Overview
Kili views
Named after the flat-topped umbrella thorn trees which dot its hillside, Tortilis Camp enjoys a prime position with fabulous views of Kilimanjaro and the elephants of Amboseli’s plains.
The 16 tents are all spacious, with king or twin beds and elegant en suite bathrooms. There is a main lounge, pool, bar and dining area, all built with natural materials and thatched roofs, while the two-bedroomed Private House and Family Tent are located slightly further away from the shared areas with their own pool area.
Located in a private conservancy bordering the national park, game drives, walks, sundowners and bush meals take place both inside the national park and in the conservancy, where guests enjoy exclusivity.
Facts
At a glance
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16 tents
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Two bedroomed Private and Family tent
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Swimming pool
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Restaurant and bar
Experiences
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![Tortilis Camp10]()
Game drives
With only 10% of Amboseli National Park utilized by most safari vehicles, combined with Elewana Tortilis Camp’s unique location on the western edge of the park, guests can enjoy an almost private Amboseli as well as in the camp’s Kitirua Conservancy.
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![Tortilis Camp14]()
Guided walks
The camp’s walking guides are Maasai from the local community, who have been walking over these plains since childhood. Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems and plant life.
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![Scenic view of Maasai Mara, home to the Maasai people]()
Cultural visits
Visit a local Maasai manyatta where the families will show you around their home.
Community & Culture
Tortilis employs around 85% of its staff from the local community, training them from scratch to become professional guides, barman and waiters. With each employed individual in Kenya supporting an average of 8 dependants, our 40 local staff members potentially support between 300 and 400 members of the community.
Walking safaris with local Maasai guides are encouraged at Tortilis so that guests have the opportunity to find out, firsthand, about the intricacies of Maasai culture, stimulating a pride and desire among the community to preserve their traditions.
Tortilis Camp also supports a local primary school, with donations funding building work, sports equipment, books and stationary.
Conservation
Without fences demarcating National Park boundaries, Kenya’s wildlife roam freely between protected areas and surrounding privately owned land where their security largely falls into the hands of the community, and this is true in Amboseli. To promote wildlife protection and conservation among these communties, it is becoming increasingly recognised that they should receive tangible long term benefits from wildlife-based tourism. In full partnership with the community, Tortilis Camp is one of two tourism operators paying fixed rent to local Maasai landowners to preserve the Kitirua Conservancy, a 10,000 hectare wildlife corridor bridging Amboseli and Tanzania. In 2011 alone, Tortilis paid US$ 36,145 in fixed rent for the Conservancy, 70% of which was paid directly to the community, while the remaining 30% was allocated to funding conservancy management.
Footprint
Tortilis Camp has an environmental policy that forms an integral part of their business and holds a Gold rating from Eco Tourism Kenya. They were one of the first lodges of its size in Africa to go fully solar powered and they have an array of other sustainability measures from waste management, water treatment
Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
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Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
What makes us different
Why Niarra
Niarra Travel is a forward-thinking travel company headquartered in London born out of a passion to do things differently.
In Swahili, a Bantu language spoken by millions in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, the name Niara means "with utmost purpose" and our team are united by a passion for exploration and a belief that the right kind of travel can make the world a better place.
Our Travel Researchers are here to create incredible trips with a positive impact for you.
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Unforgettable experiences
Creating your trip is entirely collaborative and our Travel Researchers are here for every step.
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Positive impact
Curated sustainable experiences and accommodation that maximize the benefits to local people and place.
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Fairness and transparency
An open, competitive pricing structure that ensures more money goes to where it's needed in the destination.
