Amboseli National Park is a wonderful place that fits any nature lover and adventure enthusiast’s imagination. The park is a place of adventure, relaxation, and meditation presenting a chance for visitors to live the moment and make memories. The home of African elephants as its slogan suggests Amboseli National Park is a popular safari destination in Kenya. Amboseli National Park was established as a national park in 1974. Before it was established, it was a southern reserve for the Masai in 1906. Later in 1948, it was elevated to a game reserve under the management of the local government. Amboseli National Park is a perfect place for photography and scenic views because it is located at the backdrop of Kilimanjaro mountain. The park is approximately 215 kilometers from Nairobi the capital city to Loitoktok district in Kajiado county.
Amboseli National Park has a land mass size of approximately 392 square kilometers. It is dominated by large herds of elephants, over 400 bird species, over 47 raptor species, swamps, and a variety of plant species. The park is under the management of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Masai community, and Olkejuado County Council.
Attractions in Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park has a variety of attractions that range from flora to fauna species such as mammals, birds, and primates. The different attractions in Amboseli National Park include the following.
Wildlife
Amboseli National Park has a variety of wild animals that are spread across the entire park. The park is known for having over 1000 African elephants that live in herds. The wild animals in the park include the African elephant, cape buffaloes, lions, leopard, giraffes, wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, serval car, oribis, cheetahs, jackals, warthogs, hippos, African wild dogs, antelopes, hyenas, foxes, etc.
Bird species
Amboseli National Park is home to over 400 bird species that live across the different ecosystems from the plains to the swamps. The park also has approximately 47 raptor birds including the endangered Malagasy pond heron. The bird species in Amboseli National Park include Grey crowned crane, Superb starling, Black-headed heron, Yellow-billed stork, White-bellied bustard, little bee-eater, White-browed coucal, Yellow-necked spurfowl, Saddle-billed stork, Rufous chatterer, Kittlitz’s plover, Hamerkop, African spoonbill, Crowned lapwing, Goliath heron, African jacana to mention but a few. This makes Amboseli National Park an important bird area and one of the best birding destinations in Africa.
Observation hill
This is a huge pyramid-shaped hill that overlooks the entire Amboseli National Park. The observation hill gives spectacular views of the unique ecosystems of splendid plains and swamps to tourists. It also offers an opportunity for tourists to spot the large herds of elephants and cape buffaloes as well as other wild animals from a safe distance. While on the observation hill, you can also view Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro mountain which is the tallest mountain in Africa. Embarking on a tour in the Amboseli National Park while you are on a Kenyan safari will surely leave you amazed.
Sinet Delta
This is an area lying in the northern part of Amboseli National Park few meters from the observation hill. The Sinet Delta is an important area for birds because it is home to the largest number of birds in the park. This is because it has a lot of Acacia trees which are used by the birds to build their nests. The Acacia trees in the area also attract giraffes thus visiting the Sinet Delta gives you an opportunity to view these gentle giants. The delta also gives you spectacular scenes of Mountain Kilimanjaro.
Lake Amboseli
Lake Amboseli is also a very important attraction in Amboseli National Park. Lake Amboseli is the main water source in the park for the wildlife to drink and also cool their bodies from the scorching sun of the day. The lake has been in existence for many years even before the Amboseli National Park was gazette and it was named after the Lake Amboseli. However, the lake has now become a seasonal lake that is drying up in the dry season and filling up to flooding in the wet season due to the arid conditions it is.
Activities in Amboseli National Park
There are several activities inAmboseli National Park and these include the following.
Game viewing
Game drives or game viewing is one of the finest activities in Amboseli National Park. Game drives in Amboseli National Park are done in two sessions one in the morning and another in the afternoon. This is the time when the animals are active and can be spotted in action. During the midday hours, there are always high temperatures and most animals rest or hide in the dense vegetation to escape the scorching sun. The ranger guide will brief you on the different facts about the animals, birds, and plants encountered. Some of the commonly spotted animals in the park include the African bush elephant, Grant’s zebras, impalas, spotted hyenas, cape buffaloes, Masai giraffes, and blue wildebeests to mention but a few.
Birding
Birding watching in Amboseli National Park is a highly anticipated activity in the park. This is because the park harbors about 400 bird species. These live in different ecosystems such as swamp areas, acacia woodland, and grasslands. The birding adventure safari is done by birding enthusiasts with the help of experienced and professional birding guides. Some of the common birds to encounter include the following, the Pangani long claw, Hartlaub’s bustard, lesser flamingos, common redshank, Vonder dickens hornbills, spike-heeled heron, Tavete, Rufous chatterer, and greater flamingos to mention but a few.
Hot air balloon safari
Visitors can take on a hot air balloon adventure experience as they fly high above the park and have a bird’s eye view of the whole park. This is the best way to uncover all the wildlife in Amboseli National Park. Spend an hour above the ground with a stunning aerial view of the animals, birds, and much more. Chances are high you can watch the hard-to-find animals such as lions, leopards, and elephants. The hot air balloon safaris offer breathtaking views of the sun as it sets in the evening to give way for the night to kick in.
Cultural encounters
Cultural encounters are the perfect way to bond with the locals as you explore their communities and support their conservation efforts. While in Amboseli National Park, you will uncover the cultural tales of the ancient history told by the Masai warriors on a cultural tour. This cultural tour will expose you to the ceremonies of these Masai people, their traditional songs and dances as well as their jungle or survival skills. This cultural tour will be blended with cultural entertainment and a village walk. You will uncover the life and stories of the Masai warriors living at the border of the park. The Masai are known for their love for cattle and cultural authenticity.
Accessibility of Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park can be accessed by both road and air transport because Kenya has an improved road network system and domestic flight system. The park is located 203.5 square kilometers south of Nairobi covering about 3-5 hours by road. Flying to Amboseli National Park can take approximately an hour with about a 30-minute drive to the park. There are different gates scattered across the different directions to ease access to the park and they include the following.
Kitirua Gate is in south southwestern part of the park and through it, you can catch a clear view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Iremito gate is located in the eastern part of the park and is a 5-hour drive from Nairobi city. Kimana Gate is the most used and located in the south-eastern part of the park. Meshana gate is situated in the northwestern part of the park and closest to the Namanga border post. These gates are strategically located to give visitors the best adventure experiences.