Amboseli National park
Amboseli National park : this 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. It is a popular park with breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The Maasai live around the park and other than their cattle; Amboseli is home to more than 50 species of mammal and over 400 species of bird. You can see elephants, hippo, cheetah, leopard and more. Over the years, the Maasai learned to live in perfect harmony with nature and the wild animals so here you can get to visit the local Maasai community and experience their authentic culture. Its closeness to the Tanzanian border as well as Kenya’s capital Nairobi makes Amboseli National Park a weekend getaway of choice for most visitors and game enthusiasts alike. The park also has a dried up lake bed that is occasionally subjected to flooding while the swamps and springs take their waters from Kilimanjaro’s melting snow. But despite its majestic scenery, the awesome display of wildlife is still the main attraction in the park. It has become a haven for photographers and documentaries as they join safari to get closer to nature and its wildlife. The park is most visited in June and October and it is 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi.
Attractions in Amboseli National Park
- Large Herds of Elephants
- Kilimanjaro
- Big Five
- Swamp below observation hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of water fowls like pelican, Egyptian goose
- Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle
How to get to Amboseli National Park
- By Road: The main road into the park is from Nairobi via Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi – Arusha Road, through Meshanani Gate. The other 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 aircrafts at Empusel gate. Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town.
Below are some of our short and long Kenya safaris to to different National Parks in Kenya.
3 Days Kenya Masai mara National Park safari
5 Days Kenya Lake Nakuru Masai-Masai mara park safari