Amboseli is one of Kenya’s main tourist attractions. The park is located in the Tsavo-Amboseli-Kilimanjaro ecosystem at Kenya’s southern border with Tanzania. The park sits in the rain shadow of Kilimanjaro and is one of the driest game parks in the region. It is located just 280 km (4-hour drive) from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

What is Amboseli famous for

With its open blue sky, flat landscape, and close proximity, Amboseli is the best viewpoint for Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. The park is also the second most popular destination for game drives after the Masai Mara. An early morning game drive in this park will lead you to herds of elephants walking in the backdrop of the towering mountain, searching for food in an almost empty and dusty wilderness. Amboseli has the highest number of elephants in Kenya, and an encounter with these giants is guaranteed. On what we may say is a good day, you may spot some grazing colonies going up to 100 elephants.  The park is a natural habitat for animals like zebras, cheetahs, leopards, lions, hyraxes, and dik-diks. Hippos and crocodiles are also found in the park’s seasonal lakes.

Amboseli safari is best combined with a visit to the Masai Mara. Coincidentally, game viewing in Amboseli is best between June and October, which is the same time for the great migration in the Masai Mara. Tsavo West National Park is also the closest game-viewing attraction and can be accessed from Amboseli via the Kimana Gate. You can also start your safari from Nairobi, head to Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East before ending your trip in Mombasa or Diani at the beach on a Nairobi to Mombasa/Diani/Malindi/Watamu Safari.

 When is the best time to visit Amboseli?

Amboseli is a small semi-arid national park. Survival in Amboseli isn’t easy, and the ecosystem can sustain only small numbers of wildlife. At times, it gets very dry, and grazing lands are completely depleted, leading to most wildlife migrating out of the park. However, from January to February and June to October, some wildlife settles around the marshy green basins at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, where water wells up throughout the year.

Things to do in Amboseli

Other than game drives, Amboseli has a bucket of other activities to engage in. They include:

1.     Birds watching

Amboseli has numerous seasonal lakes, mostly concentrated in the western part of the park. These include Lake Amboseli, Lake Kioko, Lake Simek, and Conch Lake. Get filled up during the rainy season and are surrounded by marshes lined with papyrus. This creates a conducive habitat for waterbirds like swans, ducks, geese, screamers, magpies, papyrus gonolek, and waders.   At times during the dry season, when water levels are low, flamingos migrate to Lake Amboseli. The best time for bird watching in Amboseli is in the wet months of March and April,

2.     Hiking trail on the Observation Hill

The volcano is at the center of the park and is the highest elevation point in the park.  Also called Poachers Hill since it was used by poachers to track animals, the hill is the best viewpoint for wildlife and scenery in the park. With your pair of binoculars, you can spot wildlife from a far range in the Amboseli plains. The uphill is also surrounded by great wildlife sanctuaries and beautiful scenery. To the East is the Enkongo Narok swamp, a sanctuary for several large hippos and African elephants. To the south is Lake Amboseli, which is a watering point for wildlife and an important bird area. At the base in the south is Lake Kioko, common with hippos.  The hills also offer the best place to view Mt. Kilimanjaro, especially in the evening. To hike in the hills, you need to book a spot in advance.

3.     Masai village visit

Like the Masai Mara, the park is nestled in a region mostly occupied by the Masai community. There are several Masai Boma you can visit between Emali and Amboseli.

Best place to stay during a safari in Amboseli

Best hotels in Amboseli National Park

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

The lodge is at the center of the park and at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. The hotel is located just 3 miles from the observation hill. The lodge is tucked into a grove of acacias, with wetlands and lush grass that provide plenty of food for wildlife. The area is frequented by animals such as zebras, baboons, elephants, and impalas, which often come near the facility. The facility is family-friendly with 3 family rooms and 3 triple rooms.

Ol Tukai lodge

The lodge is at the heart of Amboseli, surrounded by a grove of acacia trees and the Ol Tukai swamp to the west. The area is frequented by elephants and other animals and offers the best view of the marsh area and water birds. The facility is family-friendly, as it has family rooms.

Best hotels in Amboseli private conservancies

Tawi lodge

The facility is in the Tawi conservancy near the Kimana gate of the government park. Tawi conservancy is the only remaining free and protected corridor between the Amboseli and Chyulu ecosystems. The conservancy acts as a key dispersal area for wildlife migrating between the two conservancies, as well as Tsavo. Some of the animals you can spot right from your porch include: elephants, cheetahs, and zebras. Staying in Tawi lodge, you are able to engage in activities like night game drives, nature walks, and camel riding

Tortilis camp

The Elewana Collection-owned facility is in the Kitirua conservancy. The conservancy is one of the only place where you can freely have safari game drives in open-roofed vehicles. The facility also offers extra activities like nature walk, sundowning, and breakfast in the bush. The facility is family-friendly, as it has a family tent.