15 Best Campsites in Kenya for Self-Drivers

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If I haven’t convinced you yet that a self-drive safari is the best way to go when visiting Kenya, this quick list of my favorite campsites just might. Because of the nature of road trips, these campsites are spread all across the country, so you may not have the opportunity to stay at all of them. Which is why I have included so many.

There are obviously a lot of ways I could organize this list. “Best” is a pretty generic term. Is it because they had excellent facilities? Because the price is right? Or perhaps because wildlife ventured into camp late at night and it was truly a remote wilderness site? Best means different things to different people. I’ll make that clear with each campsite WHY I enjoyed it.

Let’s cover the wild camps first; they are the ones that I liked best.

Best Wild Campsites for Nature Lovers in Kenya

All of these camps are within Kenya’s National Parks and protected landscapes. They are for those of us looking to really immerse ourselves in nature, not “comfort.” This also means that for each campsite, in addition to the price, you’ll have to pay park entrance fees for the park that the site sits in.

I use the term “wild” here as a descriptor, not to indicate free, unmanaged campsites. “Wild camping” as a whole is not allowed in Kenya. Even if you were trying to sneak it somewhere, you’ll likely be bombarded by local villagers immediately.

1. 4×4 Camp (Buffalo Springs National Reserve)

• Reasons: Scenic view, isolated, elephants in camp, near swimming hole.
• Price: $20 per person
• Facilities: None

This is a reserve that a lot of people skip entirely when they visit Kenya. It’s waaayyyy out in the Northern reaches of the Samburu people, at the end of what most rental car companies consider permissible to drive as a foreigner. The park itself is also overlooked often because its neighbor (Samburu) is larger and offers the same wildlife. I wrote a full guide to help you decide which to visit. But this campsite in particular wins because it’s so scenic. It overlooks the river, offers incredible sunset views, and hosts a herd of elephants each evening before they head down to the water. It’s a lovely place to stay.

We had two rangers stationed with us that we had to pay for at the main gate. Ksh 1,500 per ranger per night.

2. Makalia Falls Public Campsite (Lake Nakuru National Park)

• Reasons: Regular wildlife sightings, isolated within the park, great campfires.
• Price: $30 per person
• Facilities: Under construction. When completed, a small toilet block.

Tucked into the back corner, this is the only public campsite within Lake Nakuru National Park. The site itself is huge, and yet, nearly no one camps here. We had the whole place to ourselves. Other than the hyenas and cape buffalo, that is. Both are regular after-dark visitors, so if you plan to stay here, you need to be alert and aware, with safety precautions in place. There are many firepits here with lots of wood ready for burning. But you should bring your own just in case.

No ranger was staffed for us, and I believe that is common here.

3. Ol Lerai Public Campsite (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)

• Reasons: Excellent location for early morning drives, riverside views, potential for wildlife.
• Price: $27 per person
• Facilities: None

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is among my favorite parks in Kenya for wildlife. There are 5 campsites within the boundaries of the park, but this one in particular is my favorite. Partially because it’s on the river and has a great parking space overlooking the water. Partially because its “middle of the park” location makes it easy to get around in the early morning and evening hours. You’re already so close to wildlife!

4. Eluai Public Campsite (Mara Triangle)

• Reasons: Remote, star-gazing, and potential for lions in camp.
• Price: $30 per person
• Facilities: Pit toilets.

If you’re thinking about self-driving in the Maasai Mara ecosystem, you need to read my full guide. This grassy campsite surrounded by bushes in the middle of the Mara Triangle is one of my favorites within the park. Of the public camps within the Mara, it’s the most remote and yet still situated in just the right spot for early morning game drives. It does get a few visitors each night on average, so you probably won’t be all by yourself.

5. Galana Special Campsite (Tsavo East National Park)

• Reasons: Incredible camp views, super isolated within the massive park, right on the river, wildlife sightings.
• Price: $50 per person (plus an additional $80 reservation fee)
• Facilities: None

If it weren’t for the hefty price tag, this campsite would rank higher. Galana is not a “public” campsite, but a “private” one. This means no one else can book it on the nights you want it. This is excellent if you have a small group and want guaranteed quality time together. This also means you need to reserve this campsite far in advance (although Tsavo East isn’t one of the most popular parks, even if it should be). Add to that its exceptional views of the river and wildlife-dense location, and you could certainly have some critters in camp late at night.

6. Ndololo Campsite (Tsavo East National Park)

• Reasons: Lions and Genets Galore, very pretty area among the trees, perfect location for a morning safari.
• Price: $20 per person
• Facilities: protected kitchen/cooking space, toilet block with cold showers.

