Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge Hotel offers some of the most unusual features and facilities of any destination in Kenya.The lodge's highlight is the Hemingway's Viglia. Spread out on a two hundred acre estate on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, and located between Amboseli National Park and the Kimana Swamp, Perched high above the property, it offers a vantage point to see the mountain, the watering hole, and the Chyulu Hills in the distance. The atmosphere rekindles memories of the legendary writer and adventurer.
This older lodge was built in 1973 and needs refurbishing. It can accommodate 200 and is often full of Safari groups. It is outside the Amboseli National Park; about 20 minute drives from the nearest gate. It is also near a Masai village. You have a fantastic wide-open view of Mt. Kilimanjaro from rooms’ #80-90, the Hemmingway Tower Bar, and the swimming pool. The decor combines lava stone with dark wood and high ceilings. Room rondavels are spread through grounds. It is near the Kenya departure point for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Special Offerings at the lodge
Light plane ride over Mt. Kilimanjaro, camel rides, bush banquets, day trips with picnics
Oltukai lodge Hotel
This is the newest property, and lies in the heart of Amboseli National Park. An impressive wooden walk way across green lawns and between acacia trees leads guests to an airy reception area which has been artfully designed using natural materials.
Guest stay in chalet-style, single story blocks which have been built using local gum trees and pale slate. There are a total of 80 good-sized rooms each with a sitting area, a giant mosquito net enclosing the twin beds, and ensuite bathrooms with showers. Rooms have a good view towards Mt. Kilimanjaro or over the wetlands.
There is a large and attractive swimming pool with shady areas to sit and a pool bar for snacks and drinks. Guests can watch animals from the open-air Elephant bar which looks over the wetlands, play board games in the lounge, or use the library which commands a lovely view of mt. Kilimanjaro. You can go on bird walks in the property or attend a lecture given but some one attached to the Amboseli elephant research station.
Other services in the Oltukai lodge in Amboseli Park
24 hour telephone service, two rooms designed to accommodate the disabled, pre-booked game drives, masai dancing in the evenings.
Mt. Kilimanjaro Safari Club - This older lodge resembles a large tented camp, but without canvas. There are approximately 100 double rooms in concrete and thatched cottages and newer “K” wing with cottages built of wood. Unfortunately, each room practically touches the next, and work is in progress on the water table which has caused flooding in some cottages. There is a pleasant dining room, but only the new rooms in “K” wing are appealing with many windows, private terraces and bright fabrics. Rooms # K-9, K-10 AND K-12 have fantastic views with terraces opening out to green lawns and mt. Kilimanjaro
Tortillis Camp Hotel - This select camp of 17 tents offers a special blend of rustic style and luxurious comfort. It is without question the nicest place to stay in Amboseli. When you arrive at tortillas (easy by plane and a long, dusty, bumpy road by vehicle) you walk in the spacious lounge and dining area. You feel you need go no further. Beautifully thatched roofs soar overhead; the sides are open to the breeze and to the wraparound view. Dominating the horizon is snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro rising massively out of the acacia plains. Animals can be seen browsing in the shrub land and converging on small waterhole. Below, nestled under spreading acacia tortillis trees are the thatch-covered tents. There is the welcome green of watered lawns and a blue swimming pool beckons.
A stone path winds down the hill (a hot walk in the midday sun). The tents are wonderful-spacious, cool and with an oversized large veranda where you could easily while away an afternoon just enjoying your private view and listening to the hundreds of birds which have flocked to this green oasis. The tents have been cleverly arranged so that each has a view and you are not aware of your neighbors. There are large comfortable beds and pleasant ensuite bathrooms. Solar panels provide the hot water and electricity.
The meals at tortillis to be good-fresh, tasty and varied, with an emphasis on delicious pasta. Some of the vegetables and herbs are grown right in camp.
Tortillis Hotel is placed just outside of the park (near Kitirua gate) and guest is able to go for guided game walks. You go out early in the morning with an extremely knowledgeable and friendly Masai guide. The ground between the trees is depressingly dry and dusty but you were treated to Kilimanjaro clearly etched against a morning sky and the thrill of getting close to giraffe, grant’s gazelles and zebra. A large herd of elephant kicks up dust in the distance. For those who don’t come with their own transport, Tortillis has 4 wheel vehicles and drivers. Guests can arrange to go for hilltop cocktails at sundown.
The owners, stephano, Vice Chairman Kenya Association of tour operators’ max cheli and liz peacock, are known for providing high quality, personalized safaris. They have kept the camp small to ensure that each guest is looked after in a very special way. The camp is managed as a conservation project and the owners work closely with the Masai people and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Amboseli is famous for its big game - elephants, lions and cheetahs are the main attractions - and for its great scenery beauty.Amboseli embodies five main wildlife habitats, plus a generally dry lake-bed - Lake Amboseli. These are open plains; extensive stands of yellow-barked acacia woodland; rocky, lava strewn thorn-bush country; swamps and marshes; and at the western end of the reserve, above Naming, the massif of Old Daimyo Orok rising to over 2,760m (8.300ft) and still for the most part zoologically unexplored.
The landscape is dominated by the glistening majestic snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro immediately to the south.
Game such as zebra, eland, coke's hartebeest, white-bearded Gnu, waterbuck, Thomson’s and Grant gazelle and impala. Black rhinos are seen though occasionally as they are rare due to poaching in the mid-1970s.
In the dry bush country towards Namanga you can find two interesting antelopes; the long -necked gerenuk (giraffe-necked antelope) and the fringe-eared Oryx. In addition are smaller animals such as; black faced vervet monkey and yellow baboon, black-backed jackals, spotted hyena and bat-eared foxes which are often seen basking in the sun outside their dens.
Bird life is in abundance especially near the lakes and swamps where you may find water birds. The Madagascar Squacco Heron shows up in intervals and the long toed lapwing is a resident in small numbers. Yellow-throated, chestnut-bellied and black-faced, water in hundreds during the dry season.
Birds of prey include the six species of vultures, the Taita falcon and the Southern branded Harrier eagle.Birds common around the lodges and camps are the yellow weaver bird, Taveta golden weaver and superb starling.
Major attractions:
• Mt. Kilimanjaro
• Mt. Meru
• Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants,
• Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle
Activities:
Mountain climbing, Bird watching
Roads
The main road into the Park is from Nairobi are via Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi - Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmac upto Namanga but is badly corrugated and potholed in places from Namanga to Meshanani Gate (75km). The other road and via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi - Mombasa Road. The road is tarmac up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64 km) Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.
Airstrips
The park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo lodge and Namanga town.
Hotel Accommodation in Amboseli and Mt Kilimanjaro
Amboseli offers a wide range of accommodation:
Four luxurious lodges: inside the park; Amboseli new lodge, Ol Tukai lodge, Serena lodge, Kilimanjaro lodge (total 602 beds).
Two campsites. There are a number of small tented lodges just outside the park boundaries (total 72 beds
