Tawi Lodge 

Superb staff and charming thatched cottages await at this deluxe lodge at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

You’ll receive a warm welcome at the tranquil Tawi Lodge. Its location – in the community-run Kilitome conservancy that provides a vital wildlife corridor between Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills – means that as well as promoting harmony between the Maasai people, local wildlife and the environment, it can offer extra activities not permitted in Amboseli National Park, including thrilling night game drives.

The dining area and bar form the focal point of the lodge. There’s real attention given to meals here, with much of the produce grown in the fertile volcanic water-fed wetlands and spices from the Swahili coast. There’s even a well-stocked wine cellar with more than 60 varieties of wine. Dine outside under the shade of huge trees and take in the views of the watering hole where wildlife including zebra, giraffe and warthogs come to drink, and where elephants wallow and play in the mud just metres away.

The thatched cottages all have a fireplace, a large en suite bathroom with shower and freestanding bathtub perfectly positioned in front of a window looking out to Kilimanjaro, and a wooden deck to make the most of the beautiful views. Lighting and water systems here are solar powered.