Next stop: Amboseli National Park! To get here from Nairobi, we traded in our massive commercial jets for a tiny bush plane. Watching the pilots casually look back from the wide-open cockpit door to say “welcome” while the propellers rattled our teeth was equal parts thrilling and slightly freaky. But hey, we landed in one piece!
Amboseli gets its name from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust,” which makes sense given its vast, dusty lakebeds and the fact we had to take a shower as soon as we returned to get it all off! Set up in the 1940s, it’s world-famous for huge elephant herds and front-row seats to Mount Kilimanjaro. Well… supposedly. The early morning fog had other ideas, so Kilimanjaro spent the day playing hide-and-seek behind a thick cloud curtain.
We checked into Elewana Tortilis Camp, and let’s just say this is high-end glamping at its finest. The tent cabins are beautiful, and the food is out-of-this-world good.
Once unpacked, we headed straight out on our first game drive. Within no time, we met Michael—a 12,000-pound, 6-year-old elephant with tusks so massive he looks like a living legend. He’s one of the largest elephants around, and watching him quietly glide through the brush was unforgettable. We also spotted more elephants, our first giraffes and a few african birds.
Back at camp, we unwound with a good glass of wine alongside our World Cruise buddies, Gary and Linda, and Paul Chenge (the owner of TemboWild, who’s amazingly spending his own vacation guiding us!). We also met Gary and Linda’s friends, Gene and Donna. Seeing them soak in Africa for the very first time brought back all our own awe from our 2024 trip.
The fact we saw such amazing animals on day one was so unbelievable. Thank you TemboWild. Check these guys out here to plan your next safari. You’ll be amazed! tembowild.com
We called it an early night because tomorrow brings a 5:30 AM wake-up call for sunrise game viewing. Now, Chuck and I consider early mornings an absolute crime, but for Amboseli? We’ll make an exception.
Day one was a dream. Bring on day two!
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 