Amboseli National Park, mostly referred to as the land of giants, is located in the Loitoktok district in Kajiiado County of Kenya. Amboseli National Park lies in the Rift Valley of Kenya, covering an area of 392 square kilometers, spreading across the Kenya and Tanzania border.
Amboseli National Park, formerly known as Masai Amboseli Game Reserve with Nairobi as the nearest city, is governed by three authorities Kenya Wildlife Service, the country council, and the Masai community. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust.” The Masai people live near the park and farm in its swamps.
Amboseli National Park, lying at an altitude of 1124-1164 meters, is one of the most popular national parks in Kenya and the best place in Kenya for wildlife viewing, with large herds of elephants up close. That is why it is referred to as the Home of the African Elephant and also offers fantastic photo opportunities.
Amboseli National Park lies northwest of Mount Kilimanjaro on the border of Tanzania, forming a much larger 3000-square-kilometer ecosystem.
Amboseli National Park is a prominent ecological system made up of open plains, acacia woodlands, rocky thorn bush country, swamps, and marshland, and part of it is a Pleistocene lake basin, though it is dry. In these regions, there is a dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli and wetlands with sulfur springs.
Amboseli National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, harbors a large population of remarkable wildlife, which includes over 1000 African bush elephant individuals, climbing lions, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, cape buffalo, spotted hyenas, impalas, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, leopards, and monkeys.
The park also shelters approximately 370 bird species, such as ostriches, flamingos, yellow-billed colorful grey crowned cranes, and spur-winged lapwings, mostly swamp birds.
These animals are more concentrated in the flat, open landscape, which makes game viewing easier, mostly in the dry season of June to September and January to February, when the park is filled with clear skies and animals trample through the dusty plains, creating a dusty, impressive view.
Amboseli National Park offers a beautiful scenic view of the snow-capped mountain. Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain, towering above the Amboseli plains, which attracts millions of tourists to this park. Mountain views are more interesting in the morning when the top of the mountain is covered with mist.
Snowcapped Mountain Kilimanjaro has created two clear water springs/underground water supplies filtered through layers of volcanic rock. The park is famous for six community-owned group ranches and is also known for swamps like Enkongo Narok and Olokonya, which are fed by the melting snow of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli National Park experiences a mild, dry climate; it is hot and dry since it lies in the rain shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro in the northwest of it. Temperatures in the park vary with a minimum temperature of 27°C and a maximum of 33°C. The climate here is known for shifting from drought to flood; by time, for example, in the 1990s, a lot of rain was received in the park, turning it into a swamp, and years later, the grass-covered plains turned into dust.
The area covered by Amboseli National Park was formerly known as Empusel, a Masai region that was the most feared region for foreigners to cross.
In 1883 Joseph Thompson was the first European to penetrate the region, and on his arrival he was astonished by the fantastic variety of wildlife and the beautiful scenic view of Mount Kilimanjaro combined with a contrast between arid areas of the dry lakebed and the swamps.
In 1906 Amboseli was protected as a reserve for the Masai; in 1948 the reserve was put under local control; in 1974 it was declared a national park primarily to conserve its unique ecosystem; and in 1991 the area was declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. During the regime of President Mwai Kibaki, the control of the park was transferred from the Kenya Wildlife Service to the Oljekedo Country Council, which is still being contested in courts.
Activities in Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is a breathtaking tourist destination offering positively addictive safari activities with numerous attractions. These safari activities include
- Culture encounters: On the outskirts and in some areas in Amboseli National Park there live the ancient Masai people. In Kenya, this is the only area where you will get to experience the unique culture of the great Masai. In culture encounters, you will witness and learn the indigenous lifestyle of these people, including their cultivation methods, dances, storytelling, and more. During this activity, you are sure to be mesmerized.
- Bird watching: Amboseli National Park hosts a large population of magnificent bird species, with approximately 400 species, including African sacred ibises, pelicans, yellow-billed storks, flamingos, ostriches, colorful grey crowned cranes, bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers, palm nut vultures, and many more. These birds are seen in swamps, the dried lake basin, and the savannah plains.
Bird watching in Amboseli - Sightseeing: There is no more beautiful scenery in Kenya than the scenic view of elephants running around with a backdrop of the snow-covered mountain Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro has more scenic views for tourists, including swamps, a dried lake basin, and dusty plains that are great for pictures.
- Nature walks: Nature walks in Amboseli National Park are very amazing, as they take you through the different sections of the park while you enjoy numerous wildlife grazing in the savannah plains, especially large herds of the giant African elephants, drinking water at the spring.
- Wildlife viewing/game drives: Amboseli National Park shelters a variety of wildlife, which offers breathtaking game viewing with a backdrop of the snow-capped mountain Kilimanjaro. While on a game drive, you will see the park’s flat savannah plains, which provide wonderful opportunities to view large herds of African elephants, climbing lions, ostriches, and many more.
For the safety of animals and tourists, the park authorities drafted some rules and regulations, which include:
- Never leave your vehicle except at designated spots
- Do not harass the animals
- Always keep on designated tracks
Visiting Amboseli National Park can be done throughout the year, but the best wildlife experience is better to go for a safari during the dry months of June to October. In this period animals gather around the marshes and water sources to drink water, and they also see the sandy plains kicking up a lot of dust, which is a great photo opportunity when the light is low.
You can reach Amboseli National Park by road via the main road from Nairobi through Namanga, which is 240 kilometers on the Nairobi-Arusha road. The other road to use is via Emali, which is a tarmac road from Emali to Remito gate, which is 64 kilometers from Mombasa. By air you can use a chartered aircraft from Empusel gate; other airstrips to use to connect to Amboseli are located at the park headquarters, at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge, and in Namanga town.
While on a safari at Amboseli, accommodation can be got from e Oltukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena Lodge, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Kimana Lodge, and Tortilis Camp
