Shining the spotlight on a heavy and massive tourist attraction in Kenya, Amboseli National Park. Heavy and massive because of Amboseli National Park Elephants, get it? Ha!
Why is Amboseli National Park a must-visit destination? This famous, scenic and popular national park in Kenya is known for its large family herds of big, tusked Elephants and the perfect view of the highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Read through Naicef’s guide on Amboseli National Park Kenya, overview of Amboseli National Park hotels, things to know when you pan to Visit Amboseli National Park and famous Amboseli National Park Elephants.
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History of Amboseli National Park
The famous Amboseli National Park in Kenya originally started as a game reserve in 1906 and later on, it was gazetted as a national park in 1974.
In 1991, Amboseli National Park was declared a UNESCO world heritage site to preserve, protect and conserve the unique species at the park.
Amboseli National Park now stretches across Kenya and Tanzania covering an area of 8,000 sq km while protecting two swamps and the plains from the foothill of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli National Park is an impeccable safari destination that highlights wildlife with a clear view of Mt. Kilimanjaro giving it a breathtaking scene.
Wondering Is Amboseli National Park worth visiting? Read along to find out. Be careful, your device might get heavy by the massive weight of the Amboseli Elephants. Ha!
What to know before visiting Amboseli National Park for visitors
Want to know how to visit Amboseli National Park? Naicef allows you to follow these simple guiding rules to be on the know:
- Luggage restrictions in Amboseli for a great Kenyan safari are restricted to 15kg for a fly-in safari.
- Morning game drives are chilly thus you will need a warm hat, gloves and scarf in addition to a puffer jacket or fleece. As the morning weather keeps changing to warm, make sure you have a lightweight clothing underneath your puffer jacket making you comfortable.
- Comfortable clothing and correct color include Khakis, greens, brown, greens and natural hues beige. In terms of foot wear, if not hiking, sneakers do a great job in terms of comfortability.
- Whether you plan to visit Amboseli during wet or dry season, the African will shine either way and so it’s necessary to carry a hat and sunscreen and of course remember to stay hydrated.
- Carry your preferred insect repellant to prevent bugs having a taste of you.
- Always listen to your guides as they are knowledgeable so that you behave accordingly in the wild.
- Before traveling, visit a local travel clinic and find out the exact vaccinations required especially seeing as to it that Kenya is a malaria area.
- Kenya has beautiful souvenirs to purchase and so, consider carrying extra cash for beautiful gifts to carry as memories back home. Consider having your dollars changed to Kenyan shillings, there are establishments that also accept credit cards. Tipping is customary in Kenya, 10% is a good baseline to work from.
- Kenya is conservative and so, courtesy is highly valued among other social norms. An example is, don’t just take photography without asking since some will charge you for your snap.
Amboseli National Park Accessibility
Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok, Kajiado county in Kenya. Covering an area of 151 sq mil, 392 sq km, spreading across the Kenya-Tanzania boarder.
The park can be accessed via road and air.
How far is Amboseli National Park from Nairobi by road via Namanga on the Nairobi-Arusha Road through Meshani Gate? It takes roughly 5 hours. From Mombasa, it is accessible through Tsavo West National Park via Kimana Gate and It takes 3 hours 12 minutes.
By air, there is one airstrip at Empusel gate while others exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town.
Amboseli National Park has several gates for access:Â Kimana gate, Iremito gate, Airstrip gate, Meshanan gate and Kitirua gate.
Amboseli National Park Entrance fees.
Being a conservation area there are fees needed to fund the park.
It might trigger you to ask, then who owns Amboseli National Park, right? Amboseli National Park is owned by Kajiado County government but managed, preserved and conserved by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), who regulate the game park charges. The park fees are charged on a per day basis.
Non-Residents.
Adults: 100 USD
Children: 3-18 years 35USD
East- African residents (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania):
Adults: KES 1000
Children: KES 500
Conservation fees as per KWS
Attractions in Amboseli National Park
What to see in Amboseli National Park ranges from natural to manmade attractions. The park is home to over 1,000 roaming and swamp loving Elephants that serve as the key attractions in the park.
Amboseli National Park Elephants are so popular that there is an institute just for learning about them, The Amboseli Trust for Elephants. This park was home to Echo, the most researched elephant in the world, being featured in documentaries such as Animal Planet.
Mt. Kilimanjaro view. The highest mountain in Africa and the world’s tallest free mountain, 5,895m above sea level and the highest volcano in the Eastern hemisphere. The best time to view the mighty mountain is at dawn and sunset when the light is clear and soft.
Wildlife. Amboseli National Park Kenya has a great reputation from its geographical perspective, having permanent swamps that entice wildlife.
This assures you unlimited game views in your game drive with sightings of mammals like giraffes, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, buffalo, hartebeest, waterbuck, eland, Burchell’s zebra, Kudu, Oribi, African wild dogs and wildebeests.
In terms of birdlife, there are 47 raptor species including martial eagles, secretary birds, Taveta golden weavers, crowned cranes, pelicans, kingfishers, long-toed lapwings and the endangered Madagascan squacco.
All these beautiful names, you cannot afford to miss to visit Amboseli National Park!
Birding is between March to May and around November since the birds are breeding during this time of the year. In addition to it, the park receives more migratory birds across the world during these seasons.
Bird lovers, get ready, get ready with your binoculars, happy scenes foreshadowed ahead! Our impressive Naicef professional tour guide will help characterize the different bird species.
