Karibu! Amboseli Safari Kenya
Amboseli National Park is arguably the most picturesque game park in Africa, highlighted by great herds of elephants that roam majestically under the background of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Located in southern Kenya along the Tanzania border, the 390 sq.km Amboseli Park stands out as one of Kenya’s popular wildlife reserves, comprising of several different ecosystems ranging from springs, swamps, open plains, marshes, lava rock scrubland, acacia woodland and a shallow seasonal lake. Amboseli safari offers great game to include: large elephant herds, zebra, warthog, giraffe, wildebeest among other species and you might see lions and cheetah on a good day
At Masai Mara Holidays, we offer well crafted Amboseli Safari tours offering a the ultimate best of this iconic Kenya Game Park with options for budget, midrange and luxury travelers
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Popular Amboseli National Park Safari Packages For You
Browse through some of our expertly crafted popular Amboseli Safari tours, these safari packages have been carefully selected based on our most requested itineraries and booked trips and explore safari Kenya Amboseli and some of East Africa’s top safari landmarks
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A Guide to Safari in Amboseli National Park
A detailed guide to Safari Kenya Amboseli to include; Where to stay, Wildlife in the Park, Travel Guide, Activities, and the main attractions in the park
Amboseli Kenya is renowned for big game viewing, however, there are a couple of other activities to consider such as birding watching and Maasai village visits..
Game Drives
Games Drives in Kenya's Amboseli National Park are very rewarding, and if it is elephants you are after, then Amboseli Kenya is the place, the most studied and oldest elephant population in sub Saharan Africa lives here. Game drives are most rewarding around the swamps of Enkongo Narok and the observation Hil. Game viewing is best from mid December to March with the clearest views of Mount Kilimanjaro and fro, July to October, and due to the open terrain, safari Kenya Amboseli is good all year round apart from May and April when it can be very wet.
Birding Safaris
The bird life in Amboseli National Park Kenya is prolific, with 420 recorded species, some of these include;more than 10 species of Eagles, vultures, sandgrouse, rosy patched bushshrike, Taveta golden weaver and purple grenadier. In the swampy area, seasonal flamingo, jacanas, egrets, ibises, geese, plovers, storks, ducks, and more than 12 species of heron can be seen.
Maasai Village Visits
The Maasai being the original inhabitants of the Amboseli ecosystem coexisting with the wildlife still exist in ranches bordering the park. Some of these ranches are open to cultural tours, visiting Maasai Manyattas to learn about their cultures, ways of living and tradition. If you are, you might have afew Maasai at your lodge or camp serving as hotel staff or safari guides.
Enkongo Narok Swamp
Located in the middle of Amboseli National Park, the permanent marshy swamp of Enkorogo Narok is the centered for wildlife viewing, hippos, elephants and various birds spiciest are best seen here. Enkongo Narok is also the best place in the park to get a copy of the famous photos of Amboseli park with animals in the foreground and Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. There are also springs that can be seen here that are fed by melt runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro, this water appears to be seeping up from the lava rocks that were spewed up by Kilimanjaro during its final eruption.
Ol OKenya Swamp
Elephants are often seen very common in the vacinity if Ol OKenya Swamp, which lies afew minutes drive from Ol Tukai park head quarters. When not feeding by ashore, they are generally seen semi submerged and foraging in the water itself.
Observation Hill (Normatiar)
Observation Hill is one of the few places in Amboseli where visitors are allowed to leave their vehicle. The isolated volcanic plug known to the Maasai as "Normatiar" provides an ideal location from which to get an overview of Amboseli National Park, here you can see the plains, swamps and game tracks down below from the top. There is also a good chance of dots of wildlife spotting typically, zebras, elephants, gazelles and wildebeest.
Lake Amboseli
This seasonal lake dominated the western third of Kenya's Amboseli National Park, the lake is most often a dust bowl, going years without holding significant quantities of water, but when it does fill up, it attracts large volumes of game.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Amboseli lies at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the mountain seems close but is actually located in Tanzania, about 48km from the park. Kilimanjaro is a very vital to sustaining life in the park, all the springs that flow into the permanent marshy swamps in the center of the park come from the melted snow of Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and borders the park to the south, particularly in the rain shadow of the mountain receiving just 300 mm of rain all year. While cloud cover renders the mountain's extreme size, at dusk or dawn, the cloud breaks offering sight to the snow capped 5,695 meter peak. Kilimanjaro provided a perfect backdrop for photographing and viewing wildlife for safari Kenya Amboseli.
