Overview

Kipalo Hills is situated in the 12,000 acre Mbulia Conservancy that was initiated with the local community; rather than a lodge which tries to extend a hand to the local people, Kipalo was built with the people and for the local community to benefit from protecting the resident wildlife, especially of elephant. Perched on the side of the Mbulia Hills, Kipalo Hills enjoys fantastic views looking out across the conservancy towards Ngulia and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. 

The selous-styled safari tents, designed to intimately integrate with their natural surroundings, are situated in different locations around the Mbulia Hill. All the tents, as well as the communal areas of the lodge itself, are positioned to maximise the stunning views of Tsavo that stretch out towards the Ngulia Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

Kipalo Hills is comprised of eight comfortable en-suite tented rooms, with mixed twin and double bed arrangement

Of the eight rooms there is one family room which can accommodate up to 5 people with younger children

All the rooms have electricity powered by a solar-powered inverter system, hot and cold plumbed water, a loo and traditional safari-styled bucket showers.

A charging station is available in the main mess area for people who wish to power their personal items. 

Bush walks

Guided by local Taita guides who know the rocky kopjes and hidden valleys of Mbulia like the back of their hand, guests have the opportunity to explore our own 11,400 acres of conservation area. Tsavo West is a different kind of wilderness compared to the rest of Kenya - here it is all about getting out of your vehicle and exploring the bush up close and personal, tracking animals and spotting Mbulia's 400 species of bird-life whilst on foot. Kipalo has some exceptionally colourful guides which make the experience all the more exciting! Local bushmen and ex-poachers turned informers have great stories to tell...

Most of our walks finish up on top of the hill with fantastic vistas which stretch out across Tsavo to the Ngulia Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. An early morning walk can finish with a bush breakfast, or if in the late afternoon, a fantastic sundowner as the sun sets below the plains, illuminating the hills around you.

Game Drives

Day and night game drives in the Kipalo Hills safari vehicle can be enjoyed within the 11,400 acre conservancy - it is fun to head out at night and see the bush some to life under the spotlight! Although wildlife is not as proliferate as other parks in Kenya, there is still plenty to see and the conservancy is becoming more and more of a safe-haven for the wildlife in this area. Elephants, Lesser Kudu, Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Girraffe, Zebra, Gerenuks and Caracal can all be spotted!

Alternatively head out for the day with a picnic to either East or West Tsavo National Park which are right next door and have even more wildlife and different landscapes to offer.

Helicopter Safaris

Tsavo is one of those magical places to explore from the air. We enjoy a close partnership with Heliprops who know the Tsavo area in immense detail. There is nothing more exhilarating that taking off from the lodge and landing on the very tip of a rocky kopje for a coffee, before setting off again over Tsavo West towards Lake Jipe and Lake Chala, green jewels in the midst of an arid landscape, flying over ancient lava flows such as the Yatta Plateau (the longest lava flow in the world) and rivers such as the Galana and Tiva which cut through the land like plump snakes - the lifelines of Tsavo. Tsavo by helicopter is a great addition to any safari circuit.

Fly Camping

Kipalo Hills has a 6-tent fly camp which can be set up on the banks of the Galana River in Tsavo East - fully equipped and staffed to enable guests to enjoy a completely different part of Tsavo. Enjoy al fresco meals under the shade of the doum palms, before setting out on game drives looking for the large herds of elephant which roam the park. The fly camp consists of open-net tents to keep the insects at bay, but leaves the stunning African night sky open to appreciate the millions of stars. A simple mess area and make-shift bathroom with safari bucket showers completes the traditional, pure safari experience of fly-camping for those enthusiastic adventurers.