Amboseli
Amboseli National Park is one of the most photographed wildlife areas in the world; simply due to the staggering backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Huge elephant herds stroll across the plains with the snow capped peak of Kili forming one of the most recognised and iconic shots on the planet. Amboseli is a very beautiful park.
This scenic beauty is also Amboseli's downside, with the park being Kenya's second most visited reserve after the Mara. It is common to see many vehicles on drives here, crowded around predators. But take the crowds with a pinch of salt as the sheer beauty of the park is still reason to come.
There are approximately 1,000 elephant in Amboseli and their relaxed nature around vehicles means close up encounters are pretty much guaranteed. However, Amboseli’s predators are thin on the ground. Lions and cheetah are present but due to extensive hunting by the Masai they are not as relaxed as you may expect and your chances of seeing them are not nearly as high as in the Mara. It is also worth mentioning that the word Amboseli derives from a Masai word meaning “salty dust”. This translation becomes very apparent at the end of the dry season when Amboseli can become extremely dry as herds desperately seek out what little water there is. It can be quite a distressing time of year to visit. We would actually advise against travel at this time of year, but still love the park and put Amboseli on many Kenya itineraries. Amboseli: Accommodation choices
Amboseli’s most famous camp is Cheli and Peacock’s Tortilis, a classic 17 roomed tented camp whose rooms, pool and dining area all command fantastic views of Kilimanjaro. Amboseli Porini Camp is a slightly less expensive 9 roomed camp that is set away from the crowds in the private Selekay Conservation just outside the National Park. The Amboseli Serena and Amboseli Sopa Lodges provide for much of the mainstream traffic in the park whereas Ol Kanjau Camp is a small no-frills affair outside the park boundaries.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Amboseli
Located over to the west of Amboseli NP, Tortilis is located in one of the best areas, away from the hustle and bustle, but close enough to have easy access to the park.
Amboseli
Similar to its sister camps in the Mara, Amboseli Porini Camp has kept to the basics of safari and is a real find in what is a growingly expensive marketplace. With simple, but clean and tidy tents, all featuring fully flush loos and spacious dressing and sleeping areas, the accommodation is comfortable.
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