Amboseli National Park

Amboseli national park is a premier safari destination and a national park in Kenya, the park is the second most famous national park located in the rift valley region in Loitoktok district. Amboseli national park derives its name from a local Masai slag “Amboseli” loosely meaning salty dust, the park is often called the Land of Giants because of a huge concentration of elephants with big tusks inhabiting in the park. 

Amboseli national park covers an area of 392 square kilometers and it is situated approximately 240 kilometers southeast of Nairobi the capital city and a great tourist centre in Kenya, Amboseli national park is strategically making it easy to be visited while on combined safari to other national parks. 

Amboseli is endowed with a backdrop of the snowcapped Mountain Kilimanjaro standing at the height of 5895 meters above the sea level, the park combines a unique ecosystem which includes special hydrology, topography, geological and cultural history. Amboseli is dominated by 5 habitats which include open plains, acacia woodland, rock formations of lava covered with thorny bushes and palm trees, swamps and marshlands covering a part of a dry Pleistocene lake basin called Amboseli. Amboseli Lake is usually dry in the dry season and floods in the wet season.

History of Amboseli national park

The area covered by Amboseli was formerly known as Empusel, this area was the most feared region of the Masai cultural people to be crossed by a foreigner. In 1883 the area was penetrated its first foreigner in the names of Joseph Thompson, upon his arrival he was impressed and astonished by the impressive landscape, the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, huge concentration of wildlife inhabiting in the area, dry lake bed and swamps. In attempt of saving the area from being destroyed Amboseli national park was established in 1906 as a national game reserve and in 1974 it acquired a status of a park and its named was changed to Amboseli national park.

Because of the great ecological system and culture in Amboseli national park, the area was recognized as a UNESCO Heritage site in 1991. 
 

Tourist attractions in Amboseli national park 

• Animals 

Amboseli national park is one of the leading animal habitats in Kenya with a huge concentration of wildlife species including large herds of big tusked elephants, the big tusked elephants are the trademark wildlife in Amboseli national park and they are sighted roaming in the dusty plains of the park and Ol Okenya swamp. Elephants in Amboseli national park have impressive ivory which excites visitors of the park and these elephants are attracted to woodland yellow fever trees and doum palm known as Ol Tukai found in the heart of Amboseli, it is in the Ol Tukai as refered to by the Masai and Makindu where you get to spot the elephants. 

Other wildlife species / animals in Amboseli include cape buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, leopards, Masai giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, impalas, grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles and many more. These animals mostly buffaloes, hippo and elephants are usually spotted in Enkongo Narok swamps and many other permanent swamps which divide the grey landscape of Amboseli into broad swatches.

• Birdlife 

Amboseli national park is a recognized birding site in Kenya and a habitat to over 400 bird species which are recorded to live in the park, birds in Amboseli have been noted to reside in the swamps situated in central region of the park, acacia woodland and the grasslands. Noted birds in Amboseli national park include flamingoes which are in large numbers most especially in wet seasons in the periods of March – May and October to December.

Various bird species are found in different regions of the park, birds in swamps are associated with waters and they include egrets, herons, pelicans, crowned cranes and many more. Grasslands inhabit ground birds such as hartlaub’s bustard, localized pangani long claw and many more. In acacia woodland special dry country species are sighted and they include steel-blue whydah, white-billed go-away bird, von der Decken’s hornbill and many more. 

Other bird species in Amboseli national park include African jacanas, Rufous chatterer, Eurasian thick-knees, long-toed lapwings, pangani long claws, yellow necked spur fowls, von der decken’s hornbill, rufous billed herons, Taveta golden weavers, spike-heeled larks and many more. 
 

• Lakes 

Amboseli national park is dotted with seasonal lakes which are mainly located in the western region of the park, these lakes occupy the drained basin of an ancient lake of the Pleistocene and some of the main lakes in the park include Kioko Lake, the Simek Lake, the Counch Lake and Amboseli Lake. These lakes are usually dry in the dry season and fill up in the rainy season and the almost have the same depth of not more than 50 cm, these lakes are excellent birding spot in Amboseli as their shores are covered with papyrus which are home to a huge concentration of birds. 

