Amboseli Lodge, once among the most established accommodations in the Ol Tukai area, stood as a cornerstone of early safari tourism in the Amboseli ecosystem. Operated for many years by Kilimanjaro Safari Club Ltd., it was located near the lush swamps that sustain Amboseli’s famed elephants and beneath the watchful presence of Mount Kilimanjaro. Alongside Kilimanjaro Safari Lodge, Amboseli Lodge offered a classic safari experience and was part of a legacy that traced back to the 1930s, when Budge Gethin established the original Rhino Camp in the same area.
By the 1990s, however, as conservation expectations, sustainability standards, and community-inclusive tourism models evolved, Amboseli Lodge began to lag behind newer competitors. Lodges like Ol Tukai, Serena, and Tortilis Camp were actively investing in infrastructure, renewable energy, reforestation, and direct benefit-sharing with Maasai communities. Meanwhile, Amboseli Lodge maintained a more traditional hospitality model — comfortable, but increasingly viewed as out of sync with the shifting ethical and ecological priorities of safari tourism.
In the early 2000s, the lodge suffered a major setback when it was severely damaged by heavy flooding, which rendered parts of the property uninhabitable. The damage led to the complete abandonment of the lodge, and over the years, it fell further into disrepair. While plans were eventually made to demolish the structure, a longstanding tax dispute between the former owners and the government stalled the process. As the legal wrangling dragged on for years, the building was left untouched — a deteriorating shell, slowly consumed by nature.
The only consistent residents now are baboons, who have taken over the ruins and roam freely through the compound, undisturbed and unchallenged. The lodge, once alive with international guests and the rhythms of safari life, now echoes with the chatter of monkeys and the rustle of wind through collapsing roofs.
Public-Private Partnership Attempt (2018)
- In 2018, the Kajiado County Government initiated a plan to revive Amboseli Lodge under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
- The county awarded a lease to Mr. Sandip Bedi, a prominent Kenyan hotelier and entrepreneur, with the intention of:
- Renovating and reopening the lodge as a high-end eco-tourism facility
- Creating jobs and generating tourism revenue
- Preserving the architectural legacy of the old lodge
- The county government reportedly invested over KSh 1 billion in infrastructure to support the project.
Collapse of the Revival Plan
- The revival project came to a tragic halt when Mr. Bedi was murdered in December 2020 during a carjacking in Nairobi.
- His death derailed the entire project, leaving the county with a massive financial loss and no successor to carry the vision forward.
- Since the PPP lacked a clear succession or contingency plan, the lodge project once again stalled — returning to a state of abandonment.
Current Status
The need to reclaim and repurpose the site in a way that benefits local communities and respects the park’s conservation mandate
Amboseli Lodge today stands as a shell of its former self, with collapsing buildings, unsecured perimeters, and zero guest operations.
No formal tourism activities take place at the site.
Local leaders and stakeholders have voiced concerns about:
The mismanagement of public funds
The lack of transparency and oversight in PPP agreements
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original Operator | Kilimanjaro Safari Club Ltd. |
| Historical Roots | Successors to Rhino Camp (1930s), Amboseli’s first safari base |
| Environmental Setback | Flooding in early 2000s led to abandonment |
| Government Intervention | 2018 PPP between Kajiado County and investor Sandip Bedi |
| Project Collapse | Bedi’s death in 2020 halted progress; lodge left to deteriorate |
| Current Condition | Derelict structure, occupied by wildlife, pending demolition, legal dispute |
| Symbolic Value | A cautionary tale about poor planning, fragile partnerships, and lost potential in Kenya’s tourism sector |
See photos of Abandoned Lodge by Adam
Read the Ruling in 2019 on Kenyalaw.org – Republic v Kajiado County & 2 others Exparte Kilimanjaro Safari Club Limited [2019] KEHC 4749 (KLR)