Angama Amboseli

Opened in the beginning of November 2023, with in the 5,700-acre Kimana Sanctuary in southern Kenya, Angama Amboseli presents an anticipated expansion to the Angama safari portfolio, which currently includes Angama Mara and Angama Safari Camp (both located in the Mara Triangle Conservancy of the Maasai Mara). With just ten guest suites, Angama Amboseli shares a fresh, nuanced perspective on the Kenyan bush, with a Brutalist, contemporary aesthetic and experiences that celebrate the area's elephant population, which includes the incredibly rare Super Tuskers (there are less than 30 Super Tuskers left in the world).

• The Angama Amboseli team, who share deep knowledge of the area's wildlife and embrace all guests with caring, joy-filled hospitality—from the moment they arrive, to the bear-hugs upon departure. (Where the design leans cool and stark, the staff glows warm as the beating heart and soul of the property.)
• As the Kimana Sanctuary is a haven for migrating elephant herds, the opportunities for elephant viewings are exceptional here—especially for travelers hoping to see the rare Super Tuskers (critically endangered bull elephants whose tusks weigh over 100 pounds, each). Guests can also learn more about elephant conservation efforts through Angama Amboseli's partnership with the Big Life Foundation.
• Thoughtful amenities like an in-house photography studio (which mimics the program on offer at Angama Mara) and the excellent dining program (approximately one-third of the internationally inspired menu is vegetarian-friendly).

The Indagare Team were among the very first through the door to see Angama Amboseli, which sits within the Kimana Sanctuary, a 5,700-acre conservancy that is communally owned by local Maasai. The sanctuary serves as an important wildlife corridor that provides safe passage along a centuries-old migratory path for lions, cheetahs, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, zebras, elands and especially elephants, between Amboseli National Park (where the majority of guests' game drives take place) and the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo national parks. As this area sits just across the border with Tanzania, guests can also enjoy prime views of Mount Kilimanjaro throughout their trip, weather allowing.

The property encompasses 10 suites and a compact main lodge area, which contains a fire pit, open-air dining area, an honor bar, photography and weaving studios, a small art gallery and safari boutique, a kids' entertainment room and an inner courtyard. There is also a small infinity-edge pool (with a drinking trough to attract wildlife, it's a top photo spot) and the Mnara viewing tower—a property highlight offering 360-degree, open-air views over the sanctuary, in a treehouse-style space (it's best enjoyed at sunset, with a cocktail). Throughout, the architecture and design celebrate the area's elephant population, from the select pieces of artwork (including charcoal and watercolor drawings, large-format photos and bronze-cast murals) to the lodge's very walls, which were made from a mix of elephant dung and concrete (that also helps to keep interiors cool). A few pops of color—namely, fever-tree green and Maasai red—are sprinkled throughout an otherwise grey-centered palette. The aesthetic is contemporary and Brutalist in nature—emphasizing raw, exposed materials, blocky, geometric shapes and unadorned open spaces—which stands in unique contrast to the warm colors, layered textures and antiques of many traditional safari lodges.

The standalone suites, some of which can be connected, similarly employ concrete, stone, canvas, linen and rattan to create an earthy, subdued atmosphere—and they are designed to offer guests their own private hideaway in which to relax and take in the scenery, as the seating in the public areas is more limited. An entryway with double doors provides space for boots and jackets, as well as a convenient drop-off spot for the morning wake-up coffee (and cookie) delivery. Floor-to-ceiling screen doors open out onto private porches with rocking chairs—and it's possible to catch a glimpse of passing ellies from the four-poster bed. There's a writing desk and a complimentary cabinet bar, and the closet and bathroom areas are spacious, with double-sink vanities and a double indoor shower, a useful work bench for dirty clothing and an outdoor shower. (The toilet is located in its own chamber, behind a proper door—which is not always a guarantee while on safari!) As with most lodges, laundry services are available on a complimentary basis. There is no spa or gym, but massages can be arranged in-room (and the sizable bathroom accommodates for this well); light exercise equipment is also provided in-room—as are binoculars. Note: Of the ten suites, there are two pairs of connected family suites, which can accommodate up to two adults and four children.

The food at Angama Amboseli is a particular standout, with rotating menus highlighting fresh, garden-grown ingredients and a range of international cuisines like Italian, Mediterranean and Indian. (A traditional Kenyan barbecue can also be requested.) In the words of Indagare COO Eliza Harris: "The food at Angama Amboseli was so good that we had the entire kitchen staff come out so that we could cheer them and praise specific dishes. We needed to know who made the coconut-crusted fish tacos, the insanely good oatmeal cookies, and the tangy, fresh pomegranate and arugula salad. A party of eight who liked to taste as much as possible, our standard move was to say, 'We’ll take two of everything on the menu.'"

60 percent of the all-star Amboseli team hails from the surrounding area, while many others have come to Amboseli from the Mara sister property—like eight-year Angama veteran Elvis (who explained the difference between the two properties as such, "in the Mara, we look down at the mountain; here, we look up") and Alice, who is breaking ground for women in the industry, as the head of the Amboseli guiding program (she was also one of the first female guides in Kenya, ever). In their company, game drives head outside of the sanctuary to Amboseli National Park, where elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, hyenas, hippos and a plethora of herbivores and birds can be seen; rhinos are currently not present in the park. Amboseli is reached from the lodge by a 90-minute drive, which presents more of a commute than at many other safari lodges (though efforts are in the works to open up a shorter access corridor). However, those who are willing to make the trip will be rewarded by the chance to search for Super Tuskers (like the beloved 50-year-old Craig) and Emerging Tuskers, as well as unique, vivid marsh landscapes (a haven for hungry elephants and flamingos alike) and quirky points of interest like the abandoned Amboseli Lodge—all set against the regal backdrop of Kilimanjaro.

Learn more about the property—and get Nairobi and Johannesburg travel tips—from Kate Fitzgerald Boyd, one-half of the mother-daughter duo who own and manage the Angama portfolio, here. In her words: “Where Angama Mara is seriously sexy in her aesthetic of warm tones and vibrant color, drawing on the lodge’s location in the heart of Maasailand, Angama Amboseli is hopelessly handsome following the bold inspiration of the cooler tones of the mountain, the chartreuse of the fever tree forests and the curves of an elephant. At Angama, we always want the design of our lodges to give a sense of place to our guests.”

• Devotées of Angama Mara and its "slow safari" concept, and lovers of contemporary and especially Industrial or Brutalist design (who would prefer this aesthetic over a more traditional or nostalgic safari lodge).
• Couples, families and friends seeking a more intimate, secluded safari experience. Public spaces at Angama Amboseli are more limited; however, families with children are well accommodated thanks to connecting suite options and an on-site kids' room, with childcare, as well as fun experiences like a morning "pajama safari."
• Repeat safari travelers who will not mind the longer drive to reach Amboseli National Park in favor of the more nuanced experiences on offer, including the chance to see Super Tuskers.
  
  As Angama Amboseli is a brand-new property, please allow for the continued development of the lodge's infrastructure and experiences.