Amboseli National Park (formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve) is one of Kenya’s most popular National Park. Amboseli boasts of its huge herds of African elephants elegantly dotting on extensive plains with a backdrop painting of the snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro –also the highest peak on the African continent. Amboseli Game Park is undoubtedly one of the best destinations to visit for game viewing tours in Kenya. The African elephants are the main attraction to explore on Kenya safaris in Amboseli and can be spotted as they are freely roam in the dusty plains.
About Amboseli National park
Where is Amboseli National Park found?
Amboseli National Park lies in the southern part of Kenya close to the border with Tanzania. From Nairobi, Amboseli is about 220 km and is one of the top places to visit after the stunning Maasai Mara National Reserve. Unlike other parks, Amboseli covers a compact area of about 244 sq. miles with about 5 distinct habitats.
The 5 habitats that define Amboseli’s finest landscape include thorn scrub, acacia woodland, open plains, marshlands, and swamps. The western part of Amboseli features Ol Donyo Orok Massif and Lake Amboseli.
History
Amboseli started as the Southern Reserve in 1906 when it was set aside for the Maasai people. In 1948, it became a Game Reserve then in 1974, it upgraded to a National Park mainly to protect its unique ecosystem. In 1991, Amboseli was declared as a UNESCO Site.
Wildlife to see
While in Amboseli, hundreds of wildlife can be encountered. Top wildlife to explore on a tour in Amboseli National Park include buffaloes, zebras, hippos, warthogs, impalas, baboons, giraffes, gerenuk, fringe-eared Oryx. On a lucky day, you can also spot jackals, lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Bird species at the park
A total of 420 species of birds make Amboseli an Important Bird Area and they include endangered species and water birds. Birds to spot in Amboseli National Park include Maccoa ducks, blue-billed teal, Knob-billed ducks, white-faced whistling duck, Northern shoveled, African black duck, spur-winged goose, Shelley’s francolin, Coqui francolins, Moorland, Hildebrandt’s francolin, Common quail, red-necked francolin, little grebe, greater flamingo, eared grebe, African green pigeon, ring-necked dove, laughing dove, rock pigeon, mourning collared dove, speckled pigeon, dusky turtle dove, African cuckoos, white-brown coucal, dideric cuckoos, black coucal, slender-tailed nightjars, Eurasian nightjars, square-tailed nightjars, Horus swift, African-swift, little swift, Donaldson-smith’s nightjars, Sombre nightjars, alpine swift, Eurasian moorhen, African rail, African crake, gray crowned crane, spotted thick-knee, black-headed lapwing, long-toed lapwing, Caspian plovers, wattled lapwing, pied avocet, black-winged stilt, lesser sand-plovers, spur-winged lapwing, and dunlin.
Amboseli also protects birds such as curlew sandpiper, Terek sandpiper, African jacana, African open bill, great cormorant, long-tailed cormorant, African darter, abdim’s storks, yellow-billed stork, gray-hooded gull, white-winged tern, African skimmers, hooded vulture, bat hawk, white-headed vultures, European honey-buzzard, brown snake-eagle, tawny eagle, booted eagle, green wood hoopoe, green wood hoopoe, Eurasian hoopoe, Eastern yellow-billed hornbill, malachite kingfishers, striped kingfishers, pied kingfisher, northern red-billed hornbill, southern ground-hornbill, long-tailed fiscal, fork-tailed drago, straw-tailed whydah, buffalo weaver bird, foxy lark, warblers, and more.
Additional attractions in Amboseli include the Sinet Delta, Observation Hill, and Lake Amboseli.
Activities to do
Game viewing or game drives
Amboseli is popular for its enriching game viewing experiences. The guided game drive through the plains of Amboseli get visitors exposed to different wildlife including the Big game, plus other mammals. The best places to visit for game viewing on Amboseli safari include Enkongo Narok and Observation Hill.
Birding
Embarking on a birding excursion in Amboseli National Park takes you on a search for diverse bird species. During the bird-watching tour, expect to find birds such as flamingoes, colorful gray crowned cranes, goshawks, palm-nut vultures, ostriches, African sacred ibises, yellow-billed storks, pelicans and more.
Nature walks
Guided nature walks in Amboseli take you around the enriching habitats where you get a chance to encounter diversity of wildlife. Nature walks get you a close interaction with wildlife like antelopes, birds, and other mammal species.
Cultural tour
An additional of a cultural tour is a must when on a Kenya safari in Amboseli. The cultural encounters are done in the outskirts of the park where you can meet the Maasai people. During the cultural encounter, you get to learn more about the Maasai people, their distinct traditions, cultures, and practices.
Sightseeing
Amboseli boasts of its irresistible beauty. If you enjoy sightseeing, then no better place beats Amboseli National Park. Lying at the backdrop of the magnificent Kilimanjaro Volcano, Amboseli is such a remarkable destination to visit for you appreciate its natural beauty.
Balloon tours
Balloon excursion offer exclusive aerial game viewing experiences to nature enthusiasts on Kenya vacation. Visitors can engage in the morning or afternoon balloon excursion. The sunrise hot air balloon tour comes with bush breakfast and other benefits. The afternoon/sunset balloon tour may include cocktail and champagne etc.
When to visit the park
Amboseli National Park is open for exploration at any time of the year although the dry months have been noted as the best due to the favorable conditions that come with them. The dry months to consider when planning your next holiday to Amboseli run from January to February then June to September. The rainy months (April-May) often experience heavy rains and visitors find it challenging to navigate around the park on a game drive.
Where to stay
Accommodation options in Amboseli include budget, midrange, and luxury lodges or camps. Top budget lodges to book for overnight stay include Kimana Lodge, Nyati Hill Cottage, Maasai Simba Camp, Amboseli Bush Camp, and Amboseli Eco Camp. Midrange accommodation options include Kilima Safari Camp, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, AA Lodge Amboseli, Kibo Safari Camp, and Sentrim Amboseli Lodge. Luxury lodges or camps include Oltukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena Lodge, Elewana Amboseli Porini Camp, Tawi Lodge, and Tortilis Camp.
How to get to Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is 220 km from the heart of Nairobi and takes you about 4 hours to drive up to the park. A 4×4 safari vehicle from your local tour operator is most ideal for your road trips to and from Amboseli. By air, you can also take a flight to Amboseli Airstrip which serves the lush Amboseli National Park.
