Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya's most popular parks. The name "Amboseli" comes from a Maasai word meaning "salty dust", and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close.
Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The park spans 39,206 hectares (392 km²; 151 sq. mi) at the core of an 8,000 square kilometre (3,100 sq. mi) ecosystem that stretches across the Kenya-Tanzania border.
The park is renowned as the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and offering spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
In Amboseli’s case, it is big skies and far horizons combined with swampy springs and dry, dusty earth trampled by hundreds of animals. The park's acacia woodland and open plains provide a diverse habitat for wildlife.
Amboseli has an endless underground water supply filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro’s ice cap, which funnels into two clear water springs in the heart of the park. However, the climatic pendulum can swing from drought to flood, and in the early 1990s, ceaseless rain transformed Amboseli into a swamp. A few years later, the rains failed, and the grass-covered plains turned to dust.
Wildlife and Attractions
- African elephants: Large herds of elephants roam freely.
- Cape buffalo: Commonly seen during game drives.
- Game drives: Offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
- Mount Kilimanjaro: Provides stunning views and is the highest peak.
- Sulphur springs: Unique natural features within the park.
- Lake Amboseli: The dried-up bed becomes visible during the dry season.
- Salty dust: A characteristic feature of the landscape.
- Protected area: Ensures conservation of diverse wildlife species.
How to Get There
By Road
- The main road into the park is from Nairobi via Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi-Arusha Road, through Meshanani Gate.
- Another road is from Nairobi via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi-Mombasa Road.
- Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West National Park via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.
By Air
- The park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel Gate.
- Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town.
Amboseli National Park offers a unique blend of wildlife, culture, and stunning landscapes, making it a prime destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers.
