Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills

Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills

Sitting at the Kenyan border with Tanzania, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro rises above a saucer of clouds and dominates every aspect of Amboseli National Park. This park covers only 150 square miles but, despite its small size and fragile ecosystem, it supports a wide range of mammals and birds. Chyulu Hills National Park is a mountain range that sits tucked away between Tsavo West National Park and Amboseli National Park, preserving an essential migration corridor. Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills sit in the heart of Maasailand, and it’s not unusual to see Maasai warriors or small children tending their cattle as you traverse the area. This area is the setting for works by writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark, who spun stories of big-game hunting in the wilds of Africa.

Amboseli is only a 4 hour drive from Nairobi, making the area very popular on the mass market tourism routes. For this reason it can be crowded but this also makes it a great option for a driving (versus flying) itinerary. The park also boasts incredible concentrations of elephants and is home to the Amboseli Elephant Research project, the longest running elephant study in the world.

Our favorite properties in Amboseli are Tortilis Camp which enjoys the exclusivity of a private conservancy bordering the national park. The Chyulu Hills offer a more remote experience and our favorite properties in the area are Ol Donyo and Campi Ya Kanzi.

two people walking with a Masai guide look over the low clouds to a hill in the distance

Tortilis Camp – Amboseli, Kenya
game drive vehicle from Tortilis stopped to admire the three elephants with blueish mountains in the background
aerial photo of elephants in a swamp in Amboseli

Elephants in the Amboseli Swamps © Willie Robert
giraffe galloping across the horizon backlit by the sun at sunset. the sky is orange

Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Our favorite accommodation in Amboseli & Chyulu

Accommodation

Tortilis Camp

Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills | Kenya
Tortilis Camp sits on the edge of the Amboseli National Park, sheltered by a forest of thorn trees with unbeatable views of the Amboseli plains across to Kilimanjaro. Game drives and walks take place on the Kitirua Private Concession as well as in the Amboseli National Park, so you get the best of both. The […]
Accommodation

Ol Donyo Lodge

Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills | Kenya
Ol Donyo is located between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, adjacent to Chyulu Hills and is Kenya’s first Relais & Chateaux property. Ol Donyo sits on the Maasai-owned Mbirikani Group Ranch, meaning that it generates revenue for the local community and helps to preserve a key migration corridor for animals between Amboseli and Tsavo. Being […]

Other areas to explore

Meru National Park

Tarangire National Park

Tsavo National Park
Contact Us

Plan your Trip

Ready to start planning your own incredible adventure? We make the process stress-free and enjoyable.

Call 212-226-7331