Amboseli National Park Kenya, Big Five watching & Birding Tours
Amboseli National Park is a national park in Kajiado South Constituency in Kajiado County, Kenya. It is 392.06 km2 in size at the core of an 8,000 km2 ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. The local people are mainly Maasai, but people from other parts of the country have settled there attracted by the successful tourist-driven economy and intensive agriculture along the system of swamps that makes this low-rainfall area, average 350 mm, one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world with 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, Hamerkop and 47 raptor species. While on Kenya Self drive Safari , Stand in Amboseli National Park and view Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Car Rental to Explore Amboseli National Park?
If you are planning to self drive tour to Kenya with 4×4 Africa, don’t miss to stop at Aberdare National Park in your open Safari landcruiser or jeep with Camping gears. We advise you to drive to the Aberdares on paved roads all the way from Nairobi. When it comes to best long term car rental in Kenya , contact us to secure the most reliable 4×4 Jeep for your self drive Safari.
- Walking Safaris
- Wildlife Watching
- Big five watching
- Nature walk
Safari activities in Aberdare National Park
Amboseli National park is the second famous safari destination in Kenya that is visited by tourists on Wildlife Safaris & walking Safaris to spot the big five in the magical Kenya in rented landcruiser on self drive or guided tour with experts from 4×4 Africa. famous for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet Maasai and visit a Maasai village. The park also has views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Amboseli was home to Echo, the most researched elephant in the world, and the subject of many books and documentaries, followed for almost four decades by American conservationist Dr. Cynthia Moss. Echo died in 2009 when she was about 60 years old.
The park was also a safe haven to an incredible bull elephant named Tim. This mighty leviathan quickly became one of the major attractions with his size and iconic tusks that reached the ground and was estimated to be around 50 years old at the time of his death from natural causes on 5 February 2020.
Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too.
Game drive in Amboseli
The key safari activity in Amboseli National Park is the wildlife watching and its notably known as a paradise for African elephants which are recently numbered around 1000 in the park. And a part from elephants, travelers can also sight see other stunned African wildlife like buffalos, lions, Black rhinos, leopards, antelopes, spotted hyenas, peacocks, baboons among others.
The perfect game viewing time is around 6:30am and after evening coffee at 4pm as most of the species embark on their search for food when the day has cooled from much sunshine.
Amboseli is famously known for its large-herds of Elephants. This has attracted activities like filming and photography by researchers and documentaries from around the globe. It’s also referred to as the home to the “Big Five” referring to the most dangerous animals difficult to hunt on foot in the continent of Africa. check out for classic Photography Safaris in Kenya
Filming and photography
Birding in Amboseli
Amboseli national park is a true birding haven that sounds with over 420 species of birds and 47 species are raptor. Note, birding is one of the most done activities in Amboseli and is best done in rain season when the migratory bird species are present in the park from March to May and also around November.
This is the time birds are breeding. Some of birds to be encountered include; water birds –pelicans, crakes, kingfishers, hammertoes other species are Hartlaub’s bustard, Von der decken’s hornbill, Egrets, pelicans, Heron, flamingo, crowned cranes, Pangani, steel-blue whydah Secretary birds, Love birds, Ostriches, Starlings, White-bellied go way bird, Long-toed lapwing, Rufous-bellied heron, Spike-heeled lark, Yellow-necked spur fowl, Taveta golden weaver, Lesser flamingo, Eurasian thick-knee, African swamp hen mentioned but few.
This is a pyramid shaped hill with rewardable summit that allows travelers on walking safari with in the park, where you can have great aerial views or observing the beauty of entire park with it’s vast of game. It’s an ideal point to lookout from the park’s splendid plains, swamps and herds of elephants.
To enjoy the hill a traveler is advised to carry a pair of binoculars to be able to view closer wildlife linking for water from the numerous swamps from below the summit of the hill; it’s a thrilling hill that attracts millions of tourists both local and international due to its rewarding scenic nature.
Sinet delta This splendid delta lies just a few meters away from observation Hill in the park’s North part. A point which is a birding haven and to travelers who are interested in Amboseli birding, this can be your stopping point to experience different unique bird species in the park. The place is extremely bushy dominated by Acacia a tree that attracts range of giraffes in this area. Not only that but also perfect viewing point for African highest peak ‘’gorgeous Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Wildlife Watching
Lake Amboseli
Before even Amboseli national park becoming a gazette national park on this land, Lake Amboseli has been existing for over million years and its where the park got its name from. This lake is a supporting water source to the park’s wildlife as well as a great cooling place for sun bathing especially elephants. The lake’s shower is habitