Amboseli National Park
About Amboseli National Park
Let the great migration in this dynamic ecosystem move you.
Amboseli National park is one of the top Kenya safari national parks that is known for having big herds of elephants and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park covers an are of about 392 square kilometers and the vegetation of this park is dominated by acacia woodland, rocky thorny bushes, swamps marshland and a Pleistocene lake known as Lake Amboseli.
Amboseli park Kenya is one of the premium national parks that is located in the Southern part of the country bordering Tanzania. The park is also close to the famous Mt Kilimanjaro which is the highest peak in Africa. The park is one of the close protected areas to the capital city Nairobi, It hosts the largest population of African Elephants in entire Kenya. The park is endorsed by a wide range of tourist attractions and this has made the park one of the most popular national parks not only in Kenya but entire Africa. Visiting Kenya for wildlife game minus reaching Amboseli is more of incomplete.
The park was established in 1974 as a national park. It has a great history as one of the oldest protected areas in Kenya which were first established as a game reserve in 1906 before it was upgraded to the status of the national park. It was later in 1991 that the park was declared UNESCO world heritage site so as to protect, preserve and conserve the different unique species at the park.
Due to a wide range of inhabitants that cover the park, it has opened a wide gate for the different animal species at the park. The scenic views of the mountain Kilimanjaro is one of the added advantages the park has capitalized for its popularity. Its such a small protected area covering only 392 square kilometers this makes it easily exploited within one-day safari even.
Location and accessibility of Amboseli national park Kenya
Amboseli national park is found 365 kilometers or 226 miles southeast of Nairobi. The park can be reached within 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi. Amboseli is located in Kajiado County in the South of Kenya. Its found in the Northwest part of Mount Kilimanjaro which is found in Tanzania. The park can be accessed through two different routes though all originating from Nairobi. You can access it through Nairobi –Mombasa road. If you’re in the South in the coastal area of Mombasa, Tsavo West national park or Tsavo East National park it is about 460 kilometers entering through Kimana Gate.
How to access Amboseli national park Kenya
By road: The park can be accessed from both Nairobi in the North and Mombasa in the south along the coastal area. If you are from Nairobi there are two main routes which can be used to access the park. All these routes are in good condition hence making it first and easy to reach to the park. You will access the park is through Nairobi via Namanga on Nairobi-Arusha road. This route is the shortest route that we mostly ose for a day trips to the park entering through the Meshanani Gate. The other route which is short is using Nairobi- Mombasa road via Emali. You can enter the park from the South through Kimana in Olkelunyiet Gate.
By Air: The park has one airstrip along the Empuseli that is used by small aircrafts inside the park. The driver guide will pick you at the airstrip.
The different Amboseli national park Kenya activities are based on the wide range of attractions that are found at the park. The park activities are the ways the guests can fully exploring the best of the park through doing some or all the activities at the park depending on your budget and planned length of stay at the park. Below are the key attractions that highlight the scenic views of the Amboseli national park.
Activities and Atractions in Amboseli National Park
- Sinet delta: The delta is located just a few meters away from the famous Observation Hill in the North. This is the birding paradise where birders experience. The place is bush mostly dominated by Acacia that attracts more giraffes in this area. Its also a good viewing point for Mt Kilimanjaro the African highest peak.
- Observation Hill: Got its name from the act whereby the pyramid-shaped hill is used for the aerial and observation. Its spotting place for wildlife. This is where walking safaris are done in Amboseli national park, the summit allows you to have a great observation of the park.
- Birds: Amboseli national park Kenya is gifted with over 420 bird species. Birding is one of the best activities that is done in the Amboseli rainy season. Birding is done from March to May and also around November. These are rainy months of the year in Kenya. The birds are breeding during the rainy season and park also receives more migratory birds across the world. Birds spotted include Hartlaub’s bustard, von der decken’s hornbill, Famlingo, Egrets, Pelicans, Herons, Crowned cranes, pamgani longclaw, steel-blue whydah Secretary birds, Love birds, Starlings, Ostriches, White-bellied go way bird and many more.
- Mammals: The Amboseli national park Kenya is a home of different mammal species especially the African Elephants, lions, leopards, Buffalo, Giraffes, Wildebeests, Hyenas, Gazelles, Topis, Dikdik, Kudu, Oribi, African wild dogs, Foxes, Hippos, Giraffes, zebras mention but a few. The park is famous of its great population of mammals that are easily seen roaming freely in the wilderness. Game viewing is best done throughout the year though the most preferred time is during the dry season of the year.
- Lake Amboseli: This is part of the park where the park got its name from. The attraction is where the boat cruise is done and great game viewing. The lake is a source of water to the wildlife at the park not only for drinking but for great cooling of the body for the big animals at the park. The shower of the lake is a home for the different swamp bird species that are found at this park.
Activities in Amboseli National Park
Amboseli national park Kenya is one of the dream destinations for more travellers. The park can be visited any time of the year providing you a great experience of game viewing. For general activities at Amboseli national park Kenya please visit our blog section on Amboseli national park activities
Some of the key activities include:
- Birding
- Boat cruise
- Game viewing
- Walking safaris
- Hiking and many more