A&K Sanctuary, the lodge and camp collection from A&K Travel Group, has announced the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge in Kenya’s Amboseli region. Scheduled to welcome its first guests on 1 June 2026, the property sits on a 128-acre private concession bordering Amboseli National Park, ten minutes from the park’s main gate. Set against sweeping savannahs, emerald marshes, and acacia woodlands, Kitirua Plains Lodge looks out towards Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon
The location carries particular significance for A&K. It was in Kenya that founder Geoffrey Kent led his first safari in 1962, establishing what would become the blueprint for luxury adventure travel. Kitirua Plains Lodge returns the brand to that original territory, positioned at the heart of elephant country in one of Africa’s most iconic safari landscapes.
A return to the birthplace of luxury safari
Kent’s original 1962 camp was striking in its ambition. He brought Nairobi’s finest chef, bartender and maître d’, along with power for electric lights and refrigeration. Four canvas tents were furnished with antique rugs, bathtubs and crystal martini glasses. That founding spirit informs everything about Kitirua Plains Lodge, which opens in the very landscape where A&K’s story began.
“Kitirua is a return to our roots, and a bold leap forward,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group. “This is a property that honours our heritage whilst looking to the future, a celebration of place, people, and the pioneering spirit that defines A&K. To open this lodge in Kenya, where our story began, feels like coming full circle.”
Design and suites at Kitirua Plains Lodge
Designed in partnership with Luxury Frontiers, known for their sustainable and innovative approach to safari architecture, Kitirua Plains Lodge comprises 13 standalone suites: 11 individual suites and two two-bedroom suites. Rather than following the traditional tented camp format, the property takes a more architecturally adventurous direction, making it one of A&K Sanctuary’s most design-led builds to date.
The interiors take a pared-back approach, with natural textures, woven-rush detailing, and design references to the Maasai way of life. Views of the savannahs and Kilimanjaro take centre stage throughout. Communal areas at Kitirua Plains Lodge include a boma for evening gatherings under the stars, while wellness facilities cover a spa, gym and swimming pool.
Amboseli experiences and Kenya’s safari circuit
Daily game drives at Kitirua Plains Lodge cross a range of habitats across the private concession and Amboseli National Park, with elephants, lions, cheetahs and a broad variety of birdlife among the regular sightings. Cultural visits with the local Maasai community are available, offering direct insight into the region’s heritage, and hot air balloon flights over the savannah can be arranged on request.
Kitirua Plains Lodge joins A&K Sanctuary’s existing Kenyan portfolio: Olonana Lodge in the Maasai Mara and Tambarare Camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Together, the three properties connect Kenya’s distinct ecosystems, from the Great Migration spectacle of the Mara to Ol Pejeta’s conservation work and now Amboseli’s elephant plains, forming a natural circuit for travellers looking to cover the country’s safari highlights in a single trip.
Bookings for Kitirua Plains Lodge are open now. The property is available as part of A&K’s Tailor Made journeys or Small Group Journeys, with arrivals from 1 June 2026.
Quick Summary – Kitirua Plains Lodge
- ⭐ Style: Design-led all-suite safari lodge
- 📍 Location: 128-acre private concession, Amboseli, Kenya
- 📅 Opening: 1 June 2026
- 🔑 Key feature: 13 standalone suites with Mount Kilimanjaro views
- 💆 Wellness: Spa, gym and swimming pool
- ✨ Ideal for: Couples and safari travellers seeking a design-forward Amboseli retreat
