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Amboseli - a land of giants |
 Amboseli is a land of giants. This is a place of wide dry plains, where the horizons stretch into the furthest distance and become one with the sky. Amboseli is renowned for its elephant populations and large herds, including some impressively tusked bulls are drawn to a series of large, lush swamplands.
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Amboseli is a 4 hour drive from Nairobi. The nearest town is Namanga, on the Kenya/ Tanzania border. There are regular buses and matatus to Namanga from Nairobi and other destinations.
There are also regular private shuttles from Nairobi to Arusha in Tanzania, which pass by Namanga. There are daily scheduled flights from both Nairobi and the coast. Amboseli has a central airstrip. Private Charters also use this strip.
Accessing Amboseli National Park is difficult without private transport. Most visitors come here as part of a Safari package from Nairobi.
Those bringing their own vehicles should be prepared for dusty driving conditions from Namanga to the Park, although the park has well established internal roads and tracks.
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Where to stay in Amboseli |
Amboseli has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets, tastes and interests. There are very basic campsites where you can pitch a tent and sleep under canvas in the wild, well appointed safari lodges, luxury tented camps with large, fully furnished tents, small private camps for your exclusive use and much, much, more.
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Wildlife Safari
A wildife safari into Amboseli lets the
visitor enter the majestic realm of the Elephant. This beautiful park
consists of wide open plains crowned by the snow capped peak of
Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli is easily accessible from Nairobi, and its
relatively small size and open plains make game viewing very easy.
The
most obvious resident are the large elephant herds, and they are
impossible to miss. Elephants are a continual presence throughout the
park, and this provides plenty of opportunities to observe and learn
from a wide variety of their social behaviour. With a well trained
guide, it is easy to understand and follow the social heirachy of each
herd, and their constant social interaction.
Whether it is the
deep affection between a cow and her calf or a spectacular battle for
dominance between two full tusked bulls, elephant behaviour is always
fascinating.
Spending time among Amboseli's Elephants is the
perfect way to learn more about the role that they play in the local
ecosystem. There is a lot more to see in Amboseli other than Elephants.
The forests and swamplands are well worth exploring, and the wetland
areas and stands of acacia are rich birding country.
The open
plains attract plenty of grazing game. including zebra, wildebeest, and
impala. Cheetah are often seen here, either hunting on the plains or at
rest in the undergrowth.
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Most of the Amboseli’s lodges and camps offer full board accommodation with meals, serving a wide range of cuisines. Many lodges and camps also organize special bush dinners or breakfasts,
with meals served in the wild.
For those camping out under the stars, most safari companies provide an excellent camp cook, who can produce culinary wonders from a campfire. For campers wanting to cook for themselves, the nearest town for supplies is Namanga.
For the adventurous diner, a visit or stay among a Maasai community will allow to try traditional Maasai cuisine. Maasai delicacies include sour milk, and on special occasions, fresh blood taken either from a live cow or freshly slaughtered animal.
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Cultural Safari in Amboseli |
Amboseli is part of Southern Kenyan Maasai land. Proximity to the border
means that many of the Maasai in this area move back and forth with
their herds into Tanzania. Many of the lodges and camps in this
area work closely with local Maasai communities. Arrangements can often
be made to walk with local Maasai guides or visit Maasai villages,
schools and communities around the Park. This is the perfect opportunity
to meet and spend time with Maasai people.
Amboseli is
surrounded by many Maasai settelments. The small town of Oloitokitok
(pronounced Loytoktok) is a major Maasai centre, with fantastc
views of Mt Kilimanjaro. The town hosts huge bustling markets that
attract many Maasai from surrounding areas, turning the streets into a
sea of bright red shukkas.
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Amboseli 
