Amboseli national park

Amboseli national park is located on the Tanzania border with Kenya North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The national park is characterized by open plains, acacia woodland, bush county swamps, marshland and a dry lake basin of Lake Amboseli which fills up during the rainy seasons. The word “Amboseli” in the Maasai dialect means salty dust. The salty dust is a description of the volcanic ash from an eruption of Mt. Kilimanjaro and of which the ash is in Amboseli national park hence the name Amboseli.

Amboseli national park is a popular destination in Kenya which attracts many tourists due to its abundance of wildlife species and birds as well as the scenic views it offers. The big five can also be sighted in Amboseli national park.

Amboseli national park is surrounded by six community-owned ranches and conservancies which allow walking safaris since Amboseli national park does not permit walking safaris.

For elephant lovers, Amboseli national park is known for being a destination to view large herds of elephants as they wander and graze around the national park also offering an additional view of Mt. Kilimanjaro which can be seen from the southern end of Amboseli national park.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is used as an observation point for tourists to view Amboseli national park and its attractions which include wildlife and bird species and many other attractions. Amboseli can also be accessed from Tsavo west national park through the Kimana gate.

Entry into Amboseli national park to view its attractions and participate in tourist activities can be through different gates which include the Meshanani gate, the Kimana Gate, the Iremito gate, and the Kitirua gate.

Forms of transport used to access Amboseli national park include;

By road; from Nairobi via Namanga along Nairobi – Arusha road / from Nairobi via Email along Nairobi – Mombasa road.
By air; Amboseli airport. Different lodges in Amboseli national parks also have airstrips which offer flights to Amboseli national park such as Kilimanjaro buffalo lodge.

Photography in Amboseli national park offers a view of the elephants grazing with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. The open nature of the landscape consisting of a contrast between the arid areas of the dry lake basin and the swamps in Amboseli national park also offers great photography opportunities.

Amboseli national park has an all-year supply of water from ice which melts from Mt. Kilimanjaro forming two streams flowing through the national park and providing water for the wildlife species. These streams provide a good spot to view the different wildlife species in Amboseli national park as they drink water and graze around the streams.

Attractions in Amboseli National Park

The beauty of Amboseli national park can be seen in the different attractions that are found in the national park which include;

Wildlife and bird species. Amboseli national park is known for the ease with which the wildlife species can be viewed. The different wildlife species in Amboseli national park include; elephants, lions, buffalos, hippos, impalas, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, lesser kudu, mongooses, giraffes, porcupines, and many other wildlife species. Elephants are the highlight during a trip to Amboseli national park. A variety of bird species can be sighted in Amboseli national park and they include; pelicans, kingfishers, crakes,
Lake Amboseli is a seasonal lake that acts as a water point for the different wildlife species in Amboseli national park during the wet seasons when it fills up. Lake Amboseli is usually dry most of the time.
Mt. Kilimanjaro which can be seen in the back drop of Amboseli national park creates beautiful scenery ideal for photography and also provides a rewarding safari experience during trips in and around Amboseli national park.
Swamps in Amboseli national park which include Enkongo Narok swamp located at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro acts as a water point for wildlife species such as elephants, hippos, buffaloes in Amboseli national park. Other swamps in Amboseli national park include Olokenya swamp.

Activities to engage in at the park

Activities that tourists can participate in while journeying through Amboseli national park include the following;

Game drives in Amboseli national park can be done at different times of the day and they include morning game drives, evening game drives, and full-day game drives. Morning game drives are usually more rewarding as the wildlife species are more active during this time of day and can easily be spotted. During the evening game drives the wildlife species may be a little harder to spot but not impossible to sight as they take shelter from the heat and hide from the predators. Full day game drives offer wider chances of viewing wildlife species as tourists can see the animals at different times of the day and study their ways of life, how they feed and how they protect themselves from danger.
Birding can be carried out in Amboseli national park which is rich in birdlife providing a productive bird watching experience with different bird species such as Madagascar pond heron, lesser flamingo, lesser kestrel, shoebill and many other birds. Both native and migratory birds can be sighted in Amboseli national park.
Masai cultural experience offers an opportunity to interact with the Maasai people of Kenya to learn more about their culture, way of life and their norms and traditions. The Maasai are pastoralists and depend on their cattle and other animals they keep for survival. The number of cattle owned by an individual among the Maasai is a determinant of wealth. The Maasai have stuck to their culture despite the influence of the modern world which makes a cultural experience among the Maasai community a rewarding experience as the Maasai are directly involved in promoting tourism initiatives in Amboseli national park.

Accommodation at the park

For an excellent selection of accommodation facilities, Amboseli national park offers luxury, midrange and budget accommodation providing quality services, comfort, safety, and relaxation.

Luxury accommodation; Tortilis camp, Tawi Lodge, Sentrim Amboseli Lodge.
Midrange accommodation; Satao Elerai, Amboseli serena lodge, Porini Amboseli camp.
Budget accommodation; Selenkay Adventure Camp, Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Sopa lodge.

“Get stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and experience a memorable safari that offers you a chance to view the vast herds of elephants and other attractions in Amboseli national park.”