Amboseli safari offers a variety of wildlife species, but chances of seeing predators are much less as Maasai hunters killed off most lions because they preyed on their cattle. Cheetah exist but shy, the most reliable wildlife sightings include; elephants, hippos, buffalo, zebras, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle, antelopes, spotted hyenas, jackals, warthog, olive baboons and vervet monkeys. Wildlife numbers flourish when the weather is favorably good but in the periods of drought, the fragile circle of life hangs permanently in the balance. At its most brutal, Kenya's Amboseli National Park becomes desert like, with helpless animals traversing through barren wilderness, many die leaving skeletons and carcasses littering the land. Strange to all this, is Amboseli Park's ability to transform, when the rain comes, the park transforms from brown to green and extra ordinary numbers of wildlife flourish again.
Elephants in Amboseli National Park
Amboseli Safari is well known for abundant elephant herds that are well balanced and habituated to the presence of vehicle hence approachable. Perhaps the oldest and most studied elephant population lives here, the elephants are Amboseli Kenya's pride and joy with an estimated 1,400 in number comprising of 58 matriarchal families, to include some the oldest and biggest elephants in Africa.
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Amboseli National Park Map
Park Entry Fees 2024 -2025
Entry to Amboseli Kenya is by KWS smart card only and park fee is valid for 24 hours. As of 2024 - 2025, Amboseli Safari park fee for non Residents is USD 60 per Adult while non resident children of age 3 to 17 years old are charged USD 35 per child and children of the age 3 years and below are free of charge. Resident visitors pay Kes. 860 per Adult and Kes. 215 per child aged 3 to 17 years old.
Weather
Amboseli National Park experiences a wet and dry season with annual temperatures ranging from 30 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius. Mornings and nights have cooler temperatures while the day will see hot temperatures in the dry season. The dry season months are June to September and October with August to September being the hottest months in this season. The wet season offers short and long rains, November marks the start of the short rain which go upto December and January - February offers some scattered rains with the hottest temperatures in the year. The long rains are experienced in March, April and May and are mostly afternoon showers with storms
Getting There
Amboseli National Park Kenya can be accessed both by road any air.
By Road Drive
The main route from Nairobi is via Namanga (240km) on a good paved road, beyond which the remaining stretch of road is a dusty road. It’s also possible to travel via Emali (228km)on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway; from Emali, the remaining 64km 40 miles) is on fairly paved but-doable road. Traveling from Mombasa, the drive from the coast is a full-day affair and definitely to be avoided unless you plan to visit Tsavo National Park then Amboseli Safari.
By Air
Amboseli has a single airstrip for light aircraft in the center of the park. Safarilink and AirKenya fly between Amboseli and Nairobi early each morning, and the trip takes around 40 minutes. Mombasa Air Safari flies to Amboseli from Mombasa (via Ukanda; about 1 hr.)
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Best Selling Amboseli Safari Tours
Browse through our Best Amboseli Safari Packages carefully picked and ranked through actual feedback from our travelled guests and the most booked and desired itineraries
Embark on the ultimate wildlife viewing adventure with a 6-day safari to some of Kenya's best national parks. Starting off...
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Amboseli Game Reserve Kenya addressed by an our seasoned Kenya Amboseli safari experts at Masai Mara Holidays (Ltd)
The best time for Amboseli safari is January to February and June to September, these dry months, game viewing is easy and the park is easy to navigate. April, May and November are the peak wet months, Amboseli safari tours are not recommended at this time of year since game viewing is a challenge and some roads in the park are impassable.
The cost of Amboseli National Park safari varies with which month you travel, number of people and the duration of the safari. Generally the park fee for non residents is USD 60 per person and USD 35 per child, top notch budget, midrange and luxury accommodations in Amboseli National Park charge anywhere between USD 85 to USD 550 per person sharing per night. Transportation will range anywhere from USD 150 to USD 350 per day covering the driver fee, fuel and the vehicle here.
