Tawi Lodge: A periscope to beauty

It is strategically located, that you can’t deny it, and more so the setting of the lodge is more than what you can explain with mere words, this place deserves praise.

I have been in Kenya for a couple of hours and it is marvelous. Its beauty, with the wonders sometimes hidden and sometime overwhelming can only be truly understood by visiting the place in person.

Being present at the Lodge I understood why some people think that one of the wonders in the world, Mountain Kilimanjaro is in Kenya. From room ten, I saw Mountain Kilimanjaro (5,963m) – the world’s largest free-standing mountain, looming majestically with its snowcapped summit and grassy lowlands.

Babbie Kabae from Clouds TV recording her show with beautiful background of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The truth is, when Barack Manono, Assistant Manager of the Lodge, spoke to Journalists about the lodge and its advantage for the visitors for seeing different bird species, wild animals and exceptional topography I did not fully grasp its uniqueness but when I woke up early in the morning and opened up the curtains in my room the view was extraordinary.

Then I decided to record it because it felt like I was at the foot of it, so close that I could almost feel the ice cold air.

It is beautiful to see it, (Mountain Kilimanjaro) but you cannot climb and conquer it from Kenya you had to go to Tanzania to do the task.

To the people who wants just to see it, this is the place to be, but if they want to conquer they had to travel to Tanzania to complete the walk.

At Tawi Lodge you will see different types of birds.

When tourists arrive in Kenya, it is good to hear that the tourist guides are fair when explaining the facts about Mount Kilimanjaro explaining that it is in Tanzania, and can only be climbed from the Tanzanian side. However, the best view is from the Kenyan side; from Tawi Lodge.

Tawi Lodge located on a private conservatory of 6,000 acres, just five minutes from Kimana Gate, the eastern entrance to Amboseli National Park, is in a natural elephant’s migratory corridor between Amboseli national park and Chyulu hills. The place has a natural waterhole where animals come for water in the dry heat.

The style of the lodge is a harmonious combination of modern style to give you comfort and traditional style to remind you that you are in Africa and you are welcome to enjoy the nature.

Tawi, which means a branch coming together to make a tree, it represents different people coming together to preserve the nature. In this case there are about 100 Maasai local people, each one contributing six acres to establish the conservancy, in joint partnership with African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).

A guest enjoying warm water on the swimming pool.

To ensure the running of the conservancy, it was decided that having Tawi Lodge will assist to serve the ecosystem and serve other kind such as promoting tourism and creating employment.

In fact the initiative was established to ensure land and wildlife habitat conservation, retain the migratory corridor between Amboseli National Park and Tsavo West National Park, reduce land fragmentation and provide income to the local land owners.

According to Manono the fees that each guest pay goes directly towards supporting the Conservatory which, in turn, directly supports its members.

The cabins are large and comfortable with full bathtubs / double sinks/  you can have great shower while enjoying the view of mount Kilimanjaro.

The initial concept of 13 cottages under Tawi Lodge was designed by a Germany photographer Axel Lohwesser in 2008 and put into action early 2009, with 400 workers finishing the lodge by November that year.

The lodge to comply with conservation routine does not benefit from the national grid electricity. They rely mostly on solar energy although they have a standby generator. On top of that, having a waterhole seems to be a blessing to Lodge guests as it is a popular place to see animals coming and going in the morning noon and evening

Zainul Mzige experience Bush Breakfast……Here comes the breakfast…wait and see!

Tawi Lodge has an environmental policy which is committed to ensuring social and environmentally sustainable business practices, environmental protection, community involvement and compliance with all applicable environmental regulations.

The lodge has a sustainability policy in place with management plans for energy, water and waste management all with clear conservation targets and action plans which guide the environmental management system.

Guests are encouraged to participate in low impact activities such as guided nature walks, camel rides and bird watching within the conservancy to reduce vehicle use and inevitably the lodge’s carbon footprint.

I had Beef Sausage, Baked Beans, Tomatoes and Roasted Mushrooms….. it was delicious!

Manono said Tawi Lodge is a luxury eco-lodge, offering game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, night game drives, bird watching and other.

There is camel safari for a person who wants to be as close as they can be to the wild as well as a Maasai walk for interesting mingling with the forest dwellers.

The Lodge also has swimming pool, massages, beauty treatments and hot baths at sunset in front of the wildlife drinking from the waterhole a few meters away.

Bush Breakfast set up!

Chef Robin Ondima of Tawi Lodge doing the prep.

Yummy Yummy..! Beef Sausages!

We were served by a very smart and charming waiter,  Dominic.

Tawi Lodge Reservations & Sales Executive, Claire Karanja (on a Purple Blouse) was present.

I saw a Giraffe near  Tawi Lodge Entrance.

My fellow blogger, Charlotte Beauvoisin decided to experience the camel walk at Tawi Lodge, Amboseli, Kenya.

(L-R) Tawi Lodge Driver, Reservations & Sales Executive, Claire Karanja, Babbie Kabae from Clouds TV, A blogger from Uganda, Charlotte Beauvoisin wait for sundown.

The Best Sundowner experience while sipping a glass of wine!

I just LOVE this shot!  The Best Sundowner.