Amboseli lies immediately
north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. The Park
covers 392 square km, and forms part of
the much larger 3,000 square km Amboseli ecosystem.
Large
concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making
Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by six
communally owned group ranches.
The National Park embodies five main
wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush
country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a Pleistocene lake
basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli,
that floods during years of heavy rainfall.
Amboseli is famous for its
big game and its great scenic beauty – and the landscape is dominated
by the towering Mount Kilimanjaro.
Major Attractions:
Mount Kilimanjaro; Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the
whole park especially the swamps and elephants; Swamp below observation
hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of water
fowl like pelican; Egyptian goose; contemporary Maasai culture and
indigenous lifestyle; herds of elephants.
Wildlife: Amboseli has over 80 different mammals to be
found ranging from the tiny (and rarely seen) spectacled elephant shrew
to the huge bulk of the African elephant. Few visitors will go home
without superb elephant pictures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. There
are over 400 bird species.
Getting there - By Road: The main road into the park is from Nairobi via Namanga (240 km) on the
Nairobi-Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmaced up to
Namanga but is murram from Namanga to Meshanani Gate (75km).
The other
road is via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi- Mombasa Road. The road is
tarmaced up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64 km)
Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana
(Olkelunyiet) Gate.
By Air: The Park has an airstrip at Empusel gate.
There is also an airstrip for light aircraft at the Park Headquarters
(Olekelunyiet). Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and
Namanga town.
Where to stay - Amboseli has a range of accommodation
to suit all budgets, tastes and interests. There are very basic
campsites where one 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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