The seasonal lakes in Amboseli national park are also fed by Simek River which has its sources of water from Enkongo Narok swamp, on the shores of these lakes numerous bird species such as African Jacanas, Goliath Herons, grey craned cranes, hartlaub’s bustards, Rufous chatterer, yelow-necked spur fowls and many more are found on these lakes

• Swamps and marshes 

Amboseli national park’ landscape features several swamps and marshes which are habitat to birds and water wildlife, the swamps and Marshes are water sources serving the park and its animals. The marshes consisting of intense and bright green vegetation offer a great contrast to the arid and dusty plains of Amboseli national park, the marshes and swamps are mainly found in the central region of the park and the main mashes in the park include Enkongo or Ngong Narok Narok, Engone Naibor, Ol Tukai, Longinye and Ologinya or Ol Okenya.  

The marshes and swamps are fed by spring waters from Mountain Kilimanjaro’s melting snow which penetrates the volcanic soil down to the valley area of the park, the marshes and swamps are ideal place to get sights for elephants, hippos and birds such as herons, egrets, white pelicans, kingfishers, black-winged stilts and many more. 

• The Observation hill “Normatior”

The observational hill in Amboseli national park is a pyramid-shaped hill situated in western of the park, the observation hill is the perfect spot for viewing animals in the park as it is the only place where tourists are allowed to get out of their cars and take a walk. Before Amboseli national park was declared as a protected area the observation hill was inhabited by the Ndorobo people who are known hunters and gatherers for many years, the presence of these people on this hill has been witnessed by signs and trances of their property and implements. And because of this the area given a Masai name Normatior meaning “the place of pottery” 

The observation hill was formed due to volcanic activity during the same period mountain Kilimanjaro was formed, the summit of the hill offers an ideal lookout for plains, swamps, wildlife and roads below. The hill features a staircase carved from the volcanic rock offering access to the summit where the observation hill is situated, the hill offers 360 degrees view of Amboseli national park’s lakes, marshes, lakes and on a clear day the views of the snowcapped Kilimanjaro Mountain. 
 

• Elephant research camp

Elephant research camp in Amboseli is a great site offering visitors of the park an opportunity to learn more about the elephants, this elephant research centre was established in 1972 and since then the elephants in Amboseli have been identified in their population and data regarding their births, deaths and behavior has been collected. This has made Amboseli Elephant Research Project which resulted in the establishment of the Elephant research Camp to be a critical source of baseline data on elephants. 

Visits to Elephant Research camp are only allowed with prior arrangements and when you visit a lecture of one hour is given to the visitors, in the lecturer researchers explain their work and elephant conservation related issues to the visitors and also questions asked by the visitors are answered.

• The local Masai people and their culture 

The local Masai people are one of the early inhabitants of the area dominated by Amboseli national park, the Masai people posses a unique undisrupted culture which is seen on a cultural visit in their communities while on your safari in Amboseli national park.  The Masai people are typically nomadic kind of people depending on cattle rearing, these have been known for being hostile with too much love and prestige in their livestock. 

Masai people are tall dark people worldly famous for their single-handed acts bravely and enormous prowess they exhibit in fights with wild animals, some of the beautiful aspects about the Masai people and their culture are the stripped colorful strip shukas and ornaments they wear on a day and the beautiful Manyattas. The Manyattas were built in a circular form using local materials like poles, mud, grass thatch and cow dung.

• Backdrop of mountain Kilimanjaro 

Amboseli national park is crowned by a spectacular backdrop of mountain Kilimanjaro, Mountain Kilimanjaro stands at the altitude of 5,895 meters above the sea level and it has been recognized as a free the world’s highest free standing mountain. The summit of Mountain Kilimanjaro is covered by snow  and while in Amboseli national park you get fantastic views of this snow-capped summit, on clear days this splendid backdrop is very visible creating a great opportunity for scenic viewing and great wildlife photography. 

