hosted by thc

About Tortilis Camp Amboseli

Tortilis Camp has a prime location for witnessing the majesty of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

Tortilis Camp is named after the flat-topped, umbrella thorn tree, the Acacia Tortilis, and embraces a hill in one of Amboseli’s areas of Acacia Tortilis woodland. Located in a private conservancy bordering the national park, game drives walks, sundowners, and bush meals take place both inside the national park and in the conservancy, where guests enjoy exclusivity.

The tents are all spacious, with king or twin beds and elegant en suite bathrooms. There is a main lounge, bar, and dining area, all exquisitely built with natural materials and thatched roofs. The Private House and Family Tent are located slightly separate from the main camp, upon the hill where they share a pool.

Tortilis Camp was one of the first eco-lodges of its size and is very proudly 100% solar. Guests can rest assured they are leaving a minimal footprint during their stay.

Accommodation

Tents – Each makuti-covered tent consists of a main bedroom with twin or double beds, an en-suite bathroom, and a spacious verandah. Let us know if you require twin beds or double beds. [All tents can fit one extra bed, for children under the age of 16 yrs only]

Family Tent – With outstanding views of Mt Kilimanjaro, enjoyed from the comfort of your own private family verandah, Tortilis Camp’s Family Tent is another great addition to this child-friendly safari camp in Amboseli. The Family Tent consists of one double en suite bedroom, one twin en suite bedroom, and a spacious private verandah. Featuring a swimming pool shared with the Private House. [Both bedrooms can fit one extra bed for children under the age of 16 years only]

Private House – With Mt. Kilimanjaro peering down over the entire camp, Tortilis Camp’s Private House has a glorious view of the mountain. The Private House consists of one en-suite double bedroom, one en-suite twin bedroom, and a spacious sitting room with verandah. Featuring a swimming pool shared with the Family Tent. [Both bedrooms can fit one extra bed, for children under the age of 16 yrs]

Guiding

Tortilis Camp guides are based in camp in Amboseli and know their backyard intimately. More than half are Masai and have combined Tortilis Camp guiding experience of 80 years, the head guide has been at Tortilis Camp since it opened. All the guides are Gold, Bronze, or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified. Amboseli is famous for its magnificent elephants, which have been studied for over 20 years by Cynthia Moss. Tortilis guides know the individual elephants, and their family relationships – plus the territory of resident lions and other local fauna. They have exclusive access to the 30,000-acre Kitirua conservancy and know every hyena den, the seasonal flowers, migratory birds .. Tortilis Camp walking guides are Masai from the area and have been walking in this wilderness since they were very young. They enjoy sharing their knowledge of the small things, tracks, traditional uses of herbs, and the Masai way of life.

Game Drives

The Tortilis Camp guides are based at a camp in Amboseli and know their backyard intimately. They know the individual elephants and their family histories. More than half of the guides at Tortilis are Masai, and have between them 80 years of guiding at Tortilis! All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified.
Tortilis Camp has open game-drive vehicles, the first camp to use open vehicles in a National Park. The current fleet is new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivaled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open-sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Clients will share game drives unless “exclusive use of the vehicle” has been prebooked at an extra charge.

With only 10% of Amboseli National Park utilized by most safari vehicles, combined with Tortilis Camp’s unique location on the western edge of the park (most lodges are outside of the eastern gate of the park), guests can enjoy an almost private Amboseli. We also have private game driving within our own 30,000 acres Kitirua Conservancy, which is the western part of the Amboseli ecosystem.

Guided Walks

Tortilis Camp’s walking guides are Masai from the local community, who have been walking over these plains since childhood.
Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems. The guides are happy to share their knowledge of the terrain, traditional uses of wild herbs and barks, and the Masai way of life.

Swimming Pool

Enjoy the cool waters in the heat of the day! Within the lush green gardens, the pool is shaded by palms and acacia Tortilis, and a haven for tropical birds. The swimming pool has a bar service and board games.

Bush Breakfast and Sundowners

Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colors, and the gentle breeze. Bush breakfasts are a chance to enjoy a full breakfast, alfresco, in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife. “Sundowners” are a safari tradition – after a day of safari; stop, watch the spectacular sunset; traditionally with a gin and tonic in hand!

Massages

Safari is also a holiday and a rest – a break from today’s frenetic lifestyle.
Tortilis Camp offers:

• Massages – a wonderful way to ease the stress out of tired shoulders and backs.

Cultural Visits

In the heart of Masai country, Tortilis Camp offers visits to local Masai homesteads. The Masai live in semi-permanent huts known as Manyattas and it is the role of the wife to construct the hut from cattle dung and grass. The families will show you around their home for a fee (payable separately, ask reception for details), and will want to take the opportunity to sell their traditional handicrafts – bargain hard!
Tortilis Camp works closely with the Masai community, and there are ways that you can get involved.

Known for their beautiful beadwork, spear in hand, and bright red colored “chukkas” (blankets worn as clothes). The Masai co-exist with wildlife as they are traditionally nomadic and pastoral, they live off their cattle and goats; this is their lifestyle, jobs, and currency – it is thanks to this lifestyle that vast tracts of wilderness teeming with wildlife have been preserved.

Getting there

Amboseli airstrip is a 45-minute flight from Wilson Airport and a 45-minute drive from the camp.

• Once-daily scheduled Air Kenya flight departing Nairobi Wilson
• Once-daily scheduled Safarilink flights departing Nairobi Wilson
• Once-daily scheduled Mombasa Air flight departing Mombasa
• Once-daily scheduled Mombasa Air flight departing the Masai Mara
• Private Charter from anywhere

CAMP & AIRSTRIP CO-ORDINATES

• Amboseli airstrip coordinates: S02° 38’32” E37° 15’00”
• Camp coordinates: S 2°41’0.18” E 37°10’49.14”