Abercrombie & Kent Sets Opening Date for Kitirua Plains Lodge in Kenya
The new Kenya lodge offers night drives, Kilimanjaro views, and a rare blend of exclusivity and scale.
Photo: Courtesy of A&K Sanctuary
Abercrombie & Kent has announced June 1, 2026, as the opening date for Kitirua Plains Lodge, its newest property in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. The lodge is part of the operator’s recently rebranded A&K Sanctuary portfolio, which is reshaping the company’s safari presence with an emphasis on design, sustainability, and deeper integration with local communities.
Set on a 128-acre private concession bordering Amboseli, Kitirua departs from the traditional tented safari model. Its 13 suites—including two two-bedroom options—are anchored in an architectural vision that draws on Maasai principles of living in balance with nature. Curved walls, organic rooflines, and plaster blended with local soil help the property dissolve into the landscape, while still delivering the contemporary comforts clients expect at this tier. The lodge also features a spa, wellness center, pool, and outdoor boma gathering space.
One of Kitirua’s most important distinctions is its setting. While guests have quick access to the park, the private concession unlocks experiences that Amboseli proper cannot offer, like night drives to spot nocturnal species. That’s a valuable differentiator for clients seeking exclusivity and variety in their safari experience. Scenic helicopter flights, hot-air ballooning, and curated cultural encounters with local Maasai communities add further depth to itineraries.
Amboseli itself has long held mythic status for wildlife lovers, famous for its herds of elephants framed by Mount Kilimanjaro’s snowcapped summit. The park’s UNESCO designation and unique mix of marshland, acacia forest, and savannah habitats make it one of East Africa’s most photogenic and biodiverse reserves. With just 13 suites, Kitirua offers what many advisors say their clients increasingly demand here: scale that feels intimate against a vast natural backdrop.
Rates start at $1,658 per person, per night for seven nights or longer during the opening season. All meals, beverages, game drives, transfers, and laundry are included, with conservation levies and flights excluded.
“Kitirua is a return to our roots, and a bold leap forward.” said Cristina Levis, the CEO of A&K Travel Group. “This is a property that honors 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.”
Kitirua joins two other A&K properties in Kenya, underscoring the country’s significance to the brand; it was here, in 1962, that Geoffrey Kent launched his first safari camp, a foundation on which the company built its global reputation for luxury adventure.
