| The Western Kilimanjaro region is fairly new to | | | | joined me for each meal. This turned out to be |
| the northern safari circuit of Tanzania. It is not | | | | fortunate as I got to know all the staff very |
| therefore frequented by hordes of safari makers. | | | | quickly. |
| Little information exists; there is no National Park | | | | The rest of the day I spent relaxing around the |
| here and the area is contained in a private | | | | camp drinking in the surroundings. Relaxing and |
| concession; a type of private park. It is a very | | | | getting to know the local Maasai. The following |
| special area and borders on Kenya's Amoboseli | | | | day Philemon [the driver] and I were joined by |
| Park. | | | | the camp guide and he showed us the surrounding |
| I would strongly recommend this area for a few | | | | area and where to find the animals. Seeing herds |
| days if you find yourself planning a safari in | | | | of elephant against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro |
| Tanzania and truly want, unique, off the beaten | | | | was a highlight of many years spent in East and |
| track and an 'out of African experience'. Many | | | | Southern Africa. We then drove to a big white |
| destinations offer these qualities but Western | | | | stone that signposted the Kenyan - Tanzanian |
| Kilimanjaro truly delivers all these qualities. | | | | border and we stopped for photographs. After |
| I visited this private concession this weekend; we | | | | this we drove across the border and around the |
| left Arusha, my driver and I, heading toward | | | | Kenyan Amboseli National Park. |
| Kilimanjaro. An hour out of Arusha we turned left | | | | That evening as the sun waned we drove to the |
| and spent another ninety minutes on a very | | | | top of a large hill just outside the camp. We |
| rough road. It was slow going as the 4 x 4 rattled | | | | watched the sun begin to set then the clouds |
| slowly along the track; all the while I was | | | | cleared around Kilimanjaro and the snows were |
| wondering if all this would be worth the effort. I | | | | turned pink with the setting sun, and bellow the |
| was unsure of what to expect but had heard | | | | acacia trees were silhouetted as the dusk |
| good reports about this new area and so looked | | | | seemed to rise from the ground upward. Then as |
| forward to a pleasant experience. | | | | I though it gets no better than this the Maasai |
| My heart sank as we entered the camp. The | | | | from the lodge came dancing and singing up the |
| tents were under local thatch and it all looked | | | | hill - they brought champagne as this was to be |
| very basic; the luxury I was looking forward to, I | | | | my last evening. We toasted a most enjoyable |
| feared, was greatly exaggerated. I was | | | | stay and the staff and Philemon sang Maasai |
| surrounded by African bush and the camp looked | | | | songs and danced into the early evening. If ever I |
| non existent. However, the camp is truly built into | | | | was in Africa proper it was this evening. Not a |
| the surroundings; the en-suite tents and the entire | | | | tourist or car in sight, Kilimanjaro and local Maasai, |
| camp is truly luxurious; but hidden. | | | | words cannot express the emotions of that |
| No other cars were at the camp [we were the | | | | evening; you cannot have a more African |
| only guests this weekend] and with no other | | | | experience than to spend some time in this |
| camps in the area we were literally off the | | | | luxury, eco friendly camp. |
| beaten track; just myself, the driver and the | | | | If you come to Tanzania, I recommend this area, |
| staff of the camp. We arrived in time for lunch | | | | this camp. Forget everything else your African |
| and the food was superb five course meals in | | | | experience should start in the Western Kilimanjaro |
| elegant surroundings. As there were no other | | | | on the Tanzania - Kenya border. |
| guests my driver/guide who was also Maasai | | | | |