Amboseli Ol Tukai & Elerai Camp: Ultimate Safari Experience Review

Back from an African safari, here’s a comprehensive comparison of two major hotels in Amboseli – Ol Tukai Lodge and Satao Elerai Camp. A complete guide for those who are indecisive, just follow this 👇

💡 Conclusion 💡
✅ For day-trippers or first-time visitors, choose OL: Excellent location, good value for money, save time to chase animals!
✅ For stays of two days or more, or honeymooners, choose Elerai: Unique luxury tent experience, night tours available, even the toilet has a view of Kilimanjaro [laughing emoji] but it’s recommended to stay one night at OL (play in the park during the day + stay outside the park at night)

🌍 Location: OL wins hands down!
Ol Tukai: Inside Amboseli Park, elephants right outside the door, and a short walk to Kilimanjaro. Especially after chasing the sunset in the evening, no need to rush out of the park, you can catch 15 more minutes of the stunning twilight (sunset may be after 6 PM, every second is precious P13)

Elerai: The hotel is outside the park, although it’s only 20 minutes from the gate, going back to the hotel for lunch will cost 40 minutes to 1 hour of rest time, and seeing animals might be deep in Amboseli, so lazy people should be cautious ❗️

🏞️ Scenery and Room Types: Both have their merits, but beware of room type pitfalls!
Ol Tukai: Divided into Mountain side and Elephant side. We stayed on the first row of the Mountain side, in the morning while eating instant noodles at the door, monkeys would come over, and there are posts saying that monkeys stole chips; also, there’s a beautiful swimming pool, great for photos (P8-9)

Elerai: Divided into Camp (view of Mount Kilimanjaro! Open the curtain for a great shot) and Lodge stone houses (bath facing the savannah, very private, quite comfortable P5). The Lodge rooms do not have a view of Kilimanjaro, if you want to see Kilimanjaro right outside your door, make sure to emphasize that you want the camp when booking!

🛏️ Room Facilities: Elerai wins by a landslide
Ol Tukai: Classic compact African style, the room is relatively small (P6), once the suitcase is opened, there’s only the aisle left. The bathroom faces a small garden, and there might be monkey 🐒 spectators (P13)

Elerai: The room is very spacious (P4), enough to spread out all your belongings, the toilet faces the snow mountain (even using the toilet, you can see the sunrise on Kilimanjaro, who understands! P7), the bathroom is dry and wet separated, the pebble floor gives a unique experience

🍴 Dining and Service: Details decide the winner
Ol Tukai: Buffet (P15) filling but ordinary, we felt it was like a university canteen, but far from being as unpalatable as some say. The service staff are laid-back, suitable for safari enthusiasts who value efficiency

Elerai: Full of ceremony! A la carte, whether it’s the food, plating, or service, it’s indeed slightly better in detail and taste (P16)