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3-star hotels in Nairobi
This shortlist gathers 3-star places to stay in and around Amboseli, Kajiado County, near the border with Tanzania. It suits travellers who want to be close to the elephant herds, the swamps and the mountain views without moving up a class.
Staying in Nairobi
Amboseli sits in Kajiado County, near the border with Tanzania. The national park is known for its elephant herds and for swamps fed by groundwater from Kilimanjaro, and on a clear day Mount Kilimanjaro rises over the park across the border. People come here to be close to the wildlife and the mountain views, and the lodges and camps sit inside the park and in the conservancies around it, such as Kimana.
The 3-star addresses on this shortlist place you in those same areas: along Amboseli Road, at the Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate, at Kimana Gate and Kimana near the national park, at Larashi Gorge Camp, on Sumuneria Road, on Emali Loitokitok Rd. and in Amboseli National Park itself. That spread suits couples and families on a wildlife-focused break, and anyone who wants a base inside the park or at a gate rather than in a town.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Maasai Simba Camp
Emali Loitokitok Rd.
Why stay hereMaasai Simba Camp sits on Emali Loitokitok Rd., a 3-star base for travellers who want to be on the road toward Amboseli rather than in the middle of Nairobi. Its listing carries no guest rating and no facilities, so come for a simple, unpretentious stop and expect to arrange your own meals and activities. It suits self-sufficient travellers and road-trippers who treat the room as a place to sleep between days out.
See Maasai Simba CampAA Lodge Amboseli
Amboseli National Park
Why stay hereSet inside Amboseli National Park, AA Lodge Amboseli is a 3-star option for visitors whose priority is being within the park boundaries rather than commuting in from outside. No facilities or guest rating are listed, so the appeal is location and simplicity. It fits wildlife-focused travellers and photographers who plan to spend their days game viewing and want a straightforward place to return to.
See AA Lodge AmboseliH12 Elephant Gorge Camp
Larashi Gorge Camp
Why stay hereH12 Elephant Gorge Camp is a 3-star camp at Larashi Gorge Camp, offering a quieter, more removed setting for travellers exploring the Amboseli area. The listing includes no facilities and no guest rating, so there is little to promise beyond the address and class. It suits independent travellers who bring their own plans and prefer a low-key base away from larger resort grounds.
See H12 Elephant Gorge CampKibo Villa Amboseli
Amboseli
Why stay hereKibo Villa Amboseli is a 3-star property in Amboseli, positioned for travellers who want to stay close to the park rather than in Nairobi. No facilities or guest rating are given in its data, so the choice rests on location and class alone. It works for small groups or couples who are self-organised and want a simple base for days spent watching wildlife.
See Kibo Villa AmboseliKimana Amboseli Camp
Kimana Gate
Why stay hereKimana Amboseli Camp takes its name from Kimana Gate, making it a 3-star choice for travellers who want to be near one of the main entry points to the Amboseli area. The listing carries no facilities and no guest rating, so expect a straightforward stay. It suits safari-goers who plan early gate entries and prefer a camp base without extra frills.
See Kimana Amboseli CampAmanya Sleeps 4 with Mt Views
Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate
Why stay hereNo facilities or guest rating are listed, so the draw is the space and the junction location. It suits self-catering, self-driving groups who want room to spread out.
See Amanya Sleeps 4 with Mt ViewsAmboseli RedHouse
Amboseli Road
Why stay hereAmboseli RedHouse is a 3-star property on Amboseli Road, an option for travellers who want a simple base along the route into the Amboseli area. Its listing gives no facilities and no guest rating, so there is nothing to promise beyond class and address. It suits independent travellers and drivers who value an easy-to-find location and plan their own days out.
See Amboseli RedHouseAmboseli Amanya Lodge
Sumuneria Road
Why stay hereAmboseli Amanya Lodge is a 3-star lodge on Sumuneria Road, giving travellers a base in the Amboseli area rather than in Nairobi. No facilities or guest rating appear in its data, so the appeal is the class and setting. It fits visitors who are self-sufficient, plan their own game drives and want a modest, no-frills place to stay.
See Amboseli Amanya LodgeLittle Amanya Camp
Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate
Why stay hereLittle Amanya Camp is a 3-star camp at Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate, a small-scale option for travellers who prefer a quieter base near the junction. Its listing includes no facilities and no guest rating, so it is best chosen for location and simplicity. It suits couples or solo travellers who organise their own meals and activities around the Amboseli area.
See Little Amanya CampAmanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife
Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate
Why stay hereAmanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife is a 3-star tent at Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate built for 2 guests, which makes it a natural fit for a couple. No facilities or guest rating are listed, so the draw is the tent format and the junction position near wildlife country. It suits travellers who want a simple, intimate base and handle their own arrangements.
See Amanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near WildlifePenety Amboseli Resort
Kimana Amboseli National Park
Why stay herePenety Amboseli Resort is a 3-star resort at Kimana near Amboseli National Park, placing guests on the Kimana side of the park. Its data lists no facilities and no guest rating, so the case for staying rests on class and location. It fits travellers who want a resort-style address while keeping their own plans for game viewing and meals.
