I arrived at Tortilis Camp in time for lunch, and was greeted enthuasically by Andrea and Manuela, the husband and wife Italian camp management team, and immediately you think ‘I am going to enjoy staying here!’.
My room, or rather my tent, was lovely – if I had to use one word, it would be ‘stylish’. You approach via a private pathway, and a covered verandah complete with deep comfy seating invites you to enter the tent. Polished wooden floors, a huge kingsize bed, and a large en-suite bathroom with double basins, a shower (with hot and cold water) and a toilet complete the accommodation.
Lunch was buffet style, but with a real Italian twist – pasta as an entre, followed by salads and chicken, and then deserts and cheese. The restaurant is open to the bush, and overlooks a waterhole, and as I sat there, a stream of thirsty zebra meandered up to the waterhole and proceeded to drink. So game viewing without even having to leave your table !
The game drive departed at about 4 pm, and we spent some time in the Park itself (and saw elephants, hippo, cheetah, antelope, zebra, giraffe … ) before driving back into the private conservancy where Tortilis is actually situated, for a stunning sundowner on top of a hill with Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop.
Back at the camp, dinner was again as wonderful as lunch. Service was discrete, polite, and efficient.
I went to bed early, and as I was walking down to my tent (the camp is fenced, so you can walk around safely at night), I heard the hyenas starting to call … I found out the next morning that literally just after I had left the restaurant, 4 lion appeared at the waterhole, so guests abandoned desert and stood watching them for ages from the safety of the bar / restaurant.
Tortilis is definately a camp for people who want to enjoy luxury on their safari, and who expect superb quality food and outstanding service. If this is you, then you most certainly will NOT be disappointed.