This campsite would actually rank MUCH higher up the list, if I didn’t have a somewhat off-putting experience with the camp host (this is the only park I visited that had one). The other downside is that it’s quite a developed site and will have other people in it almost guaranteed. But the positives certainly outweigh the negatives. Because it’s in a lush treed area, each night Genets camp wandering into camp. Lions could be heard roaring around us. There were fire pits for use, but no firewood, so be sure to bring some.

Unlike reserves and conservancies, which bring firewood when they assign a ranger to your camp at night, KWS parks do no such thing. You must bring your own. Bring your own firewood.

7. Oloololo Public Campsite (Mara Triangle)

• Reasons: Potential for elephants or giraffes in camp, very near an excellent sunset safari area
• Price: $30 per person
• Facilities: Toilet block, warm showers, and kitchen cooking shelter.

When I was considering campsites in the Mara Triangle, I originally wrote this one off because it’s so close to the Oloololo Entrance Gate. But then I visited the Mara Triangle. Oloololo Gate is actually very remote and in an excellent area of the park for elephants and giraffes as well as loads of other species. Staying here, you’ll have lots of other campers, and maybe it won’t be the *most* isolated camp in the world, but the odds of animal sightings in camp are very high. Sightings on your way to camp are practically guaranteed.

8. Hell’s Gate Public Campsite (Hell’s Gate NP)

• Reasons: Scenic view, stargazing, quiet.
• Price: $20 per person
• Facilities: None

Imagine being perched on the precipice of the escarpment overlooking the vast plains and green landscapes of Hell’s Gate National Park. It’s one of Kenya’s most scenic parks for sure, and this campsite really shows that off. We could hear hyenas and other animals calling at night from down below. Nothing much else to say about the place; great first stop in Kenya.

Best Campsites Outside Kenya’s Parks and Protected Lands

Consider these the “city” camps of Kenya. None are actually in the city, but all of these campsites sit relatively close to civilization.

9. Mathew’s Maasai Camp

• Reasons: Authentic Maasai culture, options to stay in traditional huts & dinner, walking safari with giraffes, stunning views over the Mara.
• Address: 10-minute drive from Oloololo Gate of Mara Triangle
• Price: 5,000ksh per person+ ($38)
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: Contact Mathew at +254 795 813737

This is easily one of the coolest places to stay in Kenya. Just 10 minutes up the steep escarpment out the back of the Mara Triangle, this small Maasai village is off-the-beaten-track enough that it sees few tourists. There are no tables set up for beaded trinkets, no pushy salesmen, no singing and dancing for the arrival of westerners. It’s just a Maasai boma/village perched on an expansive overlook above the vast plains of the Maasai Mara. And you can stay here. Mathew welcomes campers and those who want to stay in a traditional Maasai home for a night or two. It’s a great place to enjoy views, walk with wildlife, and learn about the Maasai.

I wrote a full blog post detailing my favorite “authentic” Maasai experiences *coming soon*, and you can read more about this stay there.

9. Sandai Farm (Sandai Homestay and Cottages)

• Reasons: Lovely host with a delicious nightly dinner for $10 a plate.
• Address: About 26.5 kilometers from Nyeri town and 220 kilometers north of Nairobi
• Price: $8 per person camping.
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: https://www.africanfootprints.de/en/

Nyeri is a small highland town in central Kenya that most tourists inevitably end up passing through. It’s near Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Solio Conservancy, Aberdare National Park, and kind of a critical fork in the road between Nakuru, Nairobi, and the Samburu area. Having a good, restful place to stopover is crucial. Sandai is a small family-run farm surrounded on all sides by protected land with a German storybook cottage home right in the middle. The owner, Petra, is a lovely woman who hosts dinner each night in her house (for an extra fee), and there is a back patio for bird-watching.

The camping area is simple but super quiet and comfortable. There’s even a shower area.

11. Oseki Maasai Mara Camp

• Reasons: Close to the Maasai Mara Sekenani Gate, Maasai-owned.
• Address: 5 min from Sekenani Gate of the Masai Mara Reserve
• Price: $30 per person; we negotiated to $23 (3,000 ksh) pp
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: https://trip.tp.st/luhPUmgN

This is a camp of convenience. Before entering the Maasai Mara ecosystem, you’ll want to spend the night outside the park. This way you can get a jump on the day and enter the gate at 6 AM. Oseki Camp is right at the foot of the main gate, off the road just far enough to be quiet and feel a little remote. We even saw an Eland on our way to camp.

The campsite itself is a huge expanse of grass protected by some trees. Several antelope species wandered in throughout the day. There’s a kitchen area, water refills. and a basic toilet block. The best part about the camp, though, isn’t the facilities; it’s the Maasai. This is one of the rare camps run by Maasai, and you’ll get to hang out with them by the fire each night that you stay.

