Famous for its large elephants
Away from the busy eastern side of Amboseli, and with its own private conservancy, Tortilis guests experience a wild and private Amboseli.
Tortilis Camp sits nestled in a verdant acacia grove at the foot of the majestic, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tortilis Camp is named after the flat-topped, umbrella thorn tree that surrounds the camp, the Acacia Tortilis. On the south-western edge of the Amboseli National Park, facing the mountain the camp is accessed from within the Park and overlooks its own private 30,000 acre wildlife conservancy, Kitirua.
Each of the 16 tents are raised up on a wooden deck and sheltered by a makuti (thatched) roof overhanging a large veranda, which is ideal for an early afternoon siesta. The tents all boast beautifully appointed spacious bedrooms with expansive king-size or generous twin beds, dressing areas and elegant en-suite modern bathrooms with pressured hot showers. There is a main lounge, bar and dining area, all exquisitely built with natural materials and thatched roofs, with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. The Family Tent features a swimming pool shared with the Private House. This house consists of one en-suite double bedroom, one en-suite triple bedroom, and a spacious sitting / dining room with veranda.
Amboseli is also known for its magnificent elephants – a population of over 1500 elephants, and some of Africa’s largest, reside in the park’s unique ecosystem. 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. Here clients enjoy varied game viewing and can also spend time following the matriarchal elephant herds from the luxury of open sided safari Land Rovers; or walk with a trained Masai guide, sip sundowners on top of Kitirua hill as the sun sets, colouring the snows of Kilimanjaro pink. Enjoy bush breakfasts out on the plains or visit one of the Masai manyattas (villages) to meet the Masai women, watch the Morans (young warriors) dance and experience their age-old existence.
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Best places to stay in Amboseli & Chyulu Hills
Amboseli & Chyulu Hills Trip Inspiration
When to go to Kenya
Find out the best time to visit Kenya with our month by month guide.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
January
January is a great time for wildlife viewing. The landscapes are lush and green after the 'short rains' and newborn animals can been seen. It is hot, but brief afternoon or evening showers cool things down, without compromising your safari. Over on the coast the sea is clear, making it ideal for diving and snorkelling, and the days are warm and bright.
February
February is an ideal time to visit Kenya, and great for game viewing. The landscapes are green and thriving thanks to the short rains, and newborn animals will be hopping around the plains. There maybe a few afternoon showers which are welcome in the heat, and don't impact on wildlife viewing. Water clarify is excellent at the moment, which is good news for watersports enthusiasts. And if you want to spot a whale shark, now is the time to try.
March
Still a good option for wildlife viewing and diving, although with the 'long rains' just around the corner, expect wetter and hotter weather.
April
April brings the start of the 'long rains' which means game reserves and national parks become muddy and harder to drive around. Over on the coast it's hot and wet, so it isn't the best time of year to travel. Some camps and lodges close during this period.
May
The 'long rains' continue into May, making park tracks difficult to navigate in the mud, and the coast very warm and wet. There will be less accommodation choice at this time as several lodges and camps during this period.
June
June is a beautiful time of year to visit Kenya, with the rains receding to just light showers, and the long dry season not far ahead. The high grasses can sometimes make it more of a challenge to spot game, but the landscapes are lush and some animals may begin arriving early for the migration. At altitude nights can be cool, but elsewhere the temperature is pleasant.
July
July marks the beginning of the great migration into the Masai Mara, and with warm and generally dry weather, this is a great time of year to visit. Days are sunny, skies are blue and there isn't too much dust around, so it's a great time for photography.
August
The migration is now in full swing in the Masai Mara, with lots of river crossing action, so if you want to see those massive herds of wildebeest and zebra, now is the time to come. Game viewing in general is excellent and it's one of the most popular times of year to visit, so some of the main parks do become crowded. Temperatures are warm and dry.
September
Game viewing continues to be excellent, and the weather is generally dry so this is another ideal month to visit Kenya's parks. The bush is less dense and as animals gather around waterholes and rivers it makes wildlife spotting much easier.
October
October is a great time if you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind the temperature slowly starting to rise. There may be a few short showers, but game viewing remains excellent with the end of the migration, and it's a good time to holiday anywhere in Kenya.
November
November heralds the start of the 'short rains' and with hotter temperatures some camps are closed. The Mara however is still open, and despite sometimes stormy skies, game viewing is still good. Fewer crowds and lower prices make this an attractive month to visit. Over on the coast water clarify is good for snorkelling and diving.
December
The 'short rains' are bringing the landscapes back to life, and as the plains start to become green again, wildlife viewing remains good, and it's a great time for birding. Some camps are closed (mainly in the north of Kenya) but many others remain open. The showers tend to fall in the afternoons and don't impact greatly on a safari. Take advantage of reduced visitor numbers and lower prices.
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