Explore Amboseli National Park

Overshadowed by Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is a beautiful area for viewing an abundance of wildlife. Elephants abound in the lower forest and swamp areas, hippos wallow in the pools and lion lurk in the reeds and papyrus around the swamps awaiting their prey. Cheetah can be found on the salt flats, giraffe wander through the doum palms and bird life is prolific.

Admiring the herds of elephant, huge old lone bulls and playful adolescent bull elephants is one of the great joys of a visit to Amboseli. These mighty and socially advanced creatures have inhabited these landscapes for thousands of years.

Mount Kilimanjaro was the backdrop of Ernest Hemingway's short stories collection "Shows of Kilimanjaro". It’s also the stunning backdrop to your safaris in Amboseli — here photographic guides will help you capture the classic image of an elephant framed by this iconic peak. 44 miles west, on the Kenya side of the border is Kilimanjaro’s little brother, Mount Meru, an active volcano measuring 14,980 feet in height. While in the Amboseli area, it’s well worth a visit.

Tortilis Camp

Tortilis Camp is situated in Amboseli National Park and has seventeen luxurious tents under thatched canopies, each with beds, rugs and tables and, of course, en-suite shower and w.c. Each tent has views towards the towering snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro, making this one of the best located camps in East Africa.

The standard of management and cuisine at Tortilis is excellent and between game viewing you can relax in the pool or watch elephant and other animals wandering close to the camp. You can enjoy safaris among the big cats, elephants, hippos, birds and plains game in the company of expert guides both by open vehicle and on foot.

The staff enjoy springing little surprises, such as an impromptu bush breakfast in some beautiful spot half way through your morning game drive, or a lazy sundowner on a hilltop with magnificent views of the park below and Kilimanjaro towering above.

Amboseli Porini Camp

The Selenkay Conservation Area lies a few miles north of the Amboseli National Park and is an important dispersal area for wildlife migrating out of Amboseli. Porini Camp is the only one in this conservation area, and guests can enjoy game viewings, privacy and interesting conservation work in the reserve, as well as the famous big herds of elephant, buffalo, antelope, giraffe and cats which inhabit the Amboseli, with its famous views of the snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro.

Selenkay is a remote area in the heart of Maasai land and the animals are truly wild and not yet habituated to the presence of vehicles. The numbers of tourist visitors are limited to those staying at Porini to retain the wild and unspoilt nature of the area and to minimise the impact on the environment. Within the conservation area you will encounter a variety of plains game including elephant, gerenuk and giraffe, as well as some of the well known predators lion, leopard and cheetah. Some lesser known predators include bat-eared fox, caracal and African wild cat. Birdlife is prolific, especially birds of prey.

Porini is a delightful camp with six spacious tents, comfortably furnished and with en-suite bathrooms including shower, wash basin and flush toilet. Tents have solar-powered electric lighting. There is also a dining lodge and campfire where you can chat to your Maasai guides as the moon rises into a star-filled African sky.

You can enjoy drives by open vehicle on the reserve and in the Amboseli National Reserve, where you can spend the morning game viewing, before returning to Porini for lunch. In the afternoon you can take an escorted walk with Maasai guides who will give you an insight into their fascinating culture and way of life and will share their tracking skills. After returning to the camp for dinner, you will have the opportunity to go on a night drive with a chance to see nocturnal animals such as aardvarks, servals, caracals, bat-eared foxes, African wild cats and maybe even elusive leopard.