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Safari Chic at the Chyulu Hills

Campi Ya Kanzi (Camp of the Hidden Treasure), located at the foot of the verdant green Chyulu Hills

What you need to know:

  • Campi Ya Kanzi’s décor perfectly blends the beautiful ruggedness of the wild with the elegance and style of a countryside home. Here, in the middle of nowhere, Italian luxury meets the modishness of African Savannah

Safari Chic is the term coined to describe this décor style. It forms a perfect marriage between the freedom of bush life and the best of country luxury.

Finch Hatton and other explorers are known for this means of enjoying the natural wild without sacrificing modern conveniences.

Campi Ya Kanzi (Camp of the Hidden Treasure), located at the foot of the verdant green Chyulu Hills, recently won the global award for the top 13 best glamping (glamorous camping) resorts.

Antonella Bonomi, the director, was responsible for all the interiors in this luxury camp when it was built 12 years ago. “I aimed to combine my native Italian style with my new life here in Africa,” she says.

She sourced the items locally as well as from far-flung corners of the earth. From Indian-made antiques, silver Marrakesh chandeliers sourced from North Africa, to bespoke carved hardwood furniture pieces by Malindi-based Italian sculptor Armando Tanzini.

Artefacts from west and central Africa adorn the large dining area and lounge known as Tembo House. Here, guests eat their meals together with the camp’s hosts using antique silverware and fine bone china on a bakuba cloth table runner and woven African table mats.

Animal print rugs and leather accessories combine with the panoramic views to create a dramatic and unforgettable backdrop while the safari-style khaki chairs and Italian sofas create a homely, relaxed ambiance.

Local Maasai warriors worked on building the entire camp using eco-friendly materials such as volcanic rock and the fallen limbs of nearby trees. Afghani kilim rugs and shiny brass kerosene lamps add to the aesthetics.

In each room, high-quality Italian linens, Maasai beadwork, and recycled blue glass ornaments add that final delicate touch.