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Amboseli National Park – Kenya Safari Guide
Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya‘s elite parks, set against the backdrop of Africa’s best views of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m). The big-tusked elephants are Amboseli National Park’s signature attraction, and it is most likely that visitors will enjoy sighting hundreds of these magnificent gentle giants in one of Africa’s remarkable safari parks.
Here are our thoughts on a rewarding safari in Amboseli National Park, and we hope they will help you plan an exciting and memorable safari experience.
About Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is located south of Kenya bordering Tanzania, northwest of Mount Kilimanjaro, and southeast (about 240 km/150 miles – 4hr drive) of Nairobi. It sprawls over an area of 39,206 ha (392.06 km2) dominated by acacia woodland, rocky thorny bush, swamp marshland, and a Pleistocene lake, spreading across the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Mount Kilimanjaro inclines and dominates over the park’s southern boundary. While cloud cover can render the mountain’s massive bulk invisible for much of the day, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views when the cloud clears usually at dawn or dusk.
Amboseli National Park is a remarkable and compact habitat for lots of wildlife, including big-tusked elephants, big cats (lions, and sometimes cheetahs) flamingos and an easy-to-find hyena den. There’s literally real safari magic in the air in the early morning or late afternoon when the clouds clear to reveal Kilimanjaro’s summit.
An abundance of excellent lodges and camps and an agreeably mild, dry climate in Amboseli National Park ensure a worthwhile stay. A visit to the local Maasai community that lives around the park is richly rewarding as you get to experience their authentic culture.
Attractions in Amboseli National Park
1. Mount Kilimanjaro
The best views of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, are in Kenya although the snow-capped volcano actually sits in neighbouring Tanzania. Kili is at 5 895 metres (19 341 feet) high and its summit is almost always covered in cloud. Your best chance of seeing the peak is at dawn, when conditions may have cleared overnight.
Being a great choice for first-time visitors in Kenya, it is richly rewarding with one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences. The mount’s compact size allows travelers to see virtually every aspect of it in just a couple of days.
Amboseli National Park’s proximity to Nairobi offers a convenient transfer without following a long-haul flight given chartered flights between Wilson Airport and Amboseli Airstrip taking less than an hour.
2. Wildlife
Amboseli National Park’s sparse vegetation due to the long, dry months offers great wildlife viewing opportunities. Visitors can sight some of Africa’s big game up close including four of the big five (elephants, buffalos, lions and leopard), Masai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, impala, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and blue wildebeest, among others.
A prolific birdlife of about 400 species has been recorded including dozens of birds of prey and a profusion of water birds such as seasonal flamingo, pelican, and more than 12 species of heron. Other species include kingfishers, crakes, hamerkops, and 47 raptor species.
Safari highlights
- Large Herds of free-ranging elephants.
- The best views of Mt. Kilimanjaro
- Big five animal sightings
- All-year-round activities such as game drives, birding, guided nature walks, hot air balloon safaris, and cultural encounters
- Features an observation hill from which you can have an overall view of the entire park, including the wetlands and elephants.
- The swamp below the observation hill hosts many buffaloes, elephants, hippos, and a variety of waterfowl, like pelicans and Egyptian geese, among others.
- Experience contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyles with a visit to one of the Maasai villages.
Safari activities
The main activity in Amboseli National Park is the guided game drive. Game drives allow visitors to explore the diverse wildlife and habitats around the park while hot-air ballooning allows stunning views over the plains providing the different perspectives of the park from above usually at dawn.
You’ll only be allowed to leave your vehicle at the Observation Hill. Climb the mountain on foot and enjoy a picnic with breath-taking views.
Best time to visit Amboseli National Park
The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is in the dry season of June to October. Visitors are rewarded with spectacular game-viewing experiences since there is sparse vegetation making animals easier to spot, and they don’t stray far from water sources. It is mostly sunny with very little to no rain but rates are usually higher since it is the peak season, and the park can get rather busy.
The low/green season of November to May means is associated with short rains in November and long rains in April and May. This is the best time to visit the park for bird watching and a superb time for photography; scenically, Amboseli is at its best.
Visitors can also have the best views of Kilimanjaro when the skies are clear of dust. Rates are lower, and the park is quieter due to wet road conditions (around April and May). Visiting Amboseli National Park is a good start before you head to the Masai Mara for the wildebeest migration experience.
Getting to Amboseli National Park
By Road: Amboseli National Park is easily accessed from the capital, Nairobi, through Namanga Road to Meshanini Gate. The 240-kilometer road trip is covered in 4 hours. From Nairobi to Emali tarmac road through Mombasa road covers 228 kilometers of driving distance in 3 hours.
By Air: There are domestic and charter flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and Moi Airport in Mombasa to Amboseli National Park (Empusel Gate). Flights usually last 30 minutes before landing.
Where to stay in Amboseli National Park
- Tortilis Camp
- Porini Amboseli Camp
- Satao Elerai Camp
- Amboseli Serena
- Kilima Safari Camp
- Amboseli sopa lodge
- Amboseli Oltukkai Lodge