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A magnificent light installation by architect Jan Allan welcomes guests to Angama Amboseli. The cluster chandelier consists of 40 globes fitted with a mix of cool, warm and daylight bulbs to create a festive mood. The faux-elephant hide pouf, purposely placed off-centre on a concrete base, was designed by Prabh Singh of Dumont Kenya. -
The roof structure over the entrance to the five “studios” – an art gallery, a photographic studio, a makers’ studio, a games room and a safari shop – creates shadow art throughout the day -
Guests can help themselves to a drink of their choice at the communal bar. -
Weavers from a neighbouring community in the makers’ studio. -
The most popular table in the communal dining area is reminiscent of classic 1960s diners. The Murano glass globe light was sourced at Odds N Ends in Nairobi. -
The lodge was designed to be part of the forest of fever trees, and great care was taken to protect their delicate roots during construction. Large iron “sun crowns” aim to prevent the trees from falling over. The elevated rimflow pool is surrounded by drinking troughs for visiting elephants. -
The colour of the semicircular sofa – a chartreuse made popular in the 1960s and ’70s – reflects the hues of the bark of the fever trees. Designed and manufactured by Prabh Singh, the sofa is a focal point in the communal guest area. On the back wall is a photograph of Craig, the most famous living “super tusker” in Kenya, set in a lightbox. -
The Maasai mid-performance around the firepit designed by Pritpal Chana and manufactured by Pipeman. -
Angama’s ethos is to delight guests with outdoor dining in unusual locations – this is made possible with a modular, mobile table and seating system designed by Naeem Biviji and Bethan Rayner of Studio Propolis, and manufactured by Pipeman. -
One of the guest suites, with an extensive deck that’s perfect for game spotting and private sundowners with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro. -
The exterior texture of the swimming pool shower rooms is the result of combining concrete with elephant dung. -
The generous pool shower interior. -
From the rear, the guest suites’ positioning against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro is clear. -
A spacious suite bathroom features a Bellevie bench in Cotton White from Fermob, a double shower with Antonio Lupi’s Apollo showerheads (with lighting), and a mirror with side flaps that resemble elephant ears offering reflections of Mount Kilimanjaro. -
Each bedroom has an armoire fitted with a coffee station and minibar, designed and manufactured by Prabh Singh, and rugs woven by local artisans at the makers’ studio. -
Fermob’s rocking chairs and Bebop tables stand ready to take guests on a private “armchair safari”.
WORDS Lynette Botha PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes PHOTOS Dook
Amid the magnificent Kenyan wilderness lies a luxurious lodge that’s both architecturally interesting and deeply relaxing – a space where guests can connect with nature, and themselves.
How did Angama Amboseli come about? Well… What do lodge owners do during a pandemic lockdown? Go shopping, of course – and not for the usual ‘add to cart’ purchase, but for something much more exciting: a new luxury lodge!” says Nicky Fitzgerald, co-owner of Angama. “We thought, why only have one [Angama Mara], when two would be just as great – and our guests could then extend their time with us on safari in Kenya?” Located in the Kimana Sanctuary, and basking in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, Angama
Amboseli is an intimate lodge surrounded by a forest of towering fever trees, and offers guests the opportunity to take part in a truly extraordinary experience – seeing some of the last remaining “super tuskers” roaming freely in the wild. These elephants with grand tusks that skim the ground as they walk are a rare sight, and – along with the other giant of this landscape, Mount Kilimanjaro – they are the inspiration for much of Angama Amboseli’s design.
Architect Jan Allan and interior designers Annemarie Meintjes and Alison Mitchell crafted Angama Amboseli with a deep reverence for its natural surroundings. There are plenty of bold, rounded edges and curves woven throughout, with the rough textures of the exterior contrasting the serene, calming interiors that pay homage to the monochromatic and industrial styles of the 1960s and ’70s – an era when Amboseli National Park first gained prominence. Angama’s signature touches – Fermob rocking chairs, playful details, and a balance of minimalism and opulence – bring a sense of familiarity to guests, making the lodge both a luxurious retreat and a natural extension of its environment.
Each of the 10 spacious guest suites features floor-to-ceiling screened doors, ensuring that the tallest freestanding mountain in the world serves as a constant, awe-inspiring backdrop that’s visible from every corner. The communal guest area offers seamless indoor-outdoor dining, complemented by an expansive baraza and a sundowner firepit; additional features include a safari shop, a games room for the whole family, a gallery and a makers’ studio showcasing Kenyan artisans, and a photography studio available to assist guests with everything from camera hire and photo editing to professional photoshoots. The highlight is the raised elephant viewing tower – and the elevated rimflow pool surrounded by fever trees and a drinking trough, which allows guests to marvel at the gentle giants up close. The perennial streams at Kimana also attract other wildlife in addition to the tuskers, including eland, buffalo, reedbuck, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah and the elusive leopard.
“When we set about looking for a new site, certain key Angama brand touchpoints had to be met,” says Nicky. “These included a great view, good potential for wildlife observation, a known destination with easy access, and a lodge that would have a significant impact on both the community and the reserve in which it operated. And that’s exactly what we found. What could be more splendid than breath-taking views of Kilimanjaro, the presence of the greatest elephants in Africa (and conserving a critical corridor for these immense beasts to wander along their ancient migratory pathways), and Maasai landlords?”
Angama Amboseli is designed not just as a luxurious getaway, but as a place where guests can slow down, breathe, and truly connect with nature and with themselves. More than that, its commitment to preserving the delicate ecosystem and supporting local communities highlights its role as a leader in 21st-century conservation.
“We couldn’t be prouder of this property,” says Nicky, “and our guests couldn’t be more delighted.” | angama.com
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