Amboseli is also known for its magnificent elephants – a population of over 1000 elephants reside in the parks eco-system that features some of the largest in Africa.
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 to 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 assure they are leaving a minimal footprint during their stay.
Guiding & Activities
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 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 gamedrive vehicles, the first camp to use open vehicles in a National Park. The current fleet are new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivalled 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 gamedrives unless “exclusive use of 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 gamedriving within our own 30,000 acre 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 POOLS
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 bar service and board games.
BUSH BREAKFAST AND SUNDOWNERS
Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colours, and the gentle breeze.
Bush breakfasts are a chance to enjoy a full breakfast, al fresco, 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 round 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 with 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 coloured “shukkas” (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 teaming with wildlife have been preserved.
WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOONS
Over the years, Tortilis Camp has hosted very many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewal of vows for our guests.
From small simple ceremonies involving merely a glass of champagne at the end of a gamedrive; to elaborate three day events, with over 30 guests taking over the whole property. Options include legal marriages conducted by the local commissioner or religious minister, or Blessing by the chief of the local tribal community.
Discuss your ideas with your travel agent, or contact us for more information.
Accommodation
Tents
Each makuti-covered tent consists of a main bedroom with twin or double beds, en-suite bathroom and a spacious verandah. Let us know if you require twin beds or double bed.
[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]
Rates & Seasons 2023
| ALL RATES ARE PER ROOM IN U.S. DOLLARS | 1ST JUL – 31ST OCT 20TH DEC – 3RD JAN | 4TH JAN – 31ST MAR 1ST JUN – 30TH JUN 1ST NOV – 19TH DEC | 1ST APRIL – 31ST MAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROOM | HIGH SEASON | MID SEASON | GREEN SEASON | |
| Safari Tent Full Board | Double / Twin | 1,078 | 738 | 478 |
| Single | 808 | 553 | 358 | |
| Family Tent | 2,608 | 1,966 | 1,428 | |
| Private House | 3,175 | 2,512 | 1,836 | |
| Safari Tent Game Package | Double / Twin | 1,476 | 1,122 | 834 |
| Single | 1,106 | 840 | 626 | |
| Family Tent | 3,175 | 2,512 | 1,938 | |
| Private House | 3,742 | 3,058 | 2,346 | |
Full Board (FB) Includes:
- Accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), soft drinks, beer, house wines and selected spirits, teas, coffees and refreshments (on the property), and laundry services. The rates exclude champagne, private cellar wines and premium spirits.
Game Package (GP) Includes:
- Full-board package, scheduled and shared game drives, activities including guided walking safari, bush sundowners, transfers to and from our designated airstrips and Kitirua Conservancy fees. The game package excludes champagne, private cellar wines and premium spirits.
| APPLICABLE FEES, LEVIES AND/OR TAXES TO BE ADDED | ADULT | CHILD |
|---|---|---|
| (Mandatory and Non-Commissionable, Per Person, Per Night) | ||
| Amboseli National Park Fee | 60 | 35 |
| Kitirua Conservancy Fees (Included in Game Package) | 35 | 35 |
| MAXIMUM ROOM OCCUPANCY | NUMBER OF GUESTS |
|---|---|
| Safari Tent | 2 Adults |
| Family Tent | 5 Adults |
| Private House | 5 Adults |
| ACTIVITIES, EXCURSIONS AND EXTRAS (PER PERSON, NET RATES) | ADULT RATE | CHILD RATE (<18) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared, Scheduled Game Drives (Included in Game Package Rates) | 105 | 105 |
| Guided Walking Safari, 2hrs (Included in Game Package, Min 2 Guests) | 84 | 84 |
| Sundowners (Included in Game Package, Min 2 Guests) | 68 | 42 |
| Bush Breakfast (Included in Game Package, Min 2 Guests) | 68 | 42 |
| Exclusive use of a Safari Vehicle with Driver Guide | 440 | |
| Namanga Border Transfer (Per Vehicle, Max 5 Guests) | 440 | |
| Extra Lunch at Property | 47 | 42 |
| Masai Cultural Visit | 44 | 44 |
| Picnic Lunch Box | 32 | 32 |
| Minimum age for guided walking safari is 16years | ||
Getting there
Amboseli airstrip is 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”
Location and Wildlife
Amboseli National Park covers 392 sq kms, only a small portion of the surrounding 3000 sq km of the Amboseli ecosystem. Tortilis Camp is on the south western edge of the park, facing the mountain and is accessed from within the National Park. It overlooks its own private wildlife conservancy, Kitirua, 30,000 acres. Away from the busy eastern side of Amboseli, and with its own private conservancy, guests experience a wild and private
Amboseli.
The area is famous for the dramatic views of Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world, and the highest peak on the African continent. Kilimanjaro at 19,340ft or 5,894m rises dramatically out of the 4000ft (1,200m) Amboseli plains. An extinct volcano with two peaks, rocky Mwenzi and Kibo a crater rim. The glaciers on the mountain are slowly disappearing with global warming, but it remains snow capped as any precipitation on the mountain settles as snow. Despite being in Tanzania, the best views of the mountain are from Amboseli, with Tortilis Camp on a south-west hillside facing the mountain, having the most dramatic views of all.
Amboseli is also famous for its elephant herds, which have been followed and documented by world renowned researcher Cynthia Moss. Amboseli has some of the largest elephants in Africa, and the guides at Tortilis Camp know the individual elephants, their family history, and are able to get very close to the habituated herds.
Much of Amboseli incorporates the dried up bed of a Pleistocene lake, with lush deep fresh water springs in the middle of the park a haven for hippos and birdlife and a playground for elephants. As well as plentiful plains game and their predators, the area hosts its own eastern white bearded wildebeest migration, a population that is genetically separate from the Masai Mara/Serengeti population.
Climate
The days are warm, rising to maximum of 30 deg C, but comfortable with minimum humidity, and the evenings are cool with cosy blankets on the beds. Rainfall is mostly in November with an average of 220mm per year.
Community & Conservation
TORTILIS CAMP & THE COMMUNITY
Tortilis employs around 60% of its staff from the local community, training them from scratch to become professional guides, barman and waiters. With each employed individual in Kenya supporting an average of 8 dependants, our 40 local staff members potentially support between 300 and 400 members of the community.
Walking safaris with local Maasai guides are encouraged at Tortilis so that guests have the oppotunity to find out, first hand, about the intricacies of Maasai culture, stimulating a pride and desire among the community to preserve their traditions.
