National Parks

Amboseli National Park in Kenya

Considered the “Home of the African Elephant”, and sitting proudly on the foothills of Africa’s most iconic tower of a mountain – Kilimajaro – Amboseli National Park is a biodiversity hotspot and an absolute spectacle for the senses.

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Everything you need to know about Amboseli National Park

Coming from the local Maasai word meaning ‘salty dust’, the Amboseli National Park is crowned by the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro – the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and Africa’s highest peak. It is an 8,000 square kilometer ecosystem that spreads across the border of Kenya and Tanzania. Referred to as the “Home of the African Elephant”, this wilderness paradise is renowned for its huge herds of elephants, diverse landscapes, and abundant wildlife populations.

Where is the park located?

Amboseli is situated in the south of Kenya in the Kajiado South Constituency in Kajiado County. The park lies on the border of Tanzania and is immediately north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro offering visitors the most spectacular views of its snow-covered peaks and surrounds.

What can you expect of the terrain?

Amboseli is an absolute paradise for nature lovers with five unique habitats including the marshy wetlands and sulphur springs, dusty plains of the vast open savannah, the dried up bed of the historic Lake Amboseli, and striking rock formations of lava covered with thorn trees. Due to its stunning range of different ecological zones, and its fragile ecosystem, Amboseli has been declared one of the world’s 701 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. With an endless underground water supply of underground rivers coming from Kilimanjaro, fed by the rain, snow, and melting glaciers, the park is a reserve of permanent water allowing for the survival of the animals, as well as beautiful oasis of palm trees and Acacia forests all year round.

About the park

What type of wildlife will we see?

This unique habitat attracts a wide range of wildlife, but the main attraction is undoubtedly the large herds of elephants that include some big tuskers. Considered the stronghold of East Africa’s elephant population, the park is home to over 1,600 of these majestic creatures that roam the woodlands, savannah and wetlands. In addition to this, the park is also home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes and more, with a large diversity of birdlife including several large birds of prey. Because water still collects in a portion of the lake during the rainy season, it is frequented by a large number of aquatic birds, and especially loved by the pink flamingos.

Top experiences to enjoy in Amboseli National Park

Game drives, walking safaris and a visit to the local Maasai community to experience and learn about their authentic culture are all wonderful experiences to have while visiting Amboseli. Taking advantage of the close proximity to the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro however, is a must. A guided nature walk amidst the foothills of this towering mountain with a local Maasai guide, will provide you with unique insights into the region’s indescribable biodiversity, allow you to meet the local people, and get within safe distance of some of the resident wildlife. It is a dazzling journey of the senses, and one not to be missed.

When to visit

Because of its proximity to Kilimanjaro, the weather at Amboseli is generally hot and very dry. This is because the air discharges its moisture on the mountain where rain and snow occurs, leaving the air devoid of moisture. Rain only occurs from April to May, and November to December.

Despite having great game viewing all year round, the best time for animal sightings is generally during the dry season from June to October, and January to March.

The rainy seasons, though offering stunning vistas with the water supply being plentiful, make sightings slightly more difficult as the animals become more dispersed.