Monthly Archives: March 2015

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge has this blend that exists between it and the ecosystem around it. From a far it would be hard to tell if the lodge does indeed exist! Trees have been planted around the lodge and the Masai architectural design of lodge minimizes disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. The only give away about the lodge’s existence is the constant traffic of vehicles plying to and from the lodge.

Location
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m29!1m12!1m3!1d2061484.4693428522!2d37.49479984431542!3d-2.873278292020666!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m14!1i0!3e0!4m5!1s0x183eacbbd7957047%3A0x1a8d165c0a0f8331!2sKilaguni+Serena+Safari+Lodge%2C+Tsavo+National+Park%2C+Kenya!3m2!1d-3!2d38.666667!4m5!1s0x18309e11c9cb29c3%3A0x8602daa23149991b!2sAmboseli+Serena+Safari+Lodge%2C+Tsavo+National+Park%2C+Kenya!3m2!1d-2.62661!2d37.254405999999996!5e0!3m2!1sen!2s!4v1426685529111&w=600&h=450] Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge is located inside the Amboseli National Park which is in Kajaido County. One can access this lodge using two fronts -either from Tsavo National Park (from Nairobi-Mombasa node)or from Nairobi-Namanga Road

In our case, we accessed the lodge from Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge and as such we connected through the road that cuts through Tsavo West National Park. This road cuts across the no man’s land / Tanzanian Kenyan border – tour vans are accompanied by armed KWS wardens. This is because in the late eighties bandits used to ambush convoys but this is no longer the case. There has not been any reported incident in the recent past.
KWS offers security to tour vans leaving Tsavo Park to Amboseli at 8 and 10 am and also for the reverse traffic. When you use this stretch road, you will get to to see Shetani Lava Flow. This is an area where volcanic activity took place a few hundred years ago and the local not understanding the phenomena named it shetani which is Swahili for the devil.

This road cuts across the Masai heartland and on a clear day you can view Mt. Kilimanjaro on the background. Occasionally, you will meet with Masai herd’s boys with their cattle who normally herd they cattle next to the road so as to make an extra buck from curious tourists. The traffic along the route has also resulted to some form of entrepreneurship – Masai folks who sell beadworks. Occasionally some will propose you pose with them for a photo in exchange for a few bucks! When using this stretch of the road prepare for some dust – this is a dirt road and the vehicles normally move in a convoy.

Thursday
1. Lunch | 1 pm
The lodge offers buffet lunch with a wide selection to choose from offering and caters also for the vegetarians. Lunch is served from 12.30 to 2.30 pm.

The lunch

Buffet Lunch Menu
From The Salads Counter
A selection of
Fresh Garden Salads, Cold Platters
With a Choice of Dressings and Condiments
Soup
Cream of Carrot and Grinder
Or
Mutton Broth Flavored with Turmeric
Hot Chaffing Dishes
Beef Strongnoff, Chicken Drumsticks,
Grilled Red Snapper Set on Leeks Fondue,
Steamed Rice, Boulangere Potatoes, Njahi,
Fleshly tossed Vegetables in Season
Indian Option
Parathas, Creole ice,
Ghobi Mattar, Green Daal,
Papadums, chutney, Pickles and Condiments

Active Cooking
A choice of stir fry vegetables and pasta

The Desserts
Selection of deserts, pastries, cakes and sweets
Tropical Fruit Slices and fruit salad
Kenyan Cheese Board with Crackers and Relishes
***
Freshly Brewed Kenyan Coffee, Tea or Herbal Infusion

Selection of Serena House White and Red Wine (paid separately)

2. Afternoon Game Drive | 2.30 pm
Amboseli offers a wide selection of game one can view and in our case we were not disappointed. It is easier to spot animals in Amboseli as opposed to the Tsavo East where terrain and trees hinder one from viewing the animals.

If you are doing a game drive you are assured of spotting the elephants, zebra, hyenas, buffaloes and ostriches. You will need a lot of patience if you intention is to spot the big cats. However, with a measure of luck and a good game driver you are assured of making the drive memorable. The drivers normally exchange information on places where they have spotted certain animals

3. Bush Barbeque Dinner with Masai Traditional Dance and Drinks | 8 pm

For an extra cost* you can have a seven course dinner bush barbecue dinner accompanied with Masai traditional dance. The setting for the seven course meal is impeccably done in one of the open spaces near the lodge. While enjoying your dinner you can view the sky and listen to herbivores that normally grace within the vicinity of the lodge.
If you are having a family event or an office retreat – the Bush Barbecue Dinner is highly recommended.
Bush Barbeque Dinner

Dinner Menu
Salads
A Selection of Fresh Garden Salads and Cold Platters
With a Choice of Dressings and Condiments
Soup
Puree of Vegetables
Or
Clear Essence of Chicken
Main Course
Grilled Medallion of Beef Served with Thyme Reduction
Or
Broiled Red Snapper Fillet Served with Lemon Butter
Accompaniments
Steamed Rice
Or
Parsley Potatoes
Freshly Tossed Market Vegetables
Vegetarian Offer
Baigan Masala, Risi Bisi Rice,
Chana Chole, Daal Aloo Palak,
Papadums, Chutneys and Condiments
The Active Cooking
AChoice of Stir Fry Vegetables with Pasta

The Desserts Buffet
Selection of Desserts, Pastries, Sweets, Cakes
Tropical Fruit Slices and Fresh Fruit Salad
***
Kenyan Cheese Board with Crakers
***
Freshly Brewed Kenyan Coffee, Tea or Herbal Infusions
Recommended Wines
ST. EMILLION
ARNISTON BAY (chenin blanc)

Hat tip: You need to have ready for the seven course because it is not a joke!

Friday
4. Morning Game Driver (Sunrise in the Amboseli) | 6 am

Catching the sunrise should be one of the things you need to do while in Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. One need to arrange in advance with their tour driver so that they can be picked from the lodge by 6 am. The sunrise is best observed in the park, since the is few vegetation.

5. Breakfast at Observation Hill | 8 am

If you choose to obviously at an extra cost*, you can have breakfast served overlooking Mt. Kilimanjaro and Elephants in the vicinity. The additional cost incurred for this is totally worth it and on a good day you can spot elephants in a marsh that is close to the viewing hill.
Ideal for place for celebrating special occasions.
The lodge also provides sundowners overlooking Mt. Kilimanjaro on the same spot.

6. Tree Planting | 10.30 am

Tree planting initially started as Corporate Social Responsibility initiated by one of the previous managers of the lodge.The noble project grown over time and hotel guests are invited to leave a tree footprint around the lodge. This idea has also been bought by KWS and they are now partners of this project. The end goal is to plant more trees around park.

7. Swimming, Shoulder Massage or Bird Watching? | 11.30 am
If your schedule does not allow you – there are lots of activities to do within the lodge such as take a dip in the immaculately cleaned swimming pool or reward yourself with a massage. Their masseuse is really fantastic and you are bound to forget you Nairobi problems momentarily!

As a result of the tree planting around the lodge, you are bound to spot some bird species and it is not uncommon to spot birders.

8. Lunch / Check Out | 11.30 am
One can check out by 11 am and have lunch which is advised, especially if you are using the road to get back to the city.

Additional Information
Costs
Bush dinner will take you back – $ 35/40
Breakfast at the observation hill – $ 30
Game Drive – $ 50
The room rates depends on the season – check out the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge site for the best rates.

ION: The lodge has been nominated by World Tourism Awards as one of the Kenya’s Leading Safari Lodge

Disclosure: This trip was facilitated by Serena Hotel.