Although spending some days in Campi ya Kanzi is not the cheapest, it is more than worth considering the effectiveness of the work that is done by the people of Campi ya Kanzi for both the local Maasai community, as well as the wildlife. As a part of the amount spent on your staying is directly contributed to the Maasai conservation trust fund, you get to see a clear insight of the good work this fund is doing for the community.
Next to that, the camp is located (believe us, we've seen quite some places in Kenya) in one of the most beautiful, breathtaking and poetic landscapes man can imagine. Spending the day with your Maasai guide, just him and your family, wandering in the middle of this amazing nature makes you realize the power and beauty of Kenya.
It's of course not only about discovering the power of Kenya's nature and its authenticity, it is the concept, brought to you by inspiring, warm and caring people that make you discover your inner self.
We are more than convinced that the project founded by Luca, his family and the whole team, as well as the Maasai people deserve extra appreciation and credit in your specific chapter and magazine.
This part of our Kenya experience is surely not a thing for John Doe, but most surely it is a recommendation for people looking for integrity, respect for nature and local traditions, in combination with an exclusive and rather luxurious approach.
We loved it, and we will definitely go back there when visiting Kenya. We also would like to thank Luca, Antonella, Stefano, Pashiet and the whole team of Campi ya Kanzi for bringing this experience to our hearts and souls forever!
Vanessa, Jurgen & Matisse - Nov 2010, Antwerp, Belgium

My wife and I spent a magical week at Campi Ya Kanzi in late May 2010.

Getting There
We were greeted by James at Nairobi International Airport, who hastened us through the Kenyan customs/visa process, somehow ;-) avoiding the long queues, and boarded us and our luggage on the Campi’s private propeller plane. Anna, our very friendly pilot, took us over the beautiful Kenyan landscape and gracefully landed the plane on a small grass airstrip located a few miles from the camp. So started our unforgettable safari vacation.

Our Hosts
Our gracious hosts, Luca and Antonella Belpietro, built this award-winning ecotourism resort as a joint venture with the local Maasai community about 15 years ago. Although very busy with day-to-day operations of the resort, wildlife conservation projects, Maasai community education and healthcare development, international fundraising efforts, and raising their three young children, they spent unhurried time with us and joined us at every formal meal. Over the course of the week, we developed a strong friendship with them.

The Facilities
The resort accommodates about six couples/families. The accommodations for each couple/family is a wooden cottage with a thatched roof, canvas tent walls, and a balcony/patio overlooking a watering hole frequented by zebras, gazelles, giraffes, buffalo, and the occasional lion (not all at the same time, of course), and with a great view of Mt. Kilimanjaro at the horizon. Cottages (all designed by Luca) are dispersed on the property, and provide absolute privacy and a great view. The interior of our cottage contained a queen/king size bed, a sitting area with armchairs, dressers and closets, and a full bathroom with shower. The décor (all designed by Antonella) was very tasteful and elegant. Meals (which are four or five course experiences) are enjoyed in the main hall, which is a large wooden building located centrally and a short walk from the cottages. The structure has a long balcony with a great view, a living room/den area with a wood-burning fireplace as the centerpiece, and a dining room with a large table that can seat eighteen. Luca and Antonella have hired all Maasai workers from the community to run the place.

Eco-Friendly
The electricity for the entire property is from a 4 kW standalone battery-backed solar panel array designed and installed by Luca himself. Although Luca is not a electrician or engineer by training (he is an economist), he has managed to wire up the property so elegantly that it would put the work of many licensed electricians to shame. Instead of electric stoves or ovens, food is prepared with wood-burning ones (imported from Italy), which are not only more environmentally friendly, but also gives the food an amazing flavor. Rainwater is gathered, filtered, and distributed through the resort using state-of-the-art processes and equipment, and wastewater is reclaimed, filtered and routed to the wildlife watering hole. Soaps used and provided to guests are imported from a boutique shop in Italy made from all natural and biodegradable ingredients. It is this attention to detail that makes Campi Ya Kanzi such a wonderful and unique place.