Safari activities in Amboseli national park 

• Game viewing 

Game viewing in Amboseli national park is the highlight safari activity in the park and offers remarkable experience, game viewing experience in the park offered include morning game drive, day game drive and evening game drive. The park is a habitat to a big concentration of animals which are searched for on a game viewing experience, among the animals living in Amboseli national park elephants are the more remarkable animals as they feature impressive ivory. Animals found in Amboseli national park include cape buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, leopards, Masai giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, impalas, grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, buffaloes, hippo and elephants.

Amboseli national park is dominated by permanent swamps and marshes that are Enkongo Narok, Olokenya and Longinye situated in the center of the park. These swamps are perfect spots for spotting elephants and hippos, giraffes are best spotted in acacia woodlands. Sinet causeway crossing Enkongo Narok near Observation hill is a perfect spot for getting a close up look of the elephants and for spotted hyenas, lions, cheetahs, zebras, antelopes, and wildebeests the grasslands are the best site. In Amboseli national park there is the observation hill is which offers 360 degrees fine views of the park’s landscape, swamps and animals. 

Various sessions of game viewing offer amazing unforgettable experiences  as you view animals and the scenic landscape of the park from the open roofs of the your 4X4 wheel vehicle. 
 

• Bird watching 

Amboseli national park is a heaven for bird lovers, the park is a home for over 400 recorded bird species. The park is comprised of swamps and seasonal lakes which are habit to the various bird species, most loved birds in Amboseli national park include lesser flamingoes, Madagascar pond heron, shoe bill and lesser kestrel which are usually spotted around the swamps and marshes. other birds spotted in Amboseli national park include pelicans, herons, egrets, crowned cranes, African jacanas, Rufous chatterer, Eurasian thick-knees, long-toed lapwings, pangani long claws, yellow necked spur fowls, von der decken’s hornbill, Rufous billed herons and many more.

There are both resident and Migratory birds in Amboseli national park, migratory bird species are present in the period of November – April, and this period is also the best time for bird watching. For tourists interested in flamingoes they are best spotted in the period wet seasons as they happen to be in large numbers, wet season in Amboseli national park is experienced in the periods of March to May and October to December. 

• Hot air balloon 

Hot air balloon safari experience in Amboseli is one of the best way of exploring the park as it offers ariel views of the park and its beautiful landscape, hot air balloon safaris usually start as early as 06 am offering spectacular views of the sunrise and snowcapped mountain Kilimanjaro. From the balloon suspended in the air you get to enjoy views of large herds of elephants and many other animals in the park.

• Cultural visits 

Cultural visit in Amboseli park Kenya offer an opportunity for tourists to visit the amazing Masai communities situated along the borders of the park, the Maasai people poses unique culture, traditions and norms which are encountered upon your visit.  On your cultural visit you get to enjoy local activities like livestock rearing, picking local herbs and sights of local manyattas, local clothing of shukas adorned with beautiful ornaments and many more.  

Where to stay in Amboseli national park

Amboseli national park is an amazing national park containing a variety of accommodation establishments offering bed, services and facilities which are needed by tourists while on a safari in the park. These accommodation establishments range from luxury, midrange to budget. 

Luxury safari lodges include Amboseli Serena safari lodge, Ol Donyo lodge, Satao Elerai camp, Campi ya Kanzi, Tawi lodge and Kanzi House & pool cottage.

Midrange safari lodges include Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Ol Tukai lodge, Kilima Safari camp and many more.

Budget safari lodges include Teen Ranch Kenya, Amboseli Eco camps, AA lodge Amboseli and many more.

How to get to Amboseli national park 

The park is located in the rift valley region of Kenya in Loitoktok district, from Nairobi the park lies in southeast of the city in a distance of 240 kilometers taking approximately 4 hours of drive. Amboseli national park is reached using both road and air means of transport, using road various routes from Nairobi are used to get to the park and that are Nairobi – Arusha road via Namanga through Meshanani gate and Nairobi via Emali route.

By air means of transport, Amboseli is reached using chartered flights from Wilson airport in Nairobi to Amboseli airstrip. These scheduled flights are offered by numerous domestic flights such as Air Kenya, SafariLink, Mombasa Air Safari and many more.