Sentrim Amboseli Lodge

Excellent stay at Sentrim, couldn't fault it on value for money, service and location

Good variety of food with some food cooked to order.. Tents were comfortable and spacious.

We booked last minute for 2 nights over Christmas - high peak season. Drove from Nairobi - good tarmacked / paved roads until the last few kilometers. Lodge is a few km down a dirt road from the kilmani gate (outside the park). We had a sedan and it was a bumpy road to get to the lodge. Wished we had a taller car - we scraped the bottom of the car and bend a cross beam that caused a big rattle, but the mechanic at the lodge was able it fix it quickly and very cheaply. There were other sedans in the parking lot, but I’d recommend an SUV if you have it as an option. The lodge is supposed to have power 24 hours a day, but when it’s off (and it was off when we arrived - out of their control) they turn the generator on between 5-11 pm. There was power all of the other days we were there. Decent internet in the main areas and the cabins. Food was buffet style and plentiful. Chicken, lamb, fish, and vegetarian Indian options at both lunch and dinner. Breakfast had portage, sausage, omelets, etc. All meals included hot drinks (regular tea, coffee, hot chocolate), but you have to pay for bottles of water (tho juice is included at breakfast). Rooms were fine, but basic. Essentially had real “walls” with windows and screens and a tent top. En-suite bathroom had a nice shower with good pressure and hot water. Just don’t forget to turn on the hot water button so the tank can heat. There was a floor standing fan in the room, which was needed during our afternoon naps, but it was cool enough at night that we slept well. No mosquito net but they said they spray each room during dinner for bugs. Didn’t have any issues, other than the friendly gecko on the wall (he stayed put). Pool looked very clean, though we didn’t test it out. Besides the pool area and the bar area, there wasn’t much space to hang out. The lodge can arrange a game drive for you utilizing local Maasai drivers. We did a half day morning drive for 18,000 shillings.

The room was advertised on Booking as “Mountain View” - which was misleading. The cabin was was facing the mountain but had lots of trees and bush, so couldn’t see the mountain at all. Was close to a little walkway that lead to a great place to view the sunset and mountain (when the clouds have parted - you have to stay a while and be very patient). Very peaceful area to listen to the birds, the bells on the cows from the local Maasai, and watch monkeys play. From what I can tell, this was the only spot to see Kilimanjaro on the property.

The location and the ambience.

Quiet and serene.