Inside Amboseli National Park: Facts, Entrance Fee, Location Map

Inside Amboseli National Park: Facts, Activities, Attractions, Entrance fees, and Location map, How to get there, things to do. Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s Premier destinations located in the southern part of Kenya in Kajiado South Constituency in Kajiado County. Amboseli National Park was set aside as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906 but returned to local control as a game reserve in 1948. Gazetted a national park in 1974 to protect the core of this unique ecosystem, it was declared a UNESCO site in 1991.

Finding Elephants in the Shadow of Kilimanjaro | Amboseli, Kenya

Amboseli National Park stretches on a total land area of 392 square kilometers and forms the unfenced core of an 8,000 km2 ecosystem that includes large tracts of Maasai community land both in Kenya and across the border in Tanzania. Amboseli lies at the northern base of Kilimanjaro and, clouds permitting, it offers a tremendous opportunity to photograph plains wildlife below the snow-capped peak of Africa’s tallest mountain.

The local people are mainly Maasai, but people from other parts of the country have in recent years settled there, attracted by the successful tourist-driven economy and intensive agriculture along with the system of swamps that makes this low-rainfall area, an average of 350 mm (14 in), one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world with 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hamerkop and 47 raptor species and lot more. Amboseli National Park is the second most popular National Park in Kenya after the premier Masai Mara Reserve.  The National Park is a great place to visit for wildlife sightings all year round due to the remarkable numbers of wildlife found here.

Mount Kilimanjaro stands tall in the Amboseli National Parks in Kenya, making it one of the country’s most visited parks. Amoseli, whose name derives from a Maasai term meaning “salty dust,” is a top spot in Africa for getting a close look at huge elephant herds. This area offers five distinct ecosystems for nature enthusiasts to discover, including a dried-up lake bed, wetlands with sulfur springs, a savannah, and forests. Furthermore, they get the opportunity to visit the Maasai people who reside in the park and immerse themselves in their traditional lifestyle.

Amboseli National Park Entrance Fees

With a wide range of prices, Kenya offers a wide variety of natural areas to explore, including 23 national parks, 28 reserves, 4 marine parks, 6 marine reserves, 4 national sanctuaries, and more than 140 private conservancies. The Kenya Wildlife Service oversees the majority of Kenya’s protected areas, including national parks, marine parks, and reserves. In contrast, the local county council is responsible for the majority of national reserves, including the Samburu and Masai Mara.

How much it costs to enter a park, reserve, or conservatory depends on several factors, including whether the visitor is a citizen, a resident, or a non-resident. In this context, “citizen” means a citizen of Kenya, as well as a citizen of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, or Burundi if they possess a valid passport. “Residents” are foreign nationals who have legal papers to live in Kenya, whereas “non-residents” are foreign nationals who do not have legal documentation to live in Kenya. Before you may enter any park, reserve, or conservancy, you’ll need to show identification.

• Pay with Kabira Safaris & Tours your handling agent
• Kindly refer to the KWS Conservation Fees document below for other services and charges.
• Modes of Payment; Pay for your entry to any of our Parks or Reserves via eCitizen government platform.

Safaris in Amboseli National Park

Among the many things to do in Amboseli, watching a game is by far the most popular. Either arrange for a guided game drive through your camp or lodge, or bring your own vehicle and explore on your own. The park’s regulations prohibit nighttime driving, as they do in all Kenyan national parks. Outside of the park boundaries, at one of the private concessions, you can go on safaris in ways that aren’t possible inside, like night drives, walking safaris, horse and camel safaris, and even fly camping, where you sleep under the stars with only the most basic of accommodations. The Amboseli Trust for Elephants offers conservation lectures and ranger experiences that can be scheduled ahead of time or included in a prearranged itinerary.

Those interested in the avian inhabitants of Amboseli often go on guided safaris, whether by car or foot. The blue-cheeked bee-eater, the endangered Malagasy pond heron, the lesser kestrel, and the lesser flamingo are among the finest birds to view.

What is Amboseli Like

Here, with the towering Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, you can observe primeval wetlands and dry grasslands side by side. Elephants and a plethora of birds flock to the park, which gets its name from the English misinterpretation of the Maa word “Amboseli,” meaning “salty, dry place.” However, some parts of the park are well-watered thanks to underground streams that originate from Kili’s melting ice cover.

In order to protect the trees from elephant nibbling and give the vegetation a chance to regenerate, sections of the wooded swamp have been enclosed by fencing. The parched plain can transform into a small lake during the lengthy spring rains, attracting wading birds (400 species in this area alone). Amboseli is well-kept and manageable for rangers to police due to its tiny size.

If this is your first time visiting Kenya or going on a safari, Amboseli is a fantastic option. Because of its small size, you can visit almost everything in two days, and because it is close to Nairobi, you won’t have to endure a lengthy drive or another lengthy journey after a long-haul flight. It takes less than an hour for a light aircraft to fly the short distance from Wilson Airport to the Amboseli airstrip.

You can’t go wrong with Amboseli as a jumping off point for your Kenya safari. You should ask your Africa Safari Expert to assist you schedule your trip around potential traffic jams around Easter and Christmas because of how close it is to Nairobi and how many Kenyans drive through during weekends and school vacations.

Animals in Amboseli National Park

African Wildlife – Animals of Amboseli National Park in Kenya

The variety of the game mirrors the variety of the environment. Because of their extensive history of study at the Amboseli Elephant Research Centre, the guides at the park are familiar with the elephants and often call them by name.

This area is also home to a baboon research center, where scientists may learn more about these bright, curious, and sociable monkeys.

You won’t see leopards or rhinos in Amboseli, so we can’t promise you’ll see the Big 5. But don’t let that stop you; leopards and rhinos are plentiful in other parts of Kenya. The Masai Mara is a great place to see leopards, and Lewa is a great place to see rhinos. Because they prefer the northern, drier climate of Samburu, you will also not encounter the oddly shaped gerenuk.

However, you can expect to see a plethora of birds, giraffe, lions, buffalo, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes (an extremely unusual sighting), and non-migrating wildebeest. Amboseli is the place to go if you want to hone your game-spotting skills. Watch out for spotted hyena, also called “spotties” because there are no brown hyena in this area, as well as Thomson’s gazelle and its differences from impala, Maasai giraffe, Burchell’s or plains zebra, and an abundance of spotted hyena.

Will I See Kilimanjaro

Kenya offers the finest views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and the globe. This is typical of Africa; for example, Zimbabwe offers the best views of Victoria Falls, which plunges over the border of Zambia, but the mountain is really in Tanzania.

Amboseli offers the finest views of Kili because it is close to the Tanzanian border. The top of Kili is nearly constantly shrouded in cloud because of its height of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). This is a major drawback. Do not avoid the early morning game drives; you will have the best opportunity of sighting the top at daybreak, when conditions may have eased overnight.

Remember that experienced photographers spend a lot of time in the field searching for the ideal shot; don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t locate the same thing in a day or two that it takes them weeks or months to find.

Best Time to Visit Amboseli National Park

High / Peak Season: June to October

• Best time for game viewing – grass is shorter which makes animals easier to spot and they don’t stray far from water sources.
• Mostly sunny with very little to no rain.
• Rates are higher and the park can get rather busy.

Low / Green Season: November to May

• The short rains peak in November, and the long rains in April and May.
• Scenically Amboseli is at its best – a superb time for photography.
• Best time to visit for bird watching.
• Best views of Kilimanjaro – skies are clear of dust.
• Lower rates and the park is quieter due to wet road conditions (around April and May).

How to Get There

Amboseli Airstrip is the best airport to land at if you want to visit the park. The trip takes around 40 minutes and is offered by multiple airlines daily from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, including Safarilink and Airkenya. Additionally, a few lodges within the park offer their very own private airstrips.