While they do offer tented rooms, because of the location of the camp, it’s nearly always full during peak season. Be sure to reserve your stay in advance if you don’t plan on camping in the designated tent areas.

12. N’giliriti Camp

• Reasons: Excellent facilities (hot shower!), access to Ol Maisor conservancy.
• Address: on Ol Maisor Conservancy.
• Price: $15 per person
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: https://www.olmaisor.com/ngiliriticampsite

Ol Maisor is a beloved conservancy, popular for guests looking for discount safaris, lions, and African Wild Dogs. If you find yourself here, you’ll get to choose between several sleeping options. This camp, the most basic, is the only one that lets you drive in. For $15 pp though, it’s a steal. They have a full western restroom with hot shower, an outdoor kitchen area, and a very comfortable camping area for hanging out and recuperating from roughing it elsewhere.

This camp also has the option to stay in ready-made safari tents for 4,000 KSh a person. From here, you can go on guided drives within Ol Maisor alongside a conservancy guide, of course. Only $50 per game drive for the whole car.

This is easily the most comfortable and economical camp on this list. I highly recommend at least one overnight stay here during your Kenya road trip.

13. Dunga Hill Camp

• Reasons: Lake Victoria Views, Hippo Access.
• Address: Kisumu, Shores of Lake Victoria
• Price: $8 per person

This is the only campsite on this list that has the potential to be a little noisy and rowdy at night. Situated on the shores of Lake Victoria on a hilltop, there’s a full restaurant and bar here that often entertains with live music. The camping area is a little tucked away, but you’ll likely get a few drunk stragglers passing through if you’re there on a weekend night.

The real reason to stay here is sundowners at the lake’s edge and early morning views over the lake. You’re also quite close to places where hippos like to hang out, and the likelihood you’ll spot them in the water is high. It’s not a peaceful place to camp, but it is quite comfortable. There are no rooms here aside from the campsite!

14. Manjaro Tented Camp

• Reasons: Kilimanjaro Views, Wildlife pop-ins, access to Amboseli National Park.
• Address: 5-min from Kimana Gate of Amboseli National Park.
• Price: $8 per person
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: https://manjarotentedcamp.com/

On a clear day, the towering cap of Kilimanjaro can be seen from this campsite. You’ll be lucky to get a clear day, though. Located at the park entrance to Amboseli, this camp gets lots of harmless wildlife visitors. We saw zebra, genet, and a few other species of antelope and bushbuck popping in. There’s a small restaurant that sells beer to camp guests, and they will supply you with firewood for 500 ksh per night.

This camp is used by tour groups like Intrepid and G Adventures, so there could be lots of other people there, but none of the Amboseli camps are empty or remote due to the nature of the park.

15. Jangwani Camp

• Reasons: Excellent facilities, good stopover area, rafting.
• Address: Sagana (Google Maps)
• Price: $8 per person
• Skip Camping & Book a Stay Instead: https://agoda.tp.st/LBF1w4vH

Personally, I wasn’t interested in staying in Sagana, and I didn’t do the rafting. Why? Because I was here for culture and wildlife. But because you’ll likely be traveling this road like I was from Samburu alllllll the way to Amboseli…you’re going to need a place to stopover. This is definitely the nicest camp around for your money. Located right on the river (near a very brown waterfall), the camping area is immaculate with toilets, showers, and even a dishwashing area.

The only catch is that the paved road to reach the camping area is the steepest road ever known to man. I’m fairly certain that if we had HAD to stop going down it in our heavy Land Cruiser, it would not have been possible. It was a slight struggle going up for sure. Heavy cars, be warned.

There are also rooms, a restaurant with wood-fired pizza, and the option to join one of their white-water rafting tours if that floats your boat.

Looking for a Tented Camp?

Not everyone is down to pitch a tent and camp self-sustained. And Kenya has no shortage of tented camps for a little more luxurious safari. While many of the campsites above have the *option* to move from their designated self-sufficient camping area to a safari tent or hotel room, these camps ONLY offer safari tents for a more luxurious experience.

Need Help Planning Your Kenya Road Trip?

These blog posts have got you covered.

How to Find Your Own Favorite Spots?

I can’t write a blog post about camping and overlanding without mentioning the app that makes it possible for all of us. iOverlander is a free tool that you can use to see road reports, campsites, attractions, and pretty much anything else you might want to know while driving and camping in a foreign country. All these campsites and my reviews are on the app (and those from other campers as well).

When it comes to East African camping, Kenya has the best amenities and a good mix of city and wildlife. It’s great for beginners, first-time campers, or those who aren’t really looking to rough it on their safari. These campsites cover the breadth of Kenya and give you lots of flexibility in the kind of camping you and your group want to do during your stay. Feel free to drop your favorites in the comments!

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