Kamungi Bandas – Fully Staffed Eco-Accommodation on the Edge of Tsavo East National Park
Wake up where the wild ones drink.
Kamungi Bandas sits on the northern boundary of Tsavo East National Park, two kilometres from the park gate, on land managed by the Kamungi Conservancy — a community of over 500 member households who chose to protect this corner of Tsavo together.
This isn’t a lodge built for tourism. It’s a fully staffed place in the wild, run by people from this land. Our chef, on-site manager, house team and maintenance staff look after everything once you arrive — guests bring their own food, drinks and toiletries, and we provide the rest, including bedding, a fully equipped kitchen and meals prepared by our chef.
Every night you spend here directly funds scholarships, water projects, climate-smart agriculture and the conservation of one of Africa’s most important wildlife landscapes.
Elephants, buffalo and lesser kudu visit the river through the day. African wild dog sightings are possible at dawn. The red dust of Tsavo settles at dusk. The stars at night are extraordinary.
Come for a night. Leave changed.
Why Your Stay Matters
Kamungi Bandas is one of the Kamungi Conservancy’s flagship community-led tourism enterprises — and every booking counts.
In 2025, the Bandas recorded 102 bed nights and generated close to KES 2 million in revenue. Every shilling goes directly to the Kamungi Conservancy – 500+ member households.
Profits from the Bandas support:
- Bursaries and school fee support for children in Kamungi Conservancy
- Water harvesting infrastructure — dam liners, water tanks — for over 1,000 beneficiaries
- Climate-smart agriculture training in partnership with KALRO
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation — the 10% Fence Plan, community ranger operations
- Healthcare infrastructure — Nthunguni Dispensary upgrades, rabies vaccination campaigns
Tsavo Trust provides oversight and capacity-building support to the Bandas pro bono, as part of our commitment to building a self-reliant Kamungi Conservancy. The facility was built with the generous support of the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme, and the Tofauti Foundation.
By staying here, you are not a tourist in Tsavo. You are a partner in it.
Accommodation & Amenities
The Bandas offer four spacious en-suite bedrooms, each with a double and single bed, comfortably sleeping up to 12 guests. The rooms are private and comfortable, with hot showers, flushing toilets and solar-powered lighting.
About the Kamungi Bandas
Guests share a central living and dining area with a bar, generous seating and a fully equipped kitchen. The kitchen includes a 5-hob gas oven, large fridge, chest freezer, stove kettle, cooking utensils and crockery for 12 people. A welcome pack with menu suggestions is provided upon booking — our chef is experienced across a wide range of dishes and eager to work with whatever guests bring.
Amenities at a glance
- 4 en-suite bedrooms (double + single in each, sleeps up to 12)
- Hot showers and flushing toilets
- Solar power for lighting and device charging
- Fully equipped kitchen: gas oven, fridge, freezer, utensils, crockery for 12
- Borehole water (cleaning and washing)
- WiFi available on-site
- Dedicated on-site team: chef, house staff, manager and maintenance crew
- Bar and central mess area
What to Bring & What’s Provided
Kamungi Bandas is a fully staffed eco-accommodation. Guests bring their own provisions, and our team looks after everything else.
You bring:
- Food and ingredients (our chef cooks)
- Drinking water
- Drinks — soft drinks, alcohol
- Toiletries and personal items
We provide:
- Bedding and towels
- Fully equipped kitchen (5-hob gas oven, fridge, freezer, utensils, crockery for 12)
- On-site chef to prepare your meals
- House staff
- On-site manager
- Maintenance/service team
- Solar power, hot water, WiFi
- Borehole water (cleaning and washing)
A full list of suggested provisions is shared upon booking.
What guests say
How to Get There
Kamungi Bandas is located within Kamungi Conservancy, on the northern boundary of Tsavo East National Park.
The nearest town is Mtito Andei, approximately 20 minutes away, easily accessible from the Nairobi–Mombasa highway (A109). Mtito Andei is roughly 240km from Nairobi (4 –4.5 hours) and 250km from Mombasa (4 – 4.5 hours).
Arriving by SGR (Madaraka Express)
Guests travelling by train can disembark at Mtito Andei SGR station, and we can arrange collection from there. With advance notice, the Bandas team can organise:
- Station transfer (Mtito Andei SGR station ↔ Kamungi Bandas): USD 50 return per vehicle
- Game drives in Tsavo East National Park using our in-house vehicle: price on enquiry
All SGR transfers and game drives need to be booked in advance (at least 7 days) so our team can plan vehicles and staffing. Please confirm your travel plans at the time of booking.
