Initially known as Masaai Game Reserve, Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Kenya. The premium park is situated in the southeastern part of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Amboseli is famously known for its high concentration of herds of elephants and therefore known as the home of African elephants.

The vast park covers about 392 square kilometers and was gazetted as a national reserve in 1974 while the basic aim of its establishment was to protect the exceptional ecosystem dominated by that particular area.

It is also one of the most popular iconic safari destinations on the African continent where one encounters African elephants in a big population. Amboseli is also the second most popular national park in Kenya after Masaai Mara National Reserve and one of the most visited destinations.

The park got its name “Amboseli” from the local people of Masaai which means “salty dust” since its red soil tends to turn muddy in the wet season of the year and dustier during the dry season. Amboseli is currently managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991. Amboseli National Park is highly dominated by savanna grassland and dry conditions. 

WHAT TO DO WHILE AT AMBOSELI

Game viewing The wildlife experience at Amboseli National Park is worth every penny and time spent on it and the safari game drives take you into the deeper wilderness of the park. Aside from herds of African elephants sheltered in the park, other mammal species find a home in the park and these may include buffaloes, hyenas, antelopes, baboons, wildebeests, zebras, bushbucks, giraffes, lions, leopards, to mention but a few.

Birding activities

The magnificent park is also a birder’s paradise and over 500 bird species are recorded in Amboseli. Some of the bird species sheltered within the park may include Flamingos, ostriches, secretary birds, weavers, African jacana, Kori bastard, Hornbill, and sacred ibis, to mention but a few. The wet season remains the perfect kind of timing for all birding activities in the park since it’s during this particular period that birds tend to do more of the nesting.

Walking safaris

Walking safaris in Amboseli is such a great of having a full ultimate wildlife experience of the vast park. The process involves walking on foot in the middle of the park in the company of a professional tour guide and park rangers for safety.

Visitors shall encounter animal species like buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, and lions closely. Amboseli lies on the foot of Mountain Kilimanjaro and therefore visitors shall be able to have a rare chance of sighting the great Mount Kilimanjaro situated in Tanzania. Walking safaris in Amboseli are done in sessions such as morning and afternoon sessions depending on the visitors’ choice.  

Cultural tours

Maasai cultural tours are some of the breathtaking activities that visitors can engage in while at Amboseli. The border of the park is dominated by Masaai communities who bear a great tradition and cultural experience. Masaai is the most popular tribe in Africa and while at Amboseli visitors can get an opportunity to encounter this prominent tribe and learn about their lifestyle and traditional history. Visitors can also engage in their traditional dances and try out the local foods of the Masaai people. 

WHAT TO SEE?

There’s a lot to see while visiting Amboseli National Park from its key attraction of Lake Amboseli which acts drinking water source for the wildlife in the park to pyramid-shaped hills that lie in the center of the park. The pyramids offer clear views of the park and the highest mountain on the African continent “Mount Kilimanjaro”.

There are also about 80 different mammal species alongside over 500 bird species. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Amboseli National Park is open for tourism throughout the whole year. However, the best time to visit the park is the dry period of the year. The destination tends to get muddy during the wet season hence making certain tourism activities hiking, game driving and walking safaris more stressful. The dry season of June to October and January to February is the right timing for to visit Amboseli National Park.