Amboseli National Park, Kenya - Kilimanjaro's Kingdom
The real Out of Africa Experience
Amboseli Porini Camp is located within the exclusive Selenkay Conservancy, in the Amboseli eco-system, only recently opened to the public. In keeping with conservancy guidelines, the camp makes no use of permanent structures and is accommodated entirely under canvas. The actual site of the camp was once used by colonial big game hunters and features plentiful acacia trees, which offer shade for dining and campfire activities.
Accommodating only 12 guests in total, Porini offers an exclusive Amboseli experience, which is not available in the longer-established camps within the main national park. Thanks to its siting on a private conservancy, Porini also offers the added advantage that all other vehicles are not permitted within its boundaries, which makes for an exceptionally priviledged game-viewing experience. Once part of the Great Southern Game Reserve, Amboseli is one of Kenya's earliest game sanctuaries; it is also one of her most popular attracting over 200,000 tourists per year.
Location
The camp lies 230 km south of Nairobi and close to the Tanzanian border and Mount Kilimanjaro. The Selenkay Conservation Area can be reached within 3 hours by road from Nairobi (private 4WD minibus), arriving around 1pm. As a private conservancy, Selenkay lies in the heart of Maasai Land, and well off the beaten tourist track. Thus wildlife is plentiful and sightings of the 'Big Five' a feature ofyour stay.
Kenya hotels and accommodation
Amongst the wide range of Kenya hotels, some make the ideal Kenya safari destination. Choose a safari lodge, safari hotel, bush camp, luxury lodge, safari camp, tented camp or bush lodge. National park accommodation usually takes the form of a traditional safari lodge or tented camp, but numerous other options exist on the park boundaries. Luxury lodges and luxury camp options are also offered in the private wildlife conservancies.
The Background
Amboseli National Park, Kilimanjaro's kingdom
Towered over by the magnificent bulk of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,896 m), Africa's highest mountain, Amboseli is one of Kenya's oldest, famous and most-visited parks. Endlessly panoramic, yet comparatively compact, it is dotted with emerald green swamps in which great herds of elephant wallow; half submerged in the papyrus grasses. The permanent marshlands also provide a potent draw to hippos and buffaloes, while offering a haven for the abundant water birds.
An International Biosphere Reserve, the park largely constitutes the usually dried-out lakebed of Lake Amboseli, which is surrounded by flat grasslands relieved by very few trees. On the plains are numerous antelopes, spotted hyenas, jackals, warthogs, olive baboons and vervet monkeys. Lions are rare. Observation Hill, a conical peak, which is easily climbed, offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation
The camp offers six spacious tents, comfortably furnished with en suite bathrooms to the rear of the tent (shower, wash basin and flush toilet). Each tent has a double and single bed, Out of Africa-styled camp furniture, rugs and lamps plus solar electricity.
Dining and bars
Because the camp is presented in the style of a true safari camp, there are no permanent structures. Consequently, meals are taken under the shade of an Acacia tree, precluded and followed by drinks around the campfire. All meals, picnic lunches and sundowners are included in the cost (mineral water,sodas, gin and tonic, beer and house wine).
Child-friendly
The camp welcomes children.
What to see and do
Amboseli is world-famous for its populations of large mammals. The swamps are a centre of activity for elephants, hippos, buffaloes and abundant water birds. The surrounding flat grasslands are home to grazing antelopes. Spotted hyenas are plentiful, as are jackals, warthogs, olive baboons and vervet monkeys. No longer present in their original numbers, lions can still be found in Amboseli though the famous black-maned lions have long since disappeared, as have the black rhinos that were once so plentiful. Since Amboseli Porini is located within the exclusive Selenkay Conservency, guests can also take night game drives and bush walks (neither of which are allowed in the National Parks), they can also make a visit to an authentic Maasai village.
A typical programme
Day 1
Transfer from Nairobi by road arriving at Porini Camp for lunch. Following afternoon tea,you will be escorted on a walk by Maasai warriors to an authentic Maasai village. Return to camp for a shower,dinner and overnight.
Day 2
After an early breakfast, drive via our private track into Amboseli National Park for a full morning's game drive with a picnic lunch in the park. Return to Porini Camp later in the afternoon. In the evening enjoy a game drive within the conservancy ending with a sundowner at a scenic viewpoint. Return to camp via a night game drive (view such nocturnal animals as; aardvarks, serval cats, caracals, bat-eared foxes, African wild cats, and other species). Return to camp for dinner.
Day 3
Early morning game drive in the Conservancy followed by breakfast and then depart for the transfer to Nairobi, arriving around 1 pm.
Wildlife highlights: lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, zebra, hippo, spotted and striped hyena, giraffe, oryx, wildebeest, gerenuk, impala and Grant's gazelle. Birds: 425 recorded species.
Other attractions
• Custom-built open-sided four-wheel-drive safari vehicles for all game drives.
• Expert driver-guides.
• Morning and evening game drives in Selenkay.
• Night game drive.
• Escorted walk with Maasai trackers and guide.
• Visit to traditional Maasai village.
• Sundowner.
• Picnic lunch.
ECOTOURISM
The local Maasai community has set aside the Selenkay Conservation Area as a reserve for wildlife and in return is receiving an income from tourism activities.
This is used to fund community projects such as schools and water supplies.Employment opportunities have also been provided for the local Maasai people as game rangers,trackers,and camp staff. Apart from the management and Head Chef,all other staff in the camp and Conservation Area are members of the local Maasaicommunity.The 70 kms of roads in the Conservation Area were constructed using local labour. As a result ofthe establishment of the Conservation Area,wildlife numbers have recovered significantly in recent years and elephants are now seen frequently after an absence of nearly 20 years.
Amboseli Porini Camp - Amboseli • Tented Safari Camp • Kenya Hotels, Safari Lodges & Tented Camps
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