Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants among other wildlife species like Africa’s Big five. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. The Park’s ecosystem is mainly savannah grassland spread across the Kenya-Tanzania border.

Amboseli National Park is regarded as the Royal court of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park is located in Loitokok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya.

Overview: Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National park is famous for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet Maasai and visit a Maasai village. The park also has views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Amboseli was home to Echo, perhaps the most researched elephant in the world, and the subject of many books and documentaries followed for almost four decades by American conservationist Dr Cynthia Moss. Echo died in 2009 when she was about 60 years old.

Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too.

Climate;

  • Temperature ranges from 20-300 c and rainfall from 200mm – 700 mm
  • Two rain seasons: Long rains – March & April & short rains – Nov/ December

How To Get There: Amboseli National Park

By Road:

The main road into the park is from Nairobi via Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi – Arusha Road, through Meshanani Gate. The other road is from Nairobi via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi – Mombasa Road. Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West National Park via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.

By Air:

The park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town

 

Park Access Gates;
  • Kulunyiet Gate
  • Meshanani Gate
  • Kitirua Gate
  • Iremito Gate
  • Airstrip Gate

 

Park Access Requirements;
  • Citizens: Valid Passport or National ID
  • Residents: Valid Passport & re entry pass

Wildlife: Amboseli National Park;

Wildlife at Amboseli National Park include; Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion, Plains Game, Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- Dik, Lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupine

Birding;

  • Aberdare national park has a recorded 600 bird species in the park.

    Where To Stay: Amboseli National Park

    In – Park Accommodation:

    • Oltukai Lodge
    • Amboseli Serena Lodge
    • Tortilis Tented Lodge

    Kenya Wildlife Services Self–Catering Accommodation:

    • Kilimanjaro Guesthouse
    • Kibo Guest House
    • Simba Bandas
    • Nyati Bandas
    • Chui Bandas

    Gallery

    Best Time To Visit:

    • All year round

    Attractions: Amboseli National Park

    Aberdare National Park has plenty of attractions to offer visitors, from Large Herds of Elephants, a breathtaking view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s Big Five, Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants, Swamp below observation hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of waterfowls like the pelican, Egyptian goose, and a Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle.