Amboseli National Park in Kenya
Breathtaking landscapes featuring Mount Kilimanjaro pose the magnificent backdrop to Amboseli's abundant wildlife and vast horizons. The park is famous for great wildlife sighting as herds of elephants with impressive tusks roam the open plains along with lions, cheetahs and many other creatures. Climb to the top of Observation Hill and witness the spectacular expanse of the open lands and endless skies of the Amboseli National Park.
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Best Time To Go
June - September, January - February
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Average Safari Cost
$100 - $600 pp/day
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Highlights
Stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Big Five (no rhino), herds of elephants, Maasai culture, Observation Hill, sunrise and sunset game drives, horseback riding safaris, nature walks with Maasai guides, rides in a hot air balloon
Why Visit Amboseli National Park?
Mount Kilimanjaro towers over the Amboseli National Park, resulting in spectacular landscape views and photographic opportunities. Mount Kilimanjaro's ice cap provides an endless amount of underground water for the park. Swamps and vast savannah plains make up the terrain of the Amboseli National Park making wildlife sightings quite easy through the short vegetation. Sometimes referred to as "Land of the Giants", the park is well known for its impressive herds of elephant.
Climb to the top of Observation Hill and see the land from a new perspective, especially the elephant herds. Amboseli is also an excellent birding destination with a variety of different ecological habitats. Game drives through the park allow the chance to see a variety of wildlife such as lions, giraffe, cheetah, hyena and many more! Travelling along the dusty roads of the Amboseli National Park never ceases to amaze with it magnificent vistas, Kilimanjaro backdrop and incredible animal sightings.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Amazing wildlife viewing
- Stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro
- Some of the best elephant viewing opportunities
- Many accommodation options
- Great birdwatching destination
Cons
- Can get quite busy, as this is a popular park
- Malaria risk
Best Time To Visit
June to October
The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is during the dry months, from June to October, January and February. This is when wildlife viewing is the best because the vegetation is more sparse and animals congregate at the sources of water.
The dry season is from June to September where there is little to no rainfall. There is also a much lower risk for malaria in the dry season. The days are warm and pleasant averaging temperatures of about 82˚F (28˚C) with cool nights where temperatures fall to about 59˚F (15˚C).
October to May
The wet season is from October to May with rainfall decreasing in the months of January and February and starting up again in March. It is very hot during these months with day-time temperatures averaging about 82˚F (28˚C) and exceeding 86˚F (30˚C) in February.
Animals tend to disperse throughout the park during the wet months as there are more water sources. This is the best time for birding as migratory species can be found. The scenery of the park is better during the wet season and the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro occur after rainfall. However, rainfall can interfere and disrupt activities and travel plans.
For more details about when to visit broken down by months/seasons see our Botswana overview.
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Wildlife And Birds
Amboseli National Park offers excellent wildlife sightings. With its vast, grassy plains and swampland, animals are easy to spot, especially the massive herds of elephants and other herbivores. Zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and gazelle can be found grazing on the grass and trees while lions and cheetahs prowl through the land awaiting their next hunt.
You can often find hippos and elephants cooling off in the waters of the swamps. Amboseli National Park's vast, open plains do not disappoint with the impressive number of elephants and many other animals to see. The swamps are also home to a variety of water birds such as flamingos, egrets and cranes while many different birds of prey soar through the endless skies.
- Lion
- Elephant
- Cheetah
- Leopard
- Hippo
- Buffalo
- Hyena
- Giraffe
Rare Animals:
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Wild dog
Frequently Seen Animals:
- Lion
- Elephant
- Zebra
- Wildebeest
- Giraffe
- Hippo
- Buffalo
- Hyena
With over 420 recorded species of bird, Amboseli is an excellent birding destination. From flamingos, pelicans and the distinctive Saddlebill in the swamps to Kori bustards, secretary birds and grey-crowned cranes, there are many wonderful birds to be seen. Over 40 species of birds of prey can be found within Amboseli National Park.
Endangered birds: Great egret, white-headed vulture
Getting There And Safety
Amboseli is situated 226 miles (365km) from Nairobi. You can self-drive if you have or hire a 4x4 vehicle. There are also flights every day from Nairobi to the airstrip in Amboseli. Charter flights are also available to the airstrips at certain lodges.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Kenya
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Kenya
For more details about flights, visas and other travel-related issues, see our Kenya overview.
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Kenya. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check the World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of the safari trip cover.
You will need to pack clothes for both warm and cool weather as it can get very hot during the day and cold at night. Try to pack neutral, earthy toned clothes and avoid bright colours. It is a good idea to pack light clothes that you can layer and clothes that cover your arms and legs at night to avoid mosquito bites. Other essential items are a hat, sun screen, toiletries, closed shoes, torch, batteries, insect repellent, binoculars and camera.
For more details on what to pack to this Kenya safari, see our safari packing list.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Kenya
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Kenya
For more details about flights see our Kenya Safari - Complete Travel Guide.