From Nairobi, there are two ways to go by car. For approximately 150 km, you can follow the A104 south to Namanga and then continue east on the C103 until you reach Meshanani Gate. An alternate route that covers 134 miles is the C102 south to Iremito Gate, which begins at Emali on the A109 to the southeast.

The 240-mile journey from Mombasa to the Kimana Gate begins with a westward turn onto the A109 at Voi, and continues on the A23. You can visit Amboseli as part of a circuit that includes southern Kenya and northern Tanzania offered by a number of tour organizations.

Things to Do in Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park – Kenya Photo Safari

Amboseli is most famous for its elephants. Sheds of more than a hundred individuals, ranging from elderly matriarchs to young calves still shrouded in coarse orange fur, are common among the biggest terrestrial creatures on Earth. The elephants are easy to see because there is little undergrowth. In particular, don’t miss the iconic tuskers of Amboseli—giants with tusks that have grown to incredible lengths. Amboseli Trust for Elephants, a renowned organization that has studied elephant populations since 1972, is based out of the park as well.

Elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards are four of the five safari animals that can be spotted at Amboseli National Park. There are a lot of antelopes and ungulates in the reserve, including the beautiful Thomson’s gazelles, blue wildebeest, Grant’s zebra, and the Maasai giraffe, which is in danger of extinction. Although Amboseli is not as well-known as other reserves in Kenya for predator sightings, such as the Maasai Mara, it is possible to observe rare predators such as spotted hyenas and cheetahs. In this area, birdwatchers can observe over 400 species of birds, 47 of which are raptors.

A cultural excursion to one of the traditional Maasai settlements on the park’s borders can be arranged through your tour operator or lodge if you are interested in the park’s human history.

Trips for Visiting Amboseli National Park

• Starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m., the park is open every day (including holidays).
• The park experiences relatively constant yearly temperatures due to its closeness to the equator. Readings of 80–86 degrees Fahrenheit (27–30 degrees Celsius) are usual, and it is hot. On the other hand, nighttime temperatures can drop significantly, so dress in layers for game drives in the dark and early morning.
• The longer rainy season lasts from March to May, while the shorter one lasts from November to December. If you want to see wildlife while you’re on vacation, the long dry season (June–September) is when you should go. Animals gather around the park’s water features during this time, making them easy to spot.
• There are benefits to going during the wetter months as well. In addition to lower hotel prices, you’ll find greener landscapes, better views of Mount Kilimanjaro, and a veritable avian paradise at the full lake.
• It is recommended that you consult your doctor regarding the necessary vaccines, including anti-malaria medication, before visiting Amboseli in Kenya.
• Every single national park and conservation area in Kenya has a ban on single-use plastic. Bring a refillable water bottle with you.

The National Park is famous for habituating large herds of elephants, the elephants live in families and can be spotted all over the Park. Amboseli also offers dramatic views of Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the highest peak on the African continent.

“Kilimanjaro Elephants” – Amazing Wildlife Safari in Amboseli National Park Kenya

Is Amboseli worth visiting?

In our opinion, Amboseli National Park is worth Visiting. Despite having some of the same attractions as some of the other popular national parks in Kenya, a safari to Amboseli is really unique with a unique experience. The great diversity makes Amboseli a National Park in Kenya that is absolutely worth visiting.

Located in Loitoktok District within the Rift Valley, Entonet, Kenya. Amboseli, Kenya was set aside as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906 but returned to local control as a game reserve in 1948. Gazetted a national park in 1974 to protect the core of this unique ecosystem, it was declared a UNESCO site in 1991. Stretches on a total area of 392km2, managed by Kenya Wildlife Service.

Should I Go to Amboseli National Park

Yes. There is a lot to do, the scenery is stunning, and transfers are simple. For those venturing to Africa for the first time, Amboseli is an excellent starting point before reaching the Masai Mara. Get in touch with our Africa Safari Experts via chat for personalized assistance in creating your ideal itinerary.