible. Kipalo Hills was built with the people and for the local community to benefit from protecting the resident wildlife, especially elephants. The waterhole below the camp attracts a range of wildlife including elephants, buffalo, and leopards which can be spotted as they descend on the area for an early morning drink. The Tsavo area is also a bird haven and every room comes with a complete bird list. 

Kipalo Hills Lodge Mbulia Conservancy Tsavo West activities include; day and night game drives, bird watching (400 species of birds), bush walks, village visits, bush meals, and sundowners, animal tracking with local expert guides, and a trip into Tsavo West with a picnic to spot even more game is a great day out.

Guest also gets an opportunity to fly-camping down on the Galana and Tsavo Rivers, an exciting opportunity to sleep out under the stars.

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