Elarai camp Amboseli With Mara Triangle Safaris

Elerai Camp – Your Private Kilimanjaro‑View Conservancy, Away from the Crowds

Hidden on the quieter southeastern side of the Amboseli ecosystem, Elerai Camp offers one of the most spectacular and exclusive safari experiences in Kenya. Set on a 5,000‑acre private conservation area at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, this mid‑sized, eco‑conscious camp is one of the closest camps to Africa’s highest peak. Perched on a slightly elevated position, the camp looks down onto Amboseli National Park in one direction and up to the snow‑capped peak of Kilimanjaro in the other, giving you what is arguably the best location of any camp in the region.

Unlike lodges clustered around the park’s eastern gate, Elerai occupies its own private concession, ensuring far fewer vehicles, exclusive night game drives and off‑road game walks, and a genuine sense of tranquillity away from the crowds. The camp is just a 40‑minute drive from Amboseli National Park, allowing you to explore the park’s famous swamps, open plains and large elephant herds, while enjoying the privilege of private game activities on the conservancy that are not available to lodges inside the park.

The camp was designed as a community project, built in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation and the local Maasai community, ensuring that your stay directly supports wildlife conservation and the Elerai Maasai people. The camp is unfenced, allowing wildlife to roam freely, but with 24‑hour security and Maasai askaris watching over the property, you feel completely safe and deeply immersed in the wild.

Prime Location – A Private Conservancy at the Foot of Kilimanjaro

Elerai Camp is located on its own 5,000‑acre private conservation area, approximately 12 kilometres southeast of Amboseli National Park. The camp is situated in the Elerai Conservancy, a critical wildlife corridor identified by the African Wildlife Foundation, linking the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve in Tanzania to Amboseli National Park.

The nearest airstrip is Amboseli Airstrip (ASV), approximately 35 km away (a 45‑minute transfer). For those driving, the camp is a 4.5‑hour scenic drive from Nairobi via the Emali or Namanga routes.

Accommodation – 14 Spacious Suites and Tents with Breathtaking Mountain Views

Elerai Camp features a total of 14 well‑appointed guest units: 5 large lodge‑style suites and 9 deluxe mountain‑facing tents.

• Cottage Rooms / Lodge‑Style Suites (5 units): These gorgeous suites feature gently sloping organic walls built with natural rock and acacia wood, with a carefully constructed thatched roof. Inside, you will find a king‑size bed, a seating area, a writing desk, and an en‑suite bathroom featuring a hand‑crafted bathtub and a shower. Large sliding doors open onto a private veranda overlooking the plains of Elerai Conservancy and Amboseli National Park.

• Deluxe Mountain‑Facing Tents (9 units): These charming canvas tents are raised on cedar‑wood platforms with makuti (thatch) roofing, complementing the surrounding environment. Each tent features a huge bed with top‑quality mattress and duvet, en‑suite bathroom with hot shower, flush toilet and basin, and a large veranda with a relaxing day bed.

All accommodations include solar‑powered lighting, mosquito netting, locally inspired décor, and private verandas with direct, sweeping views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Dining – Gourmet À La Carte Meals Overlooking a Wildlife Waterhole

The main area is cleverly built among giant boulders, creating a flow that winds sinuously from indoor to out and back again. Cross a small bridge above a fish pond surrounded by weavers’ nests to enter the split‑level lounge, bar and dining room.

• Restaurant: Dinners are served à la carte, prepared using locally grown vegetables and fruit. On clear nights, tables are set out on the terrace where you can enjoy a meal under the stars, with Kilimanjaro often visible from your dinner table. The restaurant overlooks a floodlit waterhole that attracts elephants, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife daily, allowing you to enjoy a “private safari” while you eat.

• Bars: A well‑stocked bar serves a selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails. The upstairs observation deck offers plenty of comfortable seating with unbeatable views.

• Special Dining Experiences: Packed picnics for full‑day game drives, sundowner cocktails in the bush, and special bush dinners can all be arranged on request.

Facilities & Amenities – Comfort, Wellness and Bush Experiences

• Rim‑Flow Swimming Pool: The pool blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, offering a refreshing way to cool off after a game drive, with views towards Kilimanjaro.

• Spa & Wellness: The camp offers massage treatments and wellness services (available at extra cost) for relaxation.