See Penety Amboseli ResortHillstone Safari Lodge
Kimana Near Amboseli National Park
Why stay hereHillstone Safari Lodge is a 3-star lodge at Kimana near Amboseli National Park, an option for travellers who want to be on the Kimana approach to the park. No facilities or guest rating are provided, so expect a straightforward stay. It suits safari-goers and self-drivers who prefer a lodge base close to the park's Kimana side.
See Hillstone Safari LodgeAmanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony
Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate
Why stay hereAmanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony is a 3-star tent at Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate that accommodates up to 5 guests, making it useful for a larger family or a small group. The listing names a balcony but gives no further facilities or a guest rating. It suits groups who want one shared space and their own itinerary in the Amboseli area.
See Amanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony
How to choose
Inside the park
AA Lodge Amboseli and Kibo Villa Amboseli sit in Amboseli National Park and in Amboseli, so the wildlife and the mountain views are what you wake up to. These two suit travellers who want the park itself as their base rather than a gate or a conservancy outside it.
Near the gates
Kimana Amboseli Camp is at Kimana Gate, while Penety Amboseli Resort and Hillstone Safari Lodge are at Kimana Amboseli National Park and Kimana near Amboseli National Park. All three put you at the Kimana side, handy for early starts into the park.
Kimana Amboseli Camp · Penety Amboseli Resort · Hillstone Safari Lodge
Iremito Gate area
Amanya Sleeps 4 with Mt Views, Little Amanya Camp, Amanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife and Amanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony all share the Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate address. The group suits couples and small parties who want the same junction as their meeting point.
Amanya Sleeps 4 with Mt Views · Little Amanya Camp · Amanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife · Amanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony
Quieter settings
Maasai Simba Camp on Emali Loitokitok Rd., H12 Elephant Gorge Camp at Larashi Gorge Camp, Amboseli RedHouse on Amboseli Road and Amboseli Amanya Lodge on Sumuneria Road are the addresses away from the main gate clusters, for travellers who prefer a camp or lodge setting.
Maasai Simba Camp · H12 Elephant Gorge Camp · Amboseli RedHouse · Amboseli Amanya Lodge
Where to stay in Nairobi
Amboseli National Park
The national park is known for its elephant herds and for swamps fed by groundwater from Kilimanjaro, and on a clear day Mount Kilimanjaro rises over the park across the border in Tanzania. Staying inside the park means the wildlife and the mountain views are on your doorstep from first light.
Our picks here: AA Lodge Amboseli · Penety Amboseli Resort
Kimana
Kimana is one of the conservancies around the national park where lodges and camps sit. Kimana Amboseli Camp is at Kimana Gate and Hillstone Safari Lodge is at Kimana near Amboseli National Park, so both place you on the gate side of the park in Kajiado County.
Our picks here: Kimana Amboseli Camp · Hillstone Safari Lodge
Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate
This junction is the shared address of four Amanya properties, including tents for 2 and 5 and a camp. It groups couples and small parties at one meeting point on the Amboseli side, with the park and its elephant herds the reason people stay here.
Our picks here: Amanya Sleeps 4 with Mt Views · Little Amanya Camp · Amanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife · Amanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony
Amboseli Road
Amboseli RedHouse sits on Amboseli Road, one of the approach addresses to the park area in Kajiado County. It suits travellers who want a single lodge base on the road rather than a camp or a gate property.
Our picks here: Amboseli RedHouse
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Amboseli is about 160 km south of Nairobi in a straight line, and it is reached by road from Nairobi. The park also has an airstrip for light aircraft, which is the alternative for travellers who prefer not to drive. Once you are in the area, the lodges and camps sit inside the park and in the conservancies around it, such as Kimana, so plan your days around the gate or camp you have chosen.
Things to do near Nairobi
Questions, answered
Are there 3-star hotels inside Amboseli National Park itself?
Yes. AA Lodge Amboseli is listed at Amboseli National Park, and Kibo Villa Amboseli is listed at Amboseli. Both are 3-star, so you can base yourself in the park area rather than outside it.
Which of these hotels is closest to Kimana Gate?
Kimana Amboseli Camp is listed at Kimana Gate itself. Penety Amboseli Resort is at Kimana Amboseli National Park and Hillstone Safari Lodge at Kimana near Amboseli National Park, so the Kimana side has three 3-star addresses.
Do any of these hotels suit small groups or families?
Amanya Sleeps 4 with Mt Views and Amanya Tent Sleeps 5 with Balcony are the group-friendly 3-star options, both at Amboseli Junction Iremito Gate. Amanya Tent Sleeps 2 Near Wildlife and Little Amanya Camp share that same address.
Can I reach Amboseli without driving?
The park has an airstrip for light aircraft, so flying in is possible. By road, Amboseli is about 160 km south of Nairobi in a straight line and is reached by road from Nairobi, in Kajiado County near the border with Tanzania.
What can I expect to see around these hotels?
Amboseli National Park is known for its elephant herds and for swamps fed by groundwater from Kilimanjaro. On a clear day Mount Kilimanjaro, across the border in Tanzania, rises over the park.
Are there hotels on Amboseli Road or Sumuneria Road?
Yes. Amboseli RedHouse is listed on Amboseli Road, and Amboseli Amanya Lodge is on Sumuneria Road. Both are 3-star addresses in the Amboseli area, separate from the gate and park clusters.