Skip to content

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

BACKGROUND INFO

Amboseli is renowned for its large herds of free-ranging African elephants

Amboseli National Park is 260km (160 miles) from Nairobi, on the border with the neighboring country of Tanzania. Its magnificent situation at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, combined with its excellent opportunities to view Kenya’s animals, make it one of the most-visited safari parks in Kenya. Amboseli is renowned for its large herds of free-ranging African elephants. There are over 900 African elephantsin Amboseli, as well as huge herds of wildebeests and many other animals including giraffes, African lions, monkeys, zebras, hyenas and antelope.

Brief History

Amboseli was declared a national reserve in 1968. It became a national park in 1974. However, in 2005, President Mwai Kibaki transferred control from the Kenya Wildlife Service to the Olkejuedo County Council and its residents, the Maasai tribe. This is still being contested in the courts because of its implications that could jeopardize Kenya’s other national parks.Amboseli National Park covers 392km² (151miles²) and has a mixed topography of plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshes. This diversity, along with a long dry season, ensures excellent viewing of the large concentrations of African animals living in this natural habitat.With its awesome view of Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895m), Amboseli National Park offers a unique and breathtaking backdrop for viewing Africa’s animals. It also has a dry Pleistocene lake basin that houses a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, after the rains.Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals because its vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. Amboseli National Park is home to wild animals, which include the African elephant, buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest among other African animals. There is also a host of Kenya birds, both large and small, to see if you keep your eyes open and stop at every sighting.When you arrive at the park, the warden will give you several common sense rules: do not get out of your vehicle, except at designated spots; do not harass the animals in any way; keep to the tracks; no off-road driving; and remember that the animals always have the right of way. The roads in Amboseli have a loose surface of volcanic soil that is dusty in the dry season and impassable in the wet season.

DESTINATION MAP

Click to view larger version

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Amboseli National Park is known for its large herd of over 900 free-ranging elephants. This is the best national park to visit to see these wonderful and huge creatures. Herd of Elephants in Amboseli View or even climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Visit Observation Hill, which overlooks the park, swamps and, of course, the herds of free-roaming elephants. Meet the Maasai people and learn about the Maasai culture and their indigenous lifestyle.Bird watching is best between October and January if you want to see Kenya’s migratory birds, including African skimmers, red and yellow bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers and palm nut vultures, to name a few.
Text content

Wildside Recommended Picks

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Amboseli – Masai Mara – Serengeti – Kigali – Volcanoes National Park – Kigali – Depart

9 Days East Africa Migration Extravaganza

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Amboseli – Masai Mara – Serengeti – Kigali – Volcanoes National Park – Kigali – Depart

9 Days East Africa Migration Extravaganza

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

ABOUT WILDSIDE

About us
Frequently Asked Questions
Travelling Tips?
Operational Terms
Contact Us

Wildside Kenya Safaris
P.O. Box 50329-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +(254) 724 710699, +(254) 755 648655
E: info@wildsidekenyasafaris.com
W: www.wildsidekenyasafaris.com

IMPORTANT LINKS

Our Indian Office:
The Traveller Holidays
04, Ramesh Marg, C Scheme
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Indian 302004
dinesh@thetravellerholidays.com
info@wildsidekenyasafaris.com
+918955777880
+254 724 710699

STAY UP TO DATE

Receive great travel package offers and discounts on your African Safari.

© Wildside Kenya Safaris 2022. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map

© Wildside Kenya Safaris 2022. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map

Facebook