• Observation Deck: Upstairs in the main lounge area, an observation deck with comfortable seating provides panoramic views of the conservancy and Kilimanjaro.

• Gift Shop: A small boutique sells locally made crafts, Maasai beadwork, safari essentials and souvenirs.

• Complimentary Wi‑Fi: Available in the main bar and restaurant areas (not in guest tents).

• 24‑Hour Front Desk, Laundry & Free Parking: For guest convenience.

Wildlife & Activities – Day Drives, Night Drives, Bush Walks and Community Visits

Elerai Camp’s location on its own private conservancy unlocks a wide range of exclusive safari experiences not available inside the main national park.

Included Activities (in most packages):

• Game Drives: Morning, afternoon and full‑day game drives take place both in the private conservancy and inside Amboseli National Park. Expert guides lead you in search of elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, elands, gazelles, buffalos, and over 400 bird species.

• Night Game Drives: A thrilling privilege of staying on private land, allowing you to spot elusive nocturnal wildlife such as serval cats, genets, civets, aardwolves, and hyenas.

• Guided Bush Walks / Game Walks: The Elerai Conservancy is one of the best game walking areas in Kenya. An armed Maasai guide will lead you across the savannah, teaching you about animal tracks, medicinal plants, insects, and the local ecosystem.

• Sundowners: Enjoy a spectacular bush sundowner with Mount Kilimanjaro as your backdrop after an afternoon game drive or bush walk.

• Maasai Cultural Visit: Visit the local Elerai Maasai village (manyatta) to learn about their traditions, beadwork, and semi‑nomadic lifestyle. Guests can even walk with the cattle as they set out for the day’s grazing.

Extra‑Cost Activities: Hot air balloon safaris (can be arranged on request).

Pricing Information (Sample Rates – Confirm at Booking)

Note: All rates are per person per night sharing, full board, and are subject to change based on season and booking package. Park entry fees and conservancy fees may be extra.

2025–2026 Non‑Resident Rates (Full Board – All‑Inclusive Package):

• 1 Nov – 15 Dec 2025: $390 – $520 per double room

• 16 Dec 2025 – 31 Mar 2026: $463 – $499 per person sharing

• 1 Apr – 30 Apr 2026 & 31 May – 30 Jun 2026: $391 per person sharing

• 1 Jul – 31 Oct 2026: $499 per person sharing

• 1 Nov – 15 Dec 2026: $463 per person sharing

Typical Inclusions: Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner), tea/coffee and non‑bottled water during meals, morning/afternoon game drives, night game drives, bush walks, sundowners, and parking.

Exclusions: Amboseli National Park entry fees, alcoholic drinks, bottled beverages, laundry, gratuities, airstrip transfers, and hot air balloon safaris.

Child Policy: Children aged 2–12 years sharing with two adults pay 50% of the adult rate. Children sharing with another child pay 75% of the adult rate.

Sustainability & Community Impact

Elerai Camp is a community‑owned project that supports the Elerai Maasai community and wildlife conservation. The camp is eco‑friendly, using solar units to supply hot running water. The Elerai Camp Community and Wildlife Trust was established with the local Maasai council and community, ensuring that tourism income directly benefits local families, conservation efforts, and educational projects.

Why Choose Elerai Camp?

• Closest Camp to Kilimanjaro: One of the best locations in Amboseli for uninterrupted, sweeping views of Africa’s highest peak.

• Private 5,000‑Acre Conservancy: Exclusive access to night game drives, off‑road safaris, guided bush walks, and far fewer vehicles.

• Intimate & Boutique: Only 14 guest units (5 suites + 9 deluxe tents), ensuring a highly personal and uncrowded experience.

• Luxurious Suites & Deluxe Tents: Spacious accommodations with en‑suite bathrooms, hand‑crafted bathtubs (suites), day beds (tents), and private Kilimanjaro‑view verandas.

• Eco‑Friendly & Community‑Owned: Solar‑heated water; a community project supporting the Elerai Maasai and African Wildlife Foundation.

• Unforgettable Safari Activities: Day/night game drives, guided bush walks, sundowners, and Maasai cultural visits.

• Excellent Mid‑Range Value: Competitive rates for a private conservancy experience (from $391 per person sharing, all‑inclusive).