The Bandas make an ideal overnight stop on the Nairobi–Mombasa drive, or a destination in their own right for a 2–3 night wildlife immersion.
Activities and Experiences
Game Drive — Tsavo East National Park
The park entrance is just 2km from the Bandas. Guests purchase their KWS park tickets online via the eCitizen platform and present them at the gate and to the Bandas manager before entering the park each day.
Tsavo East forms part of the greater Tsavo Conservation Area — Kenya’s largest single elephant population, including some of Africa’s last remaining Super Tusker elephants. The park is also home to lions, leopards, African wild dogs, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, lesser kudu, impalas and over 500 bird species.
For guests arriving without their own vehicle, in-house game drive arrangements can be made on request (price on enquiry, advance notice required of at least 7 days).
Kamungi Conservancy Tour
Visit the conservancy’s permaculture site, honey processing room and climate-smart agriculture demonstration plots. Meet the Conservancy Manager and learn how 500+ member households are building a future alongside wildlife. Available at a small additional cost, arrangeable through the on-site manager.
Community Project Tour
See the 10% Fence Plan in action — solar-powered wildlife barriers that have eliminated crop raiding for participating households. Visit water harvesting infrastructure, education projects and meet the community members whose lives and livelihoods have transformed through Kamungi Conservancy. Available at a small additional cost.
Birding
Over 100 bird species have been recorded in Kamungi Conservancy alone. The river corridor and acacia woodland attract kingfishers, hornbills, sunbirds, raptors and rare dry-country specials. Bring binoculars.
Night Sky
Kamungi Conservancy has minimal light pollution. On a clear night, the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye. No activity required.
All activities can be arranged through the on-site manager.
Rates & Booking
Rates
Nightly Rates (VAT inclusive):
- Kenyan citizens: KES 5,000 per person per night
- Non-residents: KES 7,000 per person per night (approximately USD 54 / GBP 43 — indicative only)
- Children aged 6 and below: Free
- All rates apply to guests aged 7 and above
The facility sleeps up to 12 guests. At peak periods, the facility may host more than one group — you will be informed at time of booking if this applies.
Payments: M-Pesa Paybill. Details provided on booking confirmation.
Park Entry (additional, purchased separately):
Tsavo East National Park entry tickets must be purchased online via the eCitizen platform before arrival. Please present your tickets at the KWS gate and to the Bandas manager each day you plan to enter the park. The park entrance is 2km from the Bandas.
Check-in: 14:00 | Check-out: 10:00
How to Book
To reserve the Kamungi Bandas:
Booking office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm.
For weekend bookings or urgent enquiries, WhatsApp is the fastest route. The facility operates 7 days a week.
Or complete this booking form:
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard vehicle can reach the Bandas. The road from the Nairobi–Mombasa highway is manageable in a regular car. A 4×4 is recommended if you plan to self-drive into Tsavo East National Park.
Yes. Guests can take the Madaraka Express SGR to Mtito Andei station, and we can arrange pick-up and drop-off for USD 50 return per vehicle. Game drives in Tsavo East using our in-house vehicle can also be arranged (price on enquiry). All SGR transfers and game drives need to be booked in advance (at least 7 days), so please let us know at the time of booking.
Yes. The park entrance is approximately 2km from the Bandas. Purchase your KWS park entry tickets online via the eCitizen platform before arrival. Present them at the gate and to our manager each day you plan to enter.
Just food, drinks and toiletries. Everything else is provided — bedding, towels, a fully equipped kitchen, our chef Granton to cook your meals, house staff, on-site manager and maintenance team. A full provisions checklist is sent upon booking confirmation.
Yes. You can book all four rooms for your group and have the facility to yourselves. You will be informed at booking if another group has already reserved rooms for your dates.
Yes, WiFi is available on-site. Please note that connectivity can vary given the remote location.
The Bandas are within Kamungi Conservancy, a managed conservation area with on-site staff. Wildlife — including elephants and buffalo — does move through the area, particularly near the river. Our team will brief you on safe practices on arrival. This is a wild place. That is the point.
Please contact reservationskamungi@gmail.com for our full cancellation and refund policy.
Directly and entirely. All revenue from the Bandas goes to the Kamungi Conservancy Board. In 2025, the Bandas generated close to KES 2 million which was channelled into community scholarships, water infrastructure, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and agricultural support for conservancy member households.
On and around the Bandas: elephants, buffalo, lesser kudu, warthog, a wide range of bird species and occasional African wild dog sightings. In Tsavo East National Park: elephants, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, impalas, crocodiles, hippos and over 500 bird species.