Safaris
Luca planned safaris after consulting with us about our interests. Some started early in morning (6am), with breakfast “in the field”, while others were after a full breakfast (eggs, bacon, croissants, cereal, fruit, coffee, etc.) in the dining hall. Unlike the safari vehicles used by resorts in the national parks, which are minivans encased in glass and in which are 6 or more guests, our vehicle was an open air Land Rover Defender. Our safari guide, his assistant, and at most one other couple accompanied us. Our guide, Pashied, was a former Maasai warrior and one of Luca’s first employees. He was very friendly, spoke excellent English, was an expert at spotting animals and birds, and had an amazing knowledge of wildlife (English/Latin/Maasai names, gestation periods, behavior, diet, tribal lore, and anything else we had questions about). We were there at the tail end of the rainy season, which apparently is not the ideal time to see wildlife. Nevertheless, we saw over 60 species of animals and birds, including elephants (highlighted by a close encounter with a curious baby and its protective mother), giraffes, zebras, buffalo, gazelles, impalas, and a cheetah on the prowl. We did not encounter any lions or leopards on this trip, despite significant searching by Pashied. Unlike another reviewer on this site, we don’t blame Campi Ya Kanzi for this!

Hiking
Afternoons were usually spent hiking or climbing hills (nothing very strenuous), to see spectacular sunsets and views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our guides served us drinks and snacks when we reached the summit.

Conclusion
Our week at Campi Ya Kanzi was an unforgettably beautiful and magical experience, and we have been raving about it to everyone we know since we have been back. We plan to return next year, this time with our children. We highly recommend Campi Ya Kanzi to anyone and everyone without reservation!

Just back from nearly three weeks in East Africa and our stay at Campi ya Kanzi was a revelation. Its location in Kenya's Chyulu hills is spectacular, and still feels truly wild. We saw amazing wildlife and did some great walking safari (actually a bit hard to do in much of the region the national parks there don't allow it.) The camp itself is gorgeous - relaxing and stylish. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about the place are the owner's, Italian couple Luca and Antonella, commitment to preserving the environment and working with the local Masai people. Our visit to a local school that the camp's trust helps fund was as thrilling as the pack of lions we saw near our tent one night at dusk. The camp's motto is "bringing you the real Africa" and damn if they don't deliver.

Anyone planning a safari should make sure that Campi Ya Kanzi is on their itinerary. I used to plan safaris and so I have been to many places across eastern and southern Africa and CYK is among the best experiences I have ever had.

Too often, I have found, you have to sacrifice a little bit of comfort in order to have an authentic experience, or you have to sacrifice an authentic experience to make sure all your needs are met, but at CYK you really do get the best of both worlds.

Many of the reviewers have already mentioned the beautiful accommodation, the wonderful food, the graciousness of the hosts and the beauty of the landscape, and I would echo all of those feelings. I would also emphasize the commitment of CYK to the health, education and general well-being of the surrounding Maasai community (see www.maasai.com)

There are two things that make CYK stand out: the first is the ability to go on walks. On safaris in parks, you are not allowed to get out and walk. Spending your mornings and afternoons driving around in a safari vehicle chasing after game can feel surprisingly stifling after 2, 3 or 4 days. Being on foot allows you to see the landscape in an entirely new manner, get to places you can't go in a vehicle and just stretch your legs! Our walk into the cloud forest was one of the most spectacular walks I have ever taken.

The second thing that stands out is the quality of the guides. Too often on safari you are taken to see a lion, an elephant - but at Campi ya Kanzi the journey truly is the experience. You may be heading to an area where lion are known to be, but on the way you learn about why wildebeest and zebra tend to stick together or talk to a maasai tracker about maasai culture and soon enough forget that you even set out with hopes to see a lion!

The entire experience was spectacular, and some of my favorite moments were just sitting on the porch of the Tembo House, looking out at Kilimanjaro, watching animals come to the watering hole, sipping some tea and enjoying that incredible breeze.

Don't miss CYK - there are no other experiences like it.

I