Elewana Tortilis Camp
Elewana Tortilis Camp is a very comfortable tented safari lodge set around a small hill in a private concession on the northern edge of Amboseli National Park, facing the towering Mount Kilimanjaro.
Although not as small and intimate as many properties in Kenya, Elewana Tortilis Camp is comfortably the best property in Amboseli and its location is very good for game viewing, views of Kilimanjaro and enjoying a certain degree of exclusivity. The camp has an authentic safari feel and the tents are very comfortable without being overtly luxurious, with half the tents facing Kilimanjaro.
The size of the property and the permanent feel of the central areas means that Tortilis is very much a ‘lodge’, with individual dining and fairly set schedules, but the camp has a history of good management and is always enjoyed by guests wanting to experience Amboseli. There are two good family units and swimming pools making it a popular options for families. Amboseli is known for its elephant populations, especially during the long dry season (July to October), its proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro (the best place in Kenya for views of the mountain) and the park also offers good predator viewing and birding.
Rooms
Accommodation is provided in 16 spacious double/twin tents, a Family Tent and a Private House. The double/twin tents are set under acacia trees below the main areas, all facing outwards from camp, though only nine actually face Mount Kilimanjaro. Each of the tents is built onto a solid base under thatch, with a private verandah to the front and a plumbed bathroom to the rear including a toilet and shower.
The Private House and Family Tent are located slightly separate to the main camp, further up the hill where they share a pool and enjoy great views of Kilimanjaro. Both units have two bedrooms. The Family Tent comprises two en suite tents (a double and a twin) connected by a short, raised, covered walkway. The Private House has an open lounge area between the two tented bedrooms (one double and one triple).
Central Areas
The main lounge, bar and dining area are built from stone and thatch and sit on top of a small hill with magnificent views over a floodlit waterhole towards Mount Kilimanjaro. The tents below are reached by stone pathways and there is a swimming pool and spa nestled in the woodland behind the tents. Please note there is a noticeable climb up to the central areas from the tents and pool.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
Amboseli National Park covers an area of 3,200 sq. km. lying at an altitude of nearly 4,000′ at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. The mountain makes a scenic backdrop for photographing the variety of animals that are seen here, including elephant (in big numbers, especially during the main dry season from July to October), buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, giraffe, eland, Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, Burchell’s zebra, impala, waterbuck, wildebeest, warthog, etc. Birds are abundant, including white-backed duck, lesser jacana, two-banded courser, short-tailed lark, blue-capped cordon bleu and the local speciality, the Taveta golden weaver.
Apart from a few patches of acacia woodland, the terrain in Amboseli consists mainly of scrub and fragile saline grass as the dry, volcanic ash will support little more. The melting snows of Kilimanjaro feed rivers and springs which in turn feed Amboseli’s permanent swamps and the seasonal lake which holds water for a few weeks at the end of the long rains. The Maasai people are very much a part of life in Amboseli and they graze their cattle in the area surrounding the National Park.
Whilst the main areas of the park can be busy with tourists, Tortilis is located outside the park on a small private concession which allows some exclusivity and some flexibility with activities.
Activities
The main activity from Tortilis is game drives into the park which are generally extremely productive. Night drives are also possible on the way back to camp after sunset drinks on their private concession only.
Walking safaris may also be undertaken on their concession area outside the park and hosted by local Maasai guides. The walks are fun and informative and afford the well needed chance to stretch your legs! Cultural visits to local Maasai villages are also offered (small extra cost required).
Seasons
Elewana Tortilis Camp is open all year round. Whilst birding is superb during the summer months (November to April), the best time for game viewing, especially the elephants, is from July to October.
Elewana Tortilis Camp is a great family option if you are keen to include Amboseli National Park within your safari itinerary. The Family Tent and the Private House are both perfect for families, especially with use of the second pool on an almost exclusive basis. Please note however that whilst very close together and under one roof, the sleeping areas are not quite linked internally. As is often the case in Kenya, the staff and guides will interact well with your children and they can be entertained in camp between game drives as required. The cultural village visit is often a highlight with children and a great educational experience for them too.
Elewana Collection, owners of Elewana Tortilis Camp, support the Land & Life Foundation ensuring relationships between rural communities and their natural environment that benefit wildlife conservation. The Foundation carries out work in the areas in which Elewana operates supporting nature conservation, local schools, education and medical centres.
Specific to Elewana Tortilis Camp, there are a number of projects in Amboseli Esiteti Primary school where they have built new class rooms and operate a Wildlife Warrior program which sponsors children to tertiary level. The Shamba Project teaches the children to grow their own produce, educating them on ways to support themselves beyond their traditional methods and improving the community’s resilience to drought (the crops also providing vegetables for the school). Guests at Tortilis are welcome to visit the project.
