Overview
Amboseli National Park is in southern Kenya. It’s known for its large elephant herds and views of immense Mount Kilimanjaro, across the border in Tanzania. Observation Hill offers panoramas of the peak and the park’s plains and swamps. Varied wildlife includes giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hundreds of bird species. The western section is dominated by vast Lake Amboseli, which is dry outside the rainy season.
Highlights
- The name "Amboseli" comes from a Maasai word meaning "salty dust", and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close.
- Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands.
- Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya's most popular parks.
- Visit Tengboche the biggest and oldest monastery n the region.
Itinerary
A road trip to any part of Kenya is enjoyable, thanks to the many attractions you find on the way. Today we will leave Nairobi, arrive in Amboseli, and then enjoy an afternoon game drive. The Amboseli tour starts from Kenya’s capital Nairobi – JKIA, Nairobi Hotel, or Apartment.
The road trip to Amboseli takes about 2½ to 3 hours, but we want you to get the opportunity to stop along the way to take some photos. We will cover about 240 km on Nairobi-Arusha road through Namanga, arriving at Meshanani Gate at around noon. The road is mainly smooth, and you will enjoy the scene.
We arrive just in time to check-in you in the hotel, take lunch, and rest before the afternoon game drive. Get ready for the proper game drive where you will see different types of animals. An afternoon game drive is best done when Mount Kilimanjaro is clear.
It is the best way to take photos with the mountain offering a beautiful backdrop. The setting combines with the unmatched view of animals, giving you the most memorable time in Amboseli. You are also likely to see a cheetah or lion make a kill before the darkness comes calling.
It is the ideal time to take in the fragile ecosystem that supports these animals and birds. We will cover different topography, including marshes, swamps, rocky thorn bushes, acacia woodland, and plains. Later we head to the hotel for the night.
A full-day game drive at Amboseli National Park is a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Start your day early, just before sunrise, when the wildlife is most active. As you search for wildlife among the grassy plains of Amboseli, you will be amazed by the sights of elephants, zebras, buffalo, giraffes, and other animals roaming the landscape.
During your game drive, you may even be lucky enough to spot some of the Big Five—elephants, lions, buffalos, rhinos, and leopards. Throughout the day you will also have opportunities to take in breathtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro from different angles.
Your day of game driving ends in the evening, as you return to your lodgings. Enjoy a restful night and get ready for another exciting day of exploring Amboseli National Park!
The third day we will enjoy a morning game drive and later head to Nairobi. Early morning game drive also offers the morning view of Mount Kilimanjaro as it emerges from a mantle of clouds. We proceed to Lake Amboseli, a vast salt pan made of permanent swamps.
The lake has most of the wildlife in Amboseli National Park with a high concentration of elephants. It also hosts Masai giraffe, eland, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, rhino, and antelopes (waterbucks, impalas, Grant’s gazelles, topis, klipspringers, and duiker). You might also spot baboons, warthogs, hyenas, and wildebeests in the park.
Later, the guide heads out of the park and transfers you to Nairobi. This time we should arrive in Nairobi within 4 hours since we will not make any stop along the way.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- tour on safari van
- accommodation
- meals on full board
- drinking water
- proffessional tour guide
The Cost Excludes
- anything not mentioned in the package
FAQs
Amboseli is located in Kenya’s Kajiado County in the south-central part of the country. Kilimanjaro descends and forms the Great Rift Valley in the west, and Nairobi is almost directly north of it.
Most people arrive at the park via driving on safari. Amboseli is one of the best safari parks in Kenya – so if you’re working with a tour company be sure that they visit this one. Sunworld Safaris, the company we used, already included it in the itinerary so I had nothing to worry about.
Relatively speaking, Amboseli is quite small. It’s only 392 square kilometers (about 150 square miles). For comparison, the Serengeti National Park is 14,763 square kilometers (5,700 square miles).
The name is derived from the Maasai language ‘Maa’ and means ‘salty dust.’ In the dry season, the lakes can disappear and result in dust clouds!
Amboseli rests at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro – the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and the highest summit in Africa. The impressive mountain stands tall making even the elephants look tiny.
It also has the most condensed population of elephants in Kenya. The sheer quantity of elephants here is enough to make your jaw drop. These elephants are the most studied in all of Africa. The Amboseli Trust for Elephants have been researching these elephants for over 40 years and are the leading expert in elephants.
The Maasai people and culture are alive and well in Amboseli and you can get an up-close look at their lifestyle.
Amboseli also has a fresh underground water supply from the feet of the Kilimanjaro ice cap. Two clear springs have formed at the heart of the park.
There is an observation hill with patio furniture which is perfect for a snack. You can see the beautiful landscape for miles and even see Lake Amboseli and Mount Kilimanjaro. We were able to have lunch with hippos relaxing in the marshland
The only time you really do not want to visit is during the rainy season – April May, November, and December. I would recommend visiting January, February or June- September.
The dry season is the best because herbivores gather near the few watering holes making spotting them easy. The carnivores also go to the watering holes in search of prey. Less watering holes means a greater chance of seeing both hunter and prey.
Amboseli is really close to the equator, meaning the annual temperature doesn’t really change. It’s typically hot, with temperatures ranging between 80-85 degrees F (27-30 degrees C). Keep this in mind when you’re packing!
