AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK INSIGHTS
- Amboseli National Park is located in south Kenya, northwest of Mountain Kilimanjaro, on the Kenya/Tanzania borders.
- The word Amboseli comes from Maasai language meaning ‘’Salty dust’
- A safari to Kenya is incomplete without the Amboseli. This is the most popular animal park after the Mara.
- Popular for its large herd elephants.
- The park has varied wildlife from giraffes, cheetahs and zebras to hundreds of bird species.
- Part of its charms is that the park is not large yet, with such a high herbivore population, predators such as the African Lions and Hyenas roam the land looking for easy kills..
- It lies on 392 square kilometers (151 sq. miles). Its size thus makes the viewing easier and more interesting for visitors.
- Perhaps, Amboseli is one of best place in the world where you can carry out elephant research plus other documentaries.
- It sits in the shadow of the scenic view of Mount Kilimanjaro which in turn makes it one of the famous safari destination in the world.
- When it come to scenic beauty, Lake Amboseli graces the western part of the park. But the crowning jewel is the magnificent ice peaked Mount Kilimanjaro, whose imposing presence commands your attention.
- We recommend combining Kenya vacation in Amboseli with Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara for a comprehensive wildlife safari.
Come discover one of the Africa’s most beautiful untouched safari destination in the heart of Africa.
Climate.
- Amboseli National Reserve has dry and hot weather, except during the rainy season.
- The area has two rainy seasons:
- The long rains from April to May and
- The short rainy season from November to December.
- During the dry season the park becomes very arid.
- With the volcanic ashes getting spilled from Mount Kilimanjaro, the dust is raised creating several reels.
Best time to visit
- Sightseeing is a little difficult during the rainy season, because the park is wet everywhere, making the roads muddy and difficult to navigate.
- Although the park is open all year, the best time for visiting is during the dry season with warm and dry days, from January to March as well as June to October.
- This is when the animals flock to the lakes and water holes, giving the opportunity to explore the park’s wildlife.
- The best time to visit for birdwatching is from November to January.
- It is when you can witness the residents, even birds migrating here during the palearctic winter.
Opening Hours
- The park is open from 06:00 hrs. to 18:00 hrs, everyday.
How to get there
- Amboseli national park has got several gates that allows travelers to access inside the park and these include;
- The Iremito gate
- Airstrip gate
- Kulinyiet gate
- Meshanani gate and
- Kitirua gate.
- The National park is approximately 240 kilometers way from southeast of Nairobi.
- Taking 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi the main city of Kenya.
- The park can be accessed through two different routes starting from Nairobi,
- You can reach the park through Nairobi –Mombasa road,
- You can also access it in the south coastal area of Mombasa Road passing via Tsavo West and Tsavo East National park.
- This route will cover a distance of 460 km to access the park through Kimana Gate which takes 8 hours.
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:
- Airstrips:
- The park has a single airstrip for light aircrafts at Empusel gate.
- Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town
Attractions
- Large Herds of Elephants
- Mt. Kilimanjaro
- 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 water fowls like pelican, Egyptian goose
- Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle
Wildlife in Amboseli
- Amboseli consists of over 80 different mammals, ranging from the tiny spectacled elephant shrew to the huge bulk of the African elephant.
- There are also over 400 bird species.
Things to do in Amboseli National Park
- Bird Watching:
- Bird Life-Amboseli national park is truly a birding safari destination gifted with over 420 bird species.
- This is one of the most done activities in the Amboseli and best done in rainy season when the migratory bird species are present in the park on their breeding.
- Birds to be spotted include; Egrets, pelicans, Herons, steel-blue whydah secretary birds, love birds, Starlings, Ostriches, White-bellied go way bird, Hartlaub’s bustard, Von der decken’s hornbill, Flamingo, peacocks, Grey crown cranes, African fish Eagle, Marabou stork falcon and many more.
- Game Viewing:
- Can be conducted in open plains, acacia woodlands, rocky thorn bush in 4×4 wheel driving vehicle or private car.
- The best game viewing time is early morning hours and evening hours when animals are still active.
- Visit Amboseli national park on game drive viewing. You will experience the perfect view of the Elephants' largest herds on planet walking across the Amboseli open plains besides a solitary trees.
- You can also watch them splashing and foraging in Ol Okenya Swamp, during much of the day.
Elephant Research Camp
- The elephants are the main highlight that attracts tourists to Amboseli.
- They live a rich and protected life, but they are also keenly studied.
- The camp is not open for casual visits, although a visit can be prior arranged.
Observation Hill
- Situated in the west part of the park, it is one of the few spots in the park where you can get out of a safari vehicle and walk.
- Shaped like a pyramid, Observation Hill gives you an opportunity to see breathtaking views of Mt Kilimanjaro to the south, besides the great swamps to the east.
Sinet Delta
- Relatively close to Observation Hill, Sinet Delta is a perfect spot for birdwatching.
- In addition, it offers a great view of giraffes foraging in the thicker brush, and a spectacular view of Kilimanjaro.
Cultural Tour
- The Maasai community is the perfect place to witness the cultural side of Kenya.
- Their way of living is worth exploring, especially their traditional dances and clothes.
Lake Amboseli:
- This is part of the park where the park got its name from.
- The attraction is where the boat cruise is done and great game viewing.
- The lake is a source of water to the wildlife at the park not only for drinking but for great cooling of the body for the big animals at the park.
- The shower of the lake is a home for the different swamp bird species that are found at this park.
Park Entry Fees
|
Amboseli National Park |
Citizen | Resident | Non-Resident | |||
| Adults | Child | Adults | Child | Adults | Child | |
| KSH | KSH | KSH | KSH | USD | USD | |
| 800 | 200 | 800 | 200 | 35 | 20 | |
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Visit Amboseli National Park Kenya’s most popular national park after Maasai Mara national reserves.
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It's definitely worth a visit in a break taking place to visit in the heart of Africa.
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Kenya is a great country everyone would desire to go to and experience the most spectacular sceneries in the world in its peaceful nature.
