Fodor's Expert Review Campi ya Kanzi

One of Kenya's most environmentally friendly camps, this lovely spot in the Kuku Group Ranch—the natural corridor between Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks—is owned by an Italian couple who are deeply committed to the environment and the local Maasai community. The camp's name means "Camp of the Hidden Treasure" in Swahili, and was the first camp in Kenya to be gold-rated by Ecotourism Kenya for its efforts in sustainable tourism, and has won other prestigious international ecotourism awards. It's also co-owned by the Maasai, and the ranch itself stretches 1,115 square km (400 square miles) from the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and up into the Chyulu Hills in the east. Activities include game drives (where the game is really wild and not used to vehicles), guided walks including the trek into the cloud forest along the peaks of the Chyulu Hills, bird-watching, and cultural visits. Take your kids to the Maasai school and open their eyes to a completely different way of life. The main lounge and dining areas are in Tembo (Elephant) House, which has superb views of Kilimanjaro and the Taita Hills. All the thatched roof tented cottages have great views, as well as wooden floors, a veranda, and an en suite bathroom with flush toilet, and hot and cold running water. The Hemingway and Simba tented suites also boast king-size beds and a dressing room, while Kanzi House is a thatched villa that sleeps up to eight and has a swimming pool. Note that there is an additional US$120 per-person, per-day conservation fee, which entirely benefits the local Maasai community.