Your Kenya safari is incomplete if you don’t get the opportunity to visit one of Kenya’s leading destination- Amboseli National Park which is popularly known to offer the best scenic views of Mt.Kilimanjaro. 

This national Park situated in Loitoktok District is a wildlife haven for nature enthusiasts in Kenya and around the world. This Kenyan National Park encompasses 392 km² of Acacia woodlands, open plains and marshes.

Amboseli National Park was established 118 years ago as game reserve and registered as a national park 68 years after in1974. It has quite a large population of wildlife that harbor in and around it.

This wildlife conservation area stretches 240 kilometers in the southeast of Nairobi situated aside of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is renowned popularly for a lot of reasons and the stunning views of the highest mountain on the globe is one of the thrilling reasons.

Mount Kilimanjaro is across the Tanzanian Border and it can be clearly observed inside the park. On clear weather times, tourists can stare at this magnificent feature that has ice and glaciers at its peak.

Amboseli National Park is a natural habitat to an extensive collection of wildlife, both the endangered and the secured. It harbors the Big Five, i.e. elephants, lions, cap buffalos, leopards and cheetahs, plus numerous herbivores, carnivores and bird life. The rich biodiversity of this park also covers its swampy topography, acacia woodlands and marshes.

The wildlife reserve has some prominent sites at which observation of wildlife in this park is clearest. These points are elevated at reasonable heights giving you unobstructed views of your desired wildlife encounter. The observation points are Observation hill and at the Ekongo Narok Swamp.

Why is Amboseli National Park Famous?

This capacious wildlife conservation in Loitoktok District is famously renowned for its skeptical and unobstructed views of Mountain Kilimanjaro, diverse blend of wildlife and panoramic landscapes. Its main tourist attraction are the large elephant populations of enormous build.

Amboseli National Park fees structure

It should be denoted that there are simple charges levied by the park operators from Kenya Wildlife Service to get access to this park’s activities and unique wildlife. Take a brief look at the fees paid on entry;

• Each adult foreign nonresident and resident pays 40 USD in the low season, i.e. from March to June. In the peak season, i.e. from July to February, the entrance fee is 70 USD.
• Infant foreign tourists are charged 20 USD each and also students foreigners pay 20 USD each
• Each East African citizen pays 600 KSH in the low season whereas in the peak season the charge levied is 800 KSH
• East African infants and students are charged 215 KSH for a daily entry ticket at Amboseli National Park.

Safari vehicles are also levied for entry per day. They are priced as follows;

• Compact SUVs with a maximum seating capacity of 6 pay 300 KSH
• 6-12 seats vehicles pay 1030 KSH
• 12-24 seats vehicles pay 2585 KSH
• 25-44 seats vehicles pay 4050 KSH
• 45 seats vehicles and beyond pay 5000 KSH

Wildlife at Amboseli National Park

The following are the wildlife that are present in the Amboseli National park; elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests. antelopes, buffalos, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, several bird species, the Masaai Ostriches among others. 

Things to do at Amboseli National Park.

At this park, a number of perfectly coordinated activities are ready for tourists to engage in. These activities are the best way to encounter wildlife at the Park. Take a look at the top things to do at this captivating wildlife conservation area.

1. Safari Game Drives

Game drives in Amboseli National Park might be the most fun ways to engage wildlife at this wildlife conservation. Game drives are done in reliable 4X4 wheel drive vehicles that can move through all the kinds of terrain in this park. The dependable cars, each has a pop up roof and windows that bring in clear light fashioning magnificent and unobstructed views for you at the park.

Safari game drives are led by experienced guides or park rangers plus a skilled driver. These experts provide all the biography of whatever encountered wildlife species you would need to know about on this Safari.

Safari game drives in this reserve usually start in the early mornings and late afternoons. You shall notably observe quite a number of free lancing nature artifacts especially the large elephant numbers and the other big five, numerous herbivores like the giraffes, zebras and antelopes as well as numerous bird species.

As you cruise through the various park routes, enjoy the beautiful landscapes surrounding the routes especially the Mountain Kilimanjaro views of its Glacier Peak and ice top. Safari Game drives at Amboseli National Park are charged 75 USD per adult tourists and 50 USD for infant tourists.

2. Hot Air Balloon Safaris

These safaris are posh experiences in a large Hot Air Balloon that sits a maximum of 15 passengers including the tour guide. The flights are usually launched in the early mornings not so high in the sky but above the shrubby vegetation in this wildlife conservation. This time has the calmest weather and highlighted by the astounding experience of seeing the sun rise from behind the highest free standing mountain in the world.

This Safari soars you above Amboseli National Park giving you the opportunity to observe the topography of this pack in high definition. It will give you a skeptical overview of the elephant herds at this park, lion prides, flocks of birds and an impressive view of the Mountain Kilimanjaro.

This well accommodated safari with on flight breakfast and refreshments is the best to record moments and snap pictures of wildlife on their treks, hunting tactics, breeding characters and solitary attributes.

The Hot Air Balloon Safari is charged 475 USD per person.

3. Nature and wildlife walks

Guided walks in the Amboseli National Park are astounding and memorable. They give you the opportunity to get detailed about the least and most information about this park. They are led by a knowledgeable guide or park ranger who is familiar with the geographical setting of the park.

Along the walks, the guide explains about the ways of life of the encountered wildlife species from the names to as far as their body attributes. Await an extensive array of plants, shrubs, small mammals like the aardvarks and the rare Kirk’s dik-dik.

