Overview–kenya

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is located approximately 240 kilometers (about 150 miles) southeast of Nairobi, Kenya. It can be reached by road within a four-hour drive. The park is situated in Kajiado County, near the border with Tanzania, and offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park has several access points, including Iremito Gate, Kimana Gate, and Meshanani Gate. Visitors can also reach the park via air through the Kimana airstrip or other nearby airstrips.

Wildlife and Biodiversity

Amboseli is renowned for its rich biodiversity, particularly its large herds of African elephants. The park is home to four members of the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. Additionally, it hosts a variety of other wildlife species such as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and numerous bird species—over 400 in total—including many raptors.

Unique Features

One of the most distinctive features of Amboseli is its landscape dominated by swamps and marshlands that provide critical habitats for wildlife. The park includes a temporary lake that floods during heavy rains, attracting various bird species like flamingoes. The presence of Mount Kilimanjaro adds to the scenic beauty of the area and provides an iconic backdrop for photography.

Cultural Significance

The Maasai people inhabit the region surrounding Amboseli National Park. Their traditional lifestyle revolves around livestock grazing and has played a significant role in conserving wildlife resources in the ecosystem. Visitors can engage with Maasai culture through village visits and cultural experiences.

Activities Available

Amboseli offers a range of activities for visitors including game viewing, bird watching, hiking at Observation Hill for panoramic views of the park, nature walks guided by local experts, hot air balloon safaris for aerial views of wildlife and landscapes, as well as cultural encounters with the Maasai community.

Accommodations

The park provides various accommodation options, from budget-friendly self-catering bandas to luxury lodges such as Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge and Ol Tukai Lodge. These facilities offer amenities like restaurants, swimming pools, and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Rates

From: $152 to $651 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: June to October and January to February

High Season

From: December to March and July to October (Busy)

Size

From: 390km² / 151mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s most popular parks and offers great wildlife viewing. The park is famous for its elephants, but most big safari animals can be spotted here. The black rhino is no longer found here, and leopards are very rarely seen, but the other three of the Big Five are present. The open plains can be excellent for seeing cheetahs. The plains support an abundance of large herbivores including wildebeest, plains zebra, and Grant's and Thomson's gazelle.

Wildlife Highlights

Elephants are Amboseli’s specialty. Big herds roam the dusty plains morning and evening. During the day many elephants spend their time partially submerged, foraging in the park’s swamps. Having been protected from poaching, Amboseli’s elephants carry impressive ivory and are very relaxed around cars. Cheetah and lion sightings are fairly common, and there’s a spotted hyena den northeast of the airstrip. Watch for bohor reedbuck lying low in the grass.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Amboseli can be visited throughout the year, but the best wildlife watching is in the Dry season (June to October) when animals gather around marshes and other predictable water sources. When it’s dry, animals crossing the sandy plains kick up a lot of dust, offering great photo opportunities in the late afternoon. The dry spell between the rains, from January to February, can also be a great time for wildlife viewing.

General Wheather

Conditions in Amboseli National Park are hot and dry. Rain typically falls as short, heavy showers. Expect average temperatures of around 28°C/82°F during the day and 15°C/59°F at night. Early morning activities, such as game drives, may require warm clothing. When they arrive, the long rains usually fall from mid-March to mid-May while the short rains are from late October or November to mid-December.

Dry Season –June to October

These are the coolest months and typically have bright, sunny days. It is very dry with practically no rain.

June & July – It is normally sunny. Expect average temperatures of around 26°C/79°F in the afternoon.
August & September – Daytime temperatures are on the rise until the rain breaks. Although temperature peaks are far higher, the average in September is about 27°C/81°F.
October – It is very hot and humid. The first rain comes as a relief.

Wet Season –November to May

The Wet season is marked by the short rains followed by the long rains. January and February a drier periods in between. Driving can be a challenge in April and May when rains cause road conditions to deteriorate.

November & December – ‘Short rains’ – The rains generally peak in November. Normally it doesn’t rain for the whole day, and afternoon storms are common. The average temperature is 28°C/82°F during the day, but it increases before it rains.
January & February – The exact start and finish of this dry period separating the rains is never predictable. February, though, is the hottest month, and the average afternoon temperature is 30°C/86°F (expect higher peaks).
March, April & May – ‘Long rains’ – The long rains generally start in mid-to-late March. It seldom rains for the entire day, but afternoon showers can be expected. The wettest month is April. Expect temperatures in the afternoon to reach 30°C/86°F.

Prons

Excellent wildlife viewing
Outstanding elephant sightings
Good sightings of lions and cheetahs are possible
Views of Kilimanjaro
Excellent birding, especially waterbirds in swamp habitat
Good range of accommodations catering to different budgets and styles

Cons

The park gets very busy, especially in the high season
Dust can reduce visibility when the winds blow

How To Get There

Your entry point to Kenya will most likely be Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15km/9 mi southeast of the capital city Nairobi. The country’s second international airport is Moi International Airport (MBA), 9km/6 mi west of Mombasa.

Amboseli National Park is 215km/134 mi southeast of Nairobi and the drive takes about 4 hours*. You can also drive from other parks if you’re doing a road trip around the country. The distance from Tsavo West National Park (via Emali and Mtito Andei) is around 200km/125 mi and the driving time is about 3 to 4 hours*. It’s also possible to travel to Tsavo West’s Chyulu Gate along the rough track from Kimana.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

Charter flights are an option between parks and are typically booked for you as part of your tour package. Domestic flights from Nairobi leave from Wilson Airport (WIL), 6km/4 mi south of the city. Scheduled flights to Amboseli can be booked with several domestic carriers: