Elewana Tortillis Camp
Amboseli National Park
The Amboseli ecosystem, stretching across southern Kenya into northern Tanzania, is one of the last strongholds of the world’s big tuskers and super tuskers. No wonder Amboseli sometimes is known as "Land of Giants". Fewer than a few dozen exist across Africa today, and Amboseli is, and has been home to some of the most famous.
What is the difference between super tuskers and big tuskers?
Super tuskers are the rarest of the rare. Each tusk weighs over 100 pounds (45 kilograms), sometimes long enough to brush the ground. Fewer than a few dozen remain in all of Africa today.
Big tuskers are elephants with very large ivory that hasn’t yet crossed the 100-pound threshold. Many younger bulls in Amboseli fall into this category.
Tortillis sits at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and a number of Maasai villages are in the area. We had the chance to visit one. You will find those photos at the bottom of the page.
Getting There & Our Camp
Another quick plane flight (this time on Mombasa Air) and we arrived in Amboseli. We had another beautiful “tent” to stay in, and a dik-dik that liked to forage outside it.
The Animals
Amboseli is a sprawling park that means you see fewer animals in smaller concentrations. The "Animals” section is in three parts: Elephants (they are the highlight), Cheetah (one was hunting right next to the road), and everything else (because I really did start to cut back on pix taken..
Elephants
Cheetah
Everything Else
Maasai Village
Kate and I were warmly greeted as guests at one of the Maasai villages in the area. We were hosted by the son of the village elder. As part of our welcome, we were encouraged to join in their tradition of jumping. Our host showed us the two-room hut he shared with his wife and children, and his kids posed for photos.
Final “Sundowner” in Kenya
Each evening game drive at all three camps concluded with a “sundowner” cocktail prepared by our guide before we returned for dinner. Our final one in Kenya took place on a mesa with incredible views.
