The Kingdom of the Elephants in Amboseli Park

The area of the mythical Amboseli Park, in Kenya, could be considered the true country of elephants. The park is a veritable sanctuary for animal life, including the gigantic herds of elephants that cross the plain freely.

The elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli Park are the most famous wild elephants in the world. One of the most recommended observation points within the park is the one known as “Observation Hill“, which allows a global view of the entire landscape, especially the swamps and elephants. Various programmes are developed in the Park to promote long-term elephant conservation, research projects, training, community relations, public awareness and advocacy. Within the program, about 60 family groups of elephants are guarded, and it is estimated that the total number of elephants in the park amounts to about 1500 individuals.

Amboseli National Park is located in southern Kenya, 240 km southeast of Nairobi. The southern boundary of the park is less than 5 km from the border with Tanzania, framed by the imposing figure of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa. The Park is not large compared to other reserves in Africa: it has 392 square kilometers. The name Amboseli comes from the Maasai name of the place (Empusel), referring to an open plain.

Amboseli National Park sits on the basin of an extinct lake, although it is capable of flooding during rainy seasons. Considered a barren savannah with a low rainfall regime, the area has some swamps that are maintained, thanks to the flow of groundwater. Water in Africa is excuse enough for an explosion of life. Another attraction for visitors is the knowledge of the Maasai culture and native way of life that has settled in the Park.

To get to Amboseli Park, it is best to do it from Arusha, through a road that is the main access road, although it is not fully paved. The park also has a single runway for light aircraft. Within the park there is an extensive network of paths that allow for excursions and photographic safaris, although they become very dusty in the dry season.

The Best Elephant Viewing in Africa

Amboseli is one of the most popular national parks in Kenya, famous for its easy game viewing and magnificent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is 392sqkm, compact enough to be covered in 2 days. The star attraction awaiting you is the elephants – Amboseli has some of the most exceptional elephant viewing opportunities in Africa, you can get incredibly close to them on the flat, open terrain. Amazingly, Amboseli is never without water, even in the dry seasons. In the heart of the park, you’ll come across 2 natural springs which are continuously fed by Mount Kilimanjaro’s melting ice caps, over 25km away.

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Elephant Watching, Observation Hill and other Highlights

Exceptional Elephant Viewing

You can’t miss the herds of elephants in Amboseli, easy to see and photograph, and there are knowledgeable guides keen to tell you all about them. You can go on a special “Elephant Watching” game drive that focuses on the social behaviour of a single herd. You get to know a bit about each individual in the herd and how it interacts with the others. Witnessing the protection and deep affection that cows have for their calves is heart-warming, and it’s thrilling if you get the opportunity to see two elephant bulls fighting for dominance. You’ll come away with a tremendous respect for these highly intelligent, social animals.

Other Wild Animals in Amboseli

There’s plenty more animals to see in Amboseli. Grazing on the open grassland amongst the elephant herds, you’ll see wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, dik-dik and impala. You might spot a cheetah in the small strips of acacia woodland, home to many bird species – amboseli has around 400 types of bird. You’ll also find many birds in the lush wetland areas created by the springs, such as Loginya Swamp surrounded by palm forest. This is a favourite spa for elephants, buffalos and hippos. Amboseli’s main carnivores are cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals and wild cats – you have a good chance of seeing them hunting on the open plains. There are lions and leopards too, but it is rare to see them.

The View from Observation Hill

Walk up Observation Hill in the centre of the park for tremendous, panoramic views of the entire Amboseli ecosystem. You’ll look down upon elephant herds crossing a massive expanse of open grassland plains with a huge imprint of where a lake should be, but it is bone-dry for most of the year until the heavy rains. To the south east, vervet monkeys and baboons live in the dense palm forest called Ol Tukai. The park’s 2 swampy springs lie at either end of Ol Tukai. Further south is a landscape of huge volcanic boulders created by lava flow from Mount Kilimanjaro, hundreds of years ago. Beyond this, Maasai villages line the southern border of the park, where Kenya meets Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro, the view of a lifetime.

Activities

Game Viewing

It’s best to take your game drives at dawn and late afternoon. It’s too hot for the elephants and other animals in the middle of the day, so they retreat from the plains to seek shade amongst the trees. You will definitely get up close to large herds of elephants and it is possible to encounter the Big 5 on a game drive across the park. Dawn and dusk are also the times of day when Mount Kilimanjaro is free from mist and at her most beautiful.

Walking safari

A walking safari is another excellent way of experiencing Amboseli’s flora and fauna, accompanied by a highly-trained tracker. You smell the smells, hear the sounds and feel the terrain under your feet – it’s a wholesome experience that alerts the senses and brings you on a level with the game. For a shorter walk, you can take a guided nature walk up Observation Hill for beautiful views of the whole park, or book a special birding trek. Or take a guided horse-back safari if walking is not for you.

Maasai Cultural Tours

You can arrange to go walking in the park with a local Massai guide, or you can tour a Maasai village to learn about their indigenous lifestyle. Oloitokitok town is a thriving Maasai community with a busy marketplace. Sample authentic Maasai food and, if you’re feeling brave, drink fresh blood from a live or slaughtered cow.

Accommodation

Within the park itself, there is a luxury tented camp and 3 excellent lodges in beautiful locations with swimming pools, interesting wildlife talks and evening Maasai dancing. There are also small, private campsites and some very basic campsites if your budget is tight.

Best Time to Visit

January to February and June to October are the two dry seasons. In heavy rains the park can turn into a swamp, so it is best to avoid the rainy seasons.

How to Get There

Amboseli National Park is in Kenya, close to the Tanzanian border. It’s 240km south east of Nairobi, or a 4 hr drive. The closest town is Namanga. You can catch a daily scheduled flight to Amboseli from Nairobi Wilson airport. Light aircraft and private planes can use the park’s airstrip at Empusel gate

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Frequently Asked Questions