A common question asked is, ‘How many lions are in Amboseli National Park?’ More than 100 lions in the park and surrounding area. Fun fact, Lions here climb trees! Yes, you read that right. Be sure to spot them during your game drive with Naicef, it is a thrill!
Lake Amboseli, where Amboseli National Park got its name from. The lake is a source of water to the wildlife at the park for drinking and cooling the body and for swamp bird species found in Amboseli National Park.
Culture. Amboseli ecosystem is clustered with Maasai villages who welcome interested visitors to learn more about their dances, accessories, traditional rituals and warriors.
At Naicef, visit Amboseli National Park with our well curated Amboseli National Park Safari Packages to enhance your experience.
Amboseli National Park Kenya landscapes and scenery
For first timers, visit Amboseli National Park, an interesting beginner for your incredible safari. This is because, Amboseli is a great place for experiencing every single breathtaking feature it has to offer with Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The observation hill, pyramid like in shape, is perfect for spotting everything at once, especially on a walking safari as you stand at the summit, from dramatic wildlife to stretches of landscape with views of water bodies with the Mt. Kilimanjaro as your background frame. Most safaris are done here.
Sinet delta: Just a few meters from the famous Observation hill, the Sinet delta is dominated by Acacia attracting giraffes and a great spot for sighting the breathtaking Mt. Kilimanjaro. A great place for bird experience.
Although Mount Kilimanjaro is actually in neighboring Tanzania, the best views of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and Africa’s highest peak are in Kenya.
The most interesting thing in Africa, if you want to see something grand, you’ll get the best view of that attraction from another country. Isn’t that fascinating?
Activities and experiences in Amboseli National Park Kenya.
Amboseli National Park has a wide range of activities and Naicef’s well-crafted itineraries and best guides will enhance your Amboseli experiences, including game viewing.
During game drives, Naicef offers you a great chance to view the beautiful animals that Amboseli National Park has to offer. There are also thrilling experiences such as a night drive for USD 20, bush walks for USD 15 and horse riding for USD 25. With the wildlife in the game park, you will be thrilled to see shows of predator Vs. prey.
With each game drive you take with Naicef, you minimize on environmental impact as per our sustainable and eco-friendly program.
Bird watching. At Sinet delta is the perfect spot for bird watching so make sure to bring along your binoculars and camera for perfect shots.
Cultural visits. One might be wondering who lives in Amboseli National Park. Masai tribe inhabits the region.
Cultural tours at the Masai manyattas are thrilling since they observe traditions from way back, ancient rituals. Dancing with them, trying out and purchasing their one-of-a kind craft. They will show you why they are unique and why they have never been influenced by other cultures.
Hot air balloon safari: Enjoying the spectacular views from an aerial view, you will experience all that Amboseli National Park has to boast of.
Photography: Want to get a perfect picture of Mt. Kilimanjaro? Look no further. Amboseli’s wildlife will keep you company as you take captivating pictures of them, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park Elephants and other Amboseli wildlife including birdlife.
Bush walks are very common in Amboseli National Park only for visitors who want to have intimate encounter with nature within the park, it comes with a safari guide.
Amboseli National Park hotels and lodges
Most Amboseli National Park hotels offer excellent views of Kilimanjaro and sightings of wildlife in the early mornings and late evenings.
Amboseli National Park hotels vary from prices especially if you are booking an inside lodge/camp, the prices are high and of good quality, not saying the outside aren’t good enough, but these lodges are a premium subscription to the wild, in terms of accommodation.
Amboseli National Park lodges and camps include;
- Elewana Tortilis camp- inside Amboseli National Park offering a private and luxurious experience,
- Kibo safari lodge,
- AA Amboseli,
- Amboseli Sopa,
- The famous Amboseli Serena lodge,
- Ol Tukai lodge,
- Porini Amboseli camp,
- Amboseli eco camp,
- Sentrim Amboseli camp,
- Kilima safari camp,
- Ol Donyo lodge,
- Camp Keteri Amboseli,
- Camp ya Kanzi
- Tawi lodge.
Contact Naicef Travels for the best deals and accommodations as per your preference.
What is the best time to visit Amboseli National Park?
During heavy rains, the basin at the center of the park floods, attracting diverse wildlife of the popular park.
During the dry season at Amboseli, there’s the best sightings of animals visiting the swamps and watering holes. There are sightings of the big four out of the big five, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, black rhino, elephant and giraffe.
There are 400 species of birdlife in the park but the best places to encounter birds is in the lake, marsh and swamp areas.
Professional photographers are seen capturing the best shots to create immaculate content. So, don’t worry about finding a great shot, it’ll land on your page via socials.
High/ peak season: June to October.
Grass is shorter and animas are easier to spot. Animals in the park don’t stray far from water sources.
Low/green season: November- May.
A grand time for photography where you’ll see Amboseli scenery at its best. The best time for birdwatching, clear views of the mt. Kilimanjaro since skies are clear of dust.
How to pay for the park? Through eCitizen payment portal. Amboseli National Park opening hours are from 6AM-6PM.
For every safari you take with Naicef, you impact Sustainable tourism through the environment and the local community. Naicef focuses on raising responsible tourists.
For the best Amboseli National Park itinerary for your safari and Package, contact Naicef.com or write to my@naicef.com or +254799922277
