Amboseli Serena Lodge

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Framed against the glorious backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, the magnificently beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro, surrounded by miles of rolling grasslands, patrolled by vast herds of elephant, shaded by the lush, feathered-green of an acacia grove and hugging the banks of a gently flowing river, this very traditional yet supremely luxurious lodge is the safari destination of a lifetime.

Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park provides the classic Hollywood image of Africa. Set in rolling savannah scenery it is dwarfed by the presence of the pink-tinged, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro which, at 5,896 meters, is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and topped by one fifth of all the ice in Africa.

Against this magnificent backdrop roam vast herds of elephant accompanied by a kaleidoscope of other fabulous beasts - lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, baboon, gazelle hippo and wildebeest to name but a few. There are also over 400 species of birds, all manner of reptilian, flora and fauna and some of the most soul-searing views in Africa.

The lodge
The lodge itself draws on a subtle Maasai cultural motif, featuring natural woodcarvings, traditional artefacts and a glowing selection of local art.

Sensitively located and built from ecologically sympathetic materials, its architectural shapes, style, textures and colours reflect the true essence of the African bush. They also enable it to blend effortlessly into the landscape and work in gentle harmony with the natural environment.

Rooms:
The rooms, each with an uninterrupted view over the ever-changing vistas of the African plains, are styled to a traditional Maasai concept featuring beadwork, gourds, hand-painted murals and the clever use of the traditional manyatta bent-brushwood effect so as to blend an authentic nomadic aura with all the comforts of unabashed five star luxuries.

Guests can also enjoy an acacia-shaded swimming pool fed daily by the melt-waters of Kilimanjaro, a selection of natural timber game viewing decks, a water hole for the animals and an alluring selection of watering holes for the guests.

Guest Services and Amenities
Bush Dinners;
Sundowners at Observation Hill;
Private picnics;
Lunch boxes and specialist cultural entertainments;
Express check-in/out;
Full housekeeping services (laundry, valet, babysitting on request, children's menus/dining shoeshine etc);
Hairdryer available on request from the Reception Desk;
Full medical back-up and emergency evacuation facilities;
Extensively stocked Africana Gift Shop;
Beauty treatments, massage and hairdressing;
Swimming Pool, nature walks, jogging trails, bird watching and game drives;
Forex facilities;
A wide range of board games plus a full library of books on Africa.

Activities:
To many, Amboseli Serena is the very essence of African "safari" country. Your day begins with tea or coffee, before you set out for an exhilarating dawn safari drive. Game viewing is best at this time of the day.
Virtually every common species of East African wildlife may be seen at Amboseli Serena including lions, giraffes, wildebeests, wart hogs, zebras, gazelles, topi, hyenas, ostrich, hippos and baboons. But, against the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro, it is the elephants that play the leading role.
Amboseli National Park has the most accessible viewing of elephants anywhere in the world. It is also home to hundreds of species of wetland and wild birds.
Overlooking the sparkling swimming pool and beautiful landscaped gardens, the verandah also offers guests exceptional game viewing. The lodge has LandCruiser vehicles which can seat 6 persons each. Game drives across the plains of Amboseli National Park are scheduled daily.
Events:
Corporate and Social Event Facilities
If your company is planning a seminar or conference, then why not break with tradition, throw out the rulebook and step out of your world… and into ours. We can organise a conference that has all the up-to-the-minute facilities, technical back-up, world-class catering, sports and leisure facilities available at home. But at the end of a hard day's discussion in Africa you won't be braving the traffic; you'll be braving the bush.
Conference room facilities and Business services include:
- Overhead projector/screen
- TV-video and video conference equipment
- State of the audio visual equipment
- Podium/PA system
- Secretarial services
- Wireless Internet access in all rooms and conference rooms.
And as for incentives, Africa has it all: from tailor made safaris to high profile travel options that can take your team - down to the coast, high on a mountain, deep under water or skywards in a balloon. We offer a number of programmes ranging from high-profile conferences to low-key meetings with a novel line-up of incentive packages alongside. We can also orchestrate such customized extras as: unique African gifts, flights over Kilimanjaro, bush barbecues, wildlife talks and cultural interaction. So, why not break out of the boardroom... and conduct business in the Bush?
Geography:
Amboseli, its landscape and its people
The Amboseli Ecosystem
Amboseli is a fairly small National Park (392 sq. km) yet so rich in both flora and fauna that it has recently been designated an International Bio-sphere Reserve. Amboseli, meaning “Salty Dust” in the Maasai language is an important rangeland for the Masai culture whilst the ‘salty dust’ itself is volcanic ash from the eruptions of the Mount Kilimanjaro a millennium ago.

The Amboseli ecosystem is typical of the open savannah grassland habitats of Eastern Africa, featuring open wooded grasslands, rolling hills and swamplands whilst the presence of Mount Kilimanjaro creates a unique selection of ecosystems found nowhere else on earth. The Amboseli basin is fed by springs that provide a permanent source of water during the dry season, while the river systems north of the basin form a seasonal flood plain that is used by migratory animals during the rainy seasons. Although the region has a relatively low wildlife biomass it supports a greater variety of animals than neighbouring Tsavo which is fifty times bigger than the compact but comprehensive Amboseli. Over 53 species of herbivores and carnivores can be viewed with ease, the most conspicuous being the troops of over one thousand elephant who range the plains and wallow the swamps. A number of other unique animals also populate the area including lion, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, rhino, wildebeest, gerenuks, impalas, gazelles, hyenas, baboons, bats and about 425 different species of birds.
The Amboseli People
Amboseli is one of the homes of the fabled Maasai peoples. Often strikingly tall and slender, swathed in brilliant red cloth “Shukas”, hung about with beads and metal jewellery, the young men (Moran) favour long, plaited, ochre-daubed hairstyles and have a formidable reputation for glamour, prowess and ferocity. Traditionally the Maasai live off the milk and blood of their beloved cattle and believe that all the world’s cattle are theirs by God-given right. Their nomadic and pastoral lifestyle, though historically based on the pursuit of the migratory wildlife, is slowly changing thanks to a combination of education, Maasai MPs, votes, favourable new laws, projects, jobs and cash.

How to Get There
Access from Nairobi is via Namanga (240 km) or Emali (228 km) and both routes are tarmac clad. From Namanga to Amboseli is 75km and from Emali to Amboseli 64 km.
Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate, or by air. The park has five gates, Olkelunyiet, Iremito, Ilmeshanan, Kitirua and Empusel (Airstrip). The park offers a first class tarmac airstrip and private air charters can be arranged.

What to Wear/Carry with you
When on safari we suggest that you travel light, dress comfortably in lightweight cottons in muted colours and carry a light jacket, sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen and insect repellent plus a good camera, plenty of film, binoculars and a guide book covering your area of interest (flora/fauna/birds etc).