ELEPHANT HEAVEN - VISIT TO AMBOSELI, KENYA

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Amboseli which lies at the foot of Kilimanjaro in Kenya near the Tanzanian border is elephant country par excellence. There are several large elephant herds who together with the other animals are sustained by the permanent swamps which are fed by the ice-cap of Kilimanjaro. Lions are in short supply due to hunting of Lions by the Masai who it is said, took revenge when they were expelled from the reserve when it was declared a national park.

(Note Kilimanjaro in background and the 2 male cheatahs in the foreground)

ACCOMMODATION
We stayed for four nights at the Ol Tukai Lodge where the accommodation consists of wooden cottages looking out over the Amboseli plains. Mosquitos were a problem the first night, but luckily we had Anthisan ointment for the insect bites and we sprayed our room every night thereafter before dinner and kept the lights off as much as possible. (Truth be told…I was actually bitten at the bar after dinner). We later also used a citronella-oil based insect repellent which worked wonders.

FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT
All meals were included in our daily rate. The food was excellent and a good time was had by all. After dinner entertainment on the one night was provided by a Masai group who sang, danced and JUMPED! When not on a game drive we spent most of our time next to the swimming pool with long G&T’s (Gin and Tonic) – to repel the mosquitos of course.

GAME DRIVES
We went on at least two game drives per day with the safari operator who we had booked the trip with from Nairobi. Some of the wildlife we saw included cheetah, generuk (a long-necked antelope that looks like an impala with a very long neck), giraffe, hippo, zebra, impala, oryx, and of course elephants.

During the day Kilimanjaro is mostly obscured by clouds and the only clear views of the mountain are in the early morning.

(All photos are my own taken on location)