Travel with Nev to Sentrim Amboseli

This week as you Travel with Nev, I bring you my Safari Experience & Adventures at Sentrim Amboseli

Travel with Nev – October 2021 – Sentrim Amboseli

I have missed my adventure trip, game drives and being with nature for over 18 months now, due to you know what. It has been one of my greatest experiences ever since I discovered it when Go Places began 28 years ago. So having a personal invitation to the recent Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival (MKTNF) at Amboseli National Park by Brig. J M Waweru, the MD Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), I didn’t have to think twice.

It was a one of a kind occasion that attracted tourism stakeholders, NGO’s and the Private sector. The event was scheduled for October 9th and this called for an early reservation since the place was expected to be thronged by Safari enthusiasts. We made our reservation with Sentrim Hotels two weeks prior to travel. Though this was not my first time at Sentrim Amboseli.

The last time I was at Sentrim Amboseli, it took me like a week to keep my mind off the place after returning to Nairobi. I had promised myself to come back and have the fascinating experience and share this with my Go Places readers. The amazing sceneries, the well-informed tour guides and of course, the African elephants and over hundreds of species of birds were my key attractions.

We had to hit the road early in the morning to avoid the tedious traffic on Mombasa Road. After covering the 215 Kilometre journey via Mombasa Road on the approximated 4 hours drive from Nairobi, we arrived at the Sentrim Amboseli on the sunny Friday noon where we got a warm reception from the welcome team, they were all ready for our arrival. Before checking in we had to follow health protocols of washing our hands and sanitization as well as signs for wearing masks and keeping social distance which has become our daily routine and way of life.

Sentrim’s hospitality was spot-on and like they say “the first impression is the last impression”. We got a cold towel and a refreshing cocktail and the check-in was very quick and professional and we did not need to wait long before we were escorted to our rooms.

This time around we had booked the family house as we had previously stayed in the luxury tents and wanted to try a different experience. The family house has two bedrooms, both ensuite with ample cupboard and movement space as well as a workstation. We had requested one double or a twin sleeping arrangement. The house also consists of a large lounge area and a balcony for that outdoor seating. All must have amenities were included with a coffee and tea station as well as a minibar. The best part was that the showers always had hot water and there were many electric points where we could charge all our communication, cameras and electric gadgets. The family house is ideal if you have younger children or a family that wants to be close to each other and for those that don’t fancy staying in the tented accommodation.

Don’t worry if you arrive late and didn’t make it on time for lunch, just like we did due to the several stopovers, you can request and place an order for some snack and biting which the chef will gladly prepare. What I noticed was that all staff were really hospitable and went out of their way to give us a great guest experience.

Here’s more insight into Sentrim Amboseli which I experienced and would like to share before I request you to pick your phone and make a booking. I know you need a break and will enjoy it and you will thank me for it later.

Wine & Dine at Sentrim Amboseli

The breakfast, lunch and dinner are set up in the main restaurant and you can find a large variety and spread of cuisine, starting from of soups accompanied with bread and butter, make it yourself salad or choose from their recommended daily special. Next, you can select from their chef’s signature cuisines vegetarian and non-vegetarian with sides. The menu changes daily. The meals on each of my 3-day stay were really satisfying and a had a great culinary experience. I believe that a traveller’s experience is enhanced by the culinary experience one has on their trip and Sentrim Amboseli’s culinary and service team did not disappoint me at all. I was told that If I had any special dietary needs the chefs would go out of their way to ensure that I got what I requested for as long as the ingredients were in the kitchen.

My highlight before meals was relaxing at the amazing bar and lounge area which is the centrepiece of the lodge. this is where I spent some quality time and sipping a cocktail from the special cocktail menu (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The barmen comes up with daily special and went out of his way to prepare a special Mojito my way with my secret recipe and ingredients. I shared the recipe with him and I guess he will include it in his special menu offering this to other guests. If you are celebrating a special occasion the team will provide you with either a special bush breakfast or dinner setup to make it even special and romantic.

Activities & Excursions at Sentrim Amboseli

Sentrim Amboseli has a quiet serene aura around the entire camp and there is always something for everyone whether it’s a stroll around the camp, walk to the viewpoint to get a glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Elephants and other wildlife. The swimming pool is a great place to take a deep in crystal clear blue water or just sunbathe. This is the place to get a fantastic view of the snowcapped mountain or you can relax at one of the garden swings and just switch off and be with nature. The serene breeze of the leafy hardwood indigenous trees and the whistling of the birds gave me a sense of calmness. It created a great environment for me to take my camera, my sunglasses and my light outfit and turned on perfecting my skills behind the camera by taking photos and videos through my gimbal recording the 20,000-foot Mt Kilimanjaro rising majestically above the African plains.

Obliviously one of the main excursions is taking off for early morning and afternoon game drives in the Amboseli National Park which is a very short drive from the camp to Kimana Gate. Get ready to take out your camera and binoculars and spot the wildlife. Amboseli is famous for witnessing the large herds of the gentle giant, the Elephant. Don’t forget to capture a group of Elephants with the backdrop of Kilimanjaro. This image set has made Amboseli famous around the world and has been featured in many popular travel magazines and coffee table books by professional photographers. This is what Amboseli is identified with and you can have your very own memory of your trip.

After every game drive, the team at Sentrim Amboseli are at your disposal for a refreshing drink to quench that thirst before heading for a quick shower and a meal. You could also book a massage and spa therapy. Don’t forget to peep into the gift shop for some reasonably priced souvenirs to remember your trip or to gift friends and family back home.

The evenings in Amboseli get cool so remember to carry something warm. Evenings are about catching up for the day’s activities, sharing the experience and what was spotted during your game drive as well as storying telling. If you know me, I love to be around people and will always want to make friends during my trip and to get to know people from around the world. Being a passionate promoter of East African tourism, I always want to know how the tourist experiences have been when visiting our Magical Kenya and I have made hundreds of friends around the world. The best place is to gather around the communal fireplace after dinner sipping a signature cocktail or a Kenyan Coffee. They say that the bar closes once the last customer leaves. I spent most of my evenings here watching the clear skies with hundreds of stars before retiring for the day.

This was one of my best trips by far to Amboseli and Sentrim Amboseli did not disappoint me even for a second it’s a place I would definitely recommend for anyone as a safari destination.

Travel Tips:

Take a 35 min flight from Wilson Airport Nairobi
Drive from Nairobi is approximately 4 hours
Drive from Mombasa is approximately 7 hours 30 minutes (I recommend that you break your trip and visit Sentrim Tsavo)

What to Pack:

Light clothing for the daytime
Something warm for the cool nights
Sunglasses
Sun Hat or Cap
Good tracking Shoes
Swim Wear
Sunblock
Camera with a telephoto lens or a phone with a good zoom feature

Sentrim Amboseli has great offers and pocket-friendly rates throughout the year. As we approach the festive season you can get some great deals with early bookings. Check out their Jamhuri Day and Festive rates in the post on Go Places Digital and ensure that you book early to secure your preferred dates.

Now that I have once again experienced Sentrim Amboseli and am soon headed to their other properties in the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Elementaita

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