The adventure gets amusing when you get to encounter the outstanding large population of elephants at the base of the Mountain Kilimanjaro and a variety of bird species this haven inhabits. It’s a home to endangered bird species like the white-headed vulture and the yellow-billed Ox-pecker.

These walks will present you perfect photographic opportunities to take snaps around the wildlife encounter only at spots designated safe. Nature walks at Amboseli National Park are free of charge.

4. Visiting the observation hill

Having a guided walk to this elevated physical feature in this park is a rewarding experience. This hill gives panoramic scenery of this wildlife conservation, its surrounding landscapes and finely the unobstructed visions of Mountain Kilimanjaro.

The observation Hill is in the east of this park at an elevated vintage point that boasts of amazing views of the park. Its quality views include also the seasonal Ekongo Narok Swamp.

You shall also spot these amazing wildlife species hunting in the grasslands, grazing, birds nesting calving and so much more ecology all unobstructed at this hill.

Besides the above exhilarating activities, there are other interesting coordinated safaris for you to include on your to do list such as;

• Photography safaris
• Bird watching safaris
• Visiting the native communities
• Camping

Accommodation at Amboseli National Park

This park has a collection of fine lodgings and tented camps within and around it that provide quality stay comfort for you and your loved ones. These lodgings are of different accommodation services, i.e. they are luxurious, midrange or budget friendly.

Take a look at the best lodge from each sector;

Best Luxury Hotel

Kibo Villa Amboseli is the best luxurious accommodation option near this wildlife park, just 1.5 km far. It has the best luxury endowed rooms made in a theme that relives you of wildlife even outside the park.

This lodge has an extensive array of amenities and facilities like a fully stacked health club, multi cuisine restaurants, no lag internet connection, and so much more. It tops its uniqueness with exhilarating road trip views of Amboseli National Park.

This high end hotel charges 1200 USD for a fully accommodated night of two people in one room. Bookings and reservations for space at this hotel go on at their website or you can book through your trusted tour operator to see availability.

Besides this lodge, you can choose to stay at Kibo Safari Camp, Elewana Tortilis camp, Oilepo Amboseli lodge or at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. These lodges are the other top options in the luxury sector of accommodation at Amboseli National Park.

Best midrange Hotel

Midrange accommodation at Amboseli National Park is led by Kilima Safari Camp. This lodge is just 800 meters from the headquarters of the park. It is themed in love and romance.

This exquisite setting provides skeptical views of the game reserve that is just steps far from it. The rooms for resting are self-contained and elegant. The atmosphere the park surrounds is cheerful during day and colorful in the nights.

Customer care at this lodge is delightful with meals and other services are delivered in time. Expect to pay 298 USD each night for a well packaged accommodation at Ceamo Prestige Lodge Lodwar.

Amanya Star Bed Amboseli tented camp and Penety Amboseli Resort are the top most alternatives if not comfortable with this lodge.

Best budget friendly Hotel

AA Lodge Amboseli is the best budget friendly lodge at Amboseli National Park. It is 9 miles far from the park with tented accommodations too. Its services are slick and affordable. The meals are perfect and the environment I cozy.

The prices per night for a couple at this tented lodge is 174 USD inclusive of meal plans. Its counter parts in the budget friendly stays are little Amanya Camp Amboseli, Amboseli discovery Camp and Amanya Huts Amboseli.

Best times to visit Amboseli National Park.

On planning your trip to Amboseli National Park, you need to consider quite a number of aspects. Among the few aspects you should consider is what times of the year you should give this wildlife conservation a visit.

Amboseli National Park phases through two weather seasons, i.e. the wet season and the dry season. The wet season runs from November to May whereas the dry season runs from June to October.

In the dry season, the park is typically dry with less dense vegetation. The skies are very clear with the sun vibrantly raying in the savannah grasslands of this park. The trails in the reserve are very smooth and dry making movements on all safaris easy, quick and enjoyable. This makes it very easy for tourists to spot wildlife.

The wet season however is characterized by a bust of infant wildlife and plentiful bird species in this game reserve. The vegetation is lush green and densely vegetated with vibrant green.

The biggest challenge of this weather season is probably the muddy and almost unnavigable terrains of this wildlife conservation after the heavy rain pours. Amboseli National park records high rainfall totals in this season that make park activities have a few inconveniences in their punctuality.

The skies are often dark because of the ever present nimbus clouds lashing a rain pour at any moment. This makes spotting of wildlife challenging, plus recording photographic memories is quite unclear too.

The dry season is statically the best time to visit Amboseli National Park because of its so many advantages to its bio and its less flaws.

How to get to Amboseli National Park

Travelers to this game reserve can arrive most conveniently by road, specifically through a trusted tour company. With a tour company safari, expect to pass through Kenyan traffic swiftly. These companies can cover this 241 km stretch from Nairobi to the park location in under 5 hours. The drivers are skilled and know whatever quickest routes to get to the park. Some of the routes these drivers may use are not traceable on GPS platforms.

Alternatively you can travel by self-drive through the smart road network from Nairobi to the Loitoktok District. For those unfamiliar with Kenyan roads, the GPS platforms are quite accurate and provide less traffic routes to the reserve. Going to this game reserve, you need an all-wheel drive vehicle to cruise through the mixed Kenyan roads terrain. Talk to us for the most reliable all-wheel drive vehicles at the fairest prices.

In conclusion, Amboseli National Park is an astounding stop for wildlife enthusiasts. With the high level of significance it holds in the sustainable tourism efforts of Kenya.