Get the best of both worlds on this fly-in camping safari - exploring the private Selenkay Conservancy and the famous Amboseli National Park on game drives in open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles.
Basic camping at the remote and exclusive campsite in Selenkay offers a genuine African safari experience, enabling budget conscious travellers to save on accommodation without compromising on the wildlife experience. Enjoy world-class game viewing with highly qualified Maasai guides, including a bush walk and night drive in the private wildlife reserve and a full day of 4x4 game viewing in Amboseli Park.
This affordable Kenya camping offers an unforgettable wildlife adventure in the Amboseli ecosystem and superb service from experienced camp staff, game rangers and trackers.
Fly straight to Amboseli and the Selenkay Conservancy, from the Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Your guide welcomes you upon arrival at the airstrip and drives you to the exclusive camp inside the private wildlife concession nearby. Travelling in an open-sided 4x4 safari vehicle we pass through open plains, game viewing en route to Selenkay, just north of Amboseli National Park.
Arriving at the private camp we have lunch and relax in the wilderness, before our first game viewing adventure. In the afternoon we set off into Selenkay Conservancy in the customized 4x4 vehicle, going in search of wildlife and birds.
Back at camp we have drinks and dinner around the campfire, surrounded by untamed nature. Meals at the camp are prepared by an experienced cook and the staff at camp are there to make sure you have a comfortable stay.
On day two we rise at daybreak, heading into the private game reserve on a morning game drive. This is an ideal time for spotting game and birds, as the nighttime prowlers are retreating and the diurnal creatures begin emerging. Our 4x4 game drive ends back at the camp in time for brunch and a short break.
Then we embark on a thrilling bush walk in Selenkay Conservancy, an activity which cannot be enjoyed in the national park proper. An expert local Maasai guide and tracker take you into the bush on foot, showing you the fascinating flora and fauna up close and sharing their extensive knowledge with you. Walking in the bush is an exhilarating experience, as you may encounter large mammals and big cats at any moment. Bush walks are also an excellent way to get close to nature and observe the details of the bush.
After our walk in the wild we have lunch back at camp and rest in the shade. Then it is time for a cultural adventure, visiting a local Maasai village to meet these proud, pastoral people of Kenya. These semi-nomadic people are known for their distinctive appearance, unique dance ceremonies and fierce warriors. This visit to the Maasai offers insight into the lifestyles, traditions and customs of these patriarchal Kenyans of the Great Rift Valley region.
After our cultural encounters we venture back out into the Selenkay Conservancy for a late afternoon to evening game drive in an open-sided 4x4 vehicle. Night drives are only allowed in the private reserves surrounding Amboseli Park - one of the advantages of game viewing in the private conservancy. After watching the sun set over the wild plains of Africa we use a spotlight to locate the animals and other nocturnal creatures in the dark. Moving through the darkness the suspense mounts as we tune into the sounds of rustling bushes, animals and bird calls. Part of the thrill is not knowing what animals are nearby, seeing the shining eyes of roaming wildlife looking back at you in the bright beam of the spotlight.
Arriving back at the simple camp under starry skies we sit around the glowing campfire and tuck into dinner. Fall asleep to the sounds of the wild inhabitants of the bush around you.
Day three, starts with an early wake-up and breakfast at camp. Then we climb into our 4x4 safari vehicle and drive to the official Amboseli National Park, located nearby.
The entire day is set aside for 4x4 game drives in Amboseli, one of the most scenic national parks in Kenya. We pause for a picnic lunch and continue exploring, looking out for elephant herds and array of other wildlife. This is Kenya's second most popular safari destination, after Masai Mara, and for good reason - its game-rich plains, flanked by towering Kilimanjaro. The backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro provides a beautiful setting, ideal for taking wildlife photographs.
Leaving Amboseli National Park after a rewarding day of game viewing we return to our private camp in the Selenkay Conservancy, which is closed to the public. We have dinner and spend the evening relaxing around the fire, soaking up the peace and gazing at the stars.
Our last day on safari, we get up early and take a final 4x4 game drive in the Selenkay Conservancy. Then we have breakfast back at the camp, before packing up and driving back across the plains to the airstrip.
Fly back to the Wilson Airport in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, where this truly African wildlife adventure comes to a close.
This is a private wildlife area, offering crowd-free game viewing, including game walks and night drives, which are not permitted in the national park itself. One of the pioneers of community conservation in Kenya, Selenkay Conservancy protects about 6070 hectares of wilderness and its wild inhabitants in the Amboseli ecosystem. The conservation area was previously used as grazing land, but today livestock is kept out and wildlife populations are thriving, with animals also migrating from the national park.
The Maasai own the land in the Selenkay Conservancy area, leasing it out in return for benefits from tourism, including the leasing fees, payments per guest and employment at the safari camps. The intimate camps offer a more remote and private safari experience, accommodating small groups of visitors at a time. The staff working in Selenkay are almost all local Maasai people, trained as expert guides, trackers, cooks and camp staff.
In the Selenkay private reserve open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles are used for game viewing, rather than minivans and overland trucks. The customized vehicles allow for better visibility and photography, as well as maneuverability. Because the private concession is not open to the public there are fewer vehicles exploring the area at the same time, resulting in quieter wildlife sightings with fewer onlookers. Elephants, lions, leopards, wild cats, foxes and cheetahs, numerous zebras and giraffes, and plenty of antelope species can be spotted in the Selenkay Conservancy.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
This safari is not recommended for children younger than 10 years of age.
Child rates provided above are applicable for children aged 10 – 16 years old, if sharing with 2 adults.
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