A 3 Day budget Amboseli Safari in the peak season based on a sharing basis will cost as follows:
- 2 Pax - USD 775 per person
- 3 Pax - USD 610 per person
- 4 Pax - USD 590 per person
- 5 Pax - USD 525 per person
- 6 Pax - USD 520 per person
For midrange and luxury prices, a supplement of USD 250 and USD 500 is to be added respectively. How many day should I spend inAmboseli?
A minimum of one night is enough to be spend in Amboseli Kenya for a short safari, but to get the best of the park, consider 2 nights in the park to explore Amboseli's varied attractions.
Booking a safari in Amboseli Kenya is done through a reputable Kenya Tour Operator or a lodge or camp in Amboseli. Most operator will offer you a proposed all inclusive safari package that cover all expenses, and with a 30% deposit payment you should be able to confirm the booking. Expect to pay the final balance a month to your travel date then pack up and prepare to enjoy a seamless safari crafted to your exact needs.
Amboseli and the Masai Mara are two of Kenya's great wildlife reserves but tend to differ in scenary and wildlife. While the Masai Mara hosts the great migration, a spectacle you will only find only in the adjacent Serengeti National Park, Amboseli offers the biggest elephant herds in the region and a stunning sight of Mount Kilimanjaro. If we are to consider Wildlife numbers, the Masai Mara has more compare to Amboseli with better chances at encountering the big cats as well. For photographers, the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli offers a good setting for the best wildlife photos in the region can that not be compared else where. Generally Amboseli and the Masai Mara are two excellent wildlife reserve, each with its on pros, if you can afford to visit both parks, it should definitely take the chance.
The big five are African's wildlife species they were hard to hunt down during the trophy hunting era of safaris in Africa. These include; Lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant and of this list, the rhino is no longer existent in Amboseli National Park due to the excessive poaching, they were transferred to Tsavo National Park where currently conservation efforts are on going. Lions and Leopards exist but chances of seeing them in rare, Buffaloes and Elephants are an easy spot with some of the Africa's biggest and oldest elephant herds.
Mountain Kilimanjaro is mostly visible from Amboseli National Park if the weather permits, a cloud often covers the snow capped peak of the mountain most of the day but dawn and dust, as the cloud cover breaks for the majestic mountain to stand out with clear views providing a perfect back drop for the plains below.
Tipping along your Amboseli National Park Safari is a common way to appreciate a service rendered, you can tip drivers, porters, hotel staff and guides and other staff for a service that has been good. A good tip can range anywhere within USD 5 to USD 10 for hotel or restaurant staff and USD 15 to USD 25 per day for safari guides and rangers. Tips on your Ambseli safari are highly appreciated but not generally expected
Checkout our recommended packing essentials for your upcoming Amboseli safari tour to ensure a seamless and comfortable experience
Clothing
Be aware of safari colors for your clothing, these are khaki earth tones (neutral colors) which repel heat and are good at disguising any patches of African dust and dirt. While packing clothing for Amboseli Safari, keep away from bright color options including black and blue they do attract tsetse flies. In terms of fabric, light and breathable material is more comfortable.
Items to pack include; Sandals for your relaxing time, comfortable closed shoes, Wilde brimmed hat or cap, windbreaker sweater, 1-2 safari pants, 1-2 safari shorts, 3 pairs of sports socks, water proof jacket, 1-2 pairs of short sleeve and long sleeve safari shirts, swimsuit, 1 pair of casual slack or skirt or 2 blouses, belt, underwear, bras and sports bra for rough roads, pajamas.
Sundries
Items include; Prescription drugs, anti malaria pills (should start medication before arriving to Uganda), anti diarrhea pills, vitamins, antibiotics, insect repellent, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush, makeup.
Souvenirs
Items to include; a yellow fever vaccination card, passport, printed visa, air tickets, credit cards, cellphone, charger plus power bank. Sunglasses, small torch with batteries, pens and reading material.
The best way to travel to Amboseli National Park is considering a safari in the off season when accommodations and tour operators offer the lowest rates.
Our Experience
Book your Amboseli Safaris with Masai Mara Holidays (Ltd)
Masai Mara Holidays Ltd is your home to Africa's unmatched Safaris, We offer a wide range of Amboseli safari tours to cater for all travelers from budget, midrange and Luxury visitors. Our expert service ensures a memorable and hassle-free safari with us. We have a team of well-trained and professional guides who know the park inside out and will ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
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We are a Local tour operator based in East Africa which enables us to offer the best pricing eliminating middlemanship
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