Amboseli National Park, Kenya - Kilimanjaro's Kingdom
The Amboseli Sopa Lodge is located within 190 acres of wooded Maasai land at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. There are mature wooded gardens with a wide variety of flowering trees, shrubs and succulents. A potent draw to the surrounding wildlife, the grounds feature numerous birds, monkeys and squirrels. Within the lodge, there is a spacious reception presented in classic Maasia style and featuring Maasai artifacts and art. The lobby, which features a bridged fish-pond, also features a Maasai market, a showcase for local art and handicrafts, the proceeds of which go direct to the local community.
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 lodge lies 250 km south (four hours drive, approximately 40minutes flight time) of Nairobi and close to the Tanzanian border and Mount Kilimanjaro. 250 kms from Nairobi, approximately 4 hours drive on tarmac and murram all weather road. Flying from Nairobi is approximately 40 minutes, and an hour's transfer time to the lodge.
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
Amboseli Sopa Lodge offers 18 deluxe rooms, 20 double rooms and 9 single rooms, all ensuite and each with its own private veranda. (Hairdryers provided).
Dining and bars
The Kibo restaurant is housed in a traditional thatched rondavel and features a central fireplace and panoramic terrace with fire-pit and fishpond. The Mawenzi bar features a central fireplace and BBQ terrace, with Maasai dance performances (alternate nights). Hemingway's bar is located in a house originally built by the famous writer, Ernest Hemingway and is presented in classic colonial style, overlooking a waterhole, which attracts elephants, hyena and mongoose nightly. There is also an al fresco pool bar adjacent to the swimming pool. The lodge features a number of 'theme nights' such as; Swahili, African, BBQ etc.
Child-friendly
The camp welcomes children and offers children's pool, baby-sitting, cots, children's menus and children's mealtimes.
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.
Conference and events facilities
Amboseli Sopa offers its own conference facility. The lodge is also ideally adapted to the presentation of atmospheric weddings - a series of wedding packages are offered.
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.
Lodge Facilities
Swimming Pool, board Games and escorted climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro. Reception facilities include: international telephone and fax services, laundry and safe-deposit box. Facilities for physicaly-challenged travellers are available (ramp access in all public areas).
Highlights and special features
Game Drives
Experience the real safari - morning and afternoon game drives through the park with our trained driver-guides. Picnic lunches and sundowners can be provided.
Guided nature walks and ornithological tours
Visits to Observation Hill
One of the high points of the park, Observation Hill towers above a small car park and its summit is accessed by a winding stone stairway. Once at the top the views are tremendous, the photo opportunities countless and, as the sun begins its descent, it provides one of East Africa's finest sundowner venues.
Visit to an authentic Maasai En'kaang
To experience the true Maasai culture, we offer a visit to a traditional Maasai village or En'kaang. Here guests will be given a traditional Maasai welcome (with dance and song), experience a unique insight into the Maasai lifestyle, learn more about Maasai handicrafts (beading and leatherwork) and have the opportunity to purchase Maasai artifacts direct from those who make them.
- Maasai Dance performances
- Bush breakfasts in the wilderness
- Champagne breakfasts
- Bush lunches
- Sundowners with full safari bar and canapes
Amboseli Sopa Lodge - Amboseli
Kenya Safari Lodges, Tented Camps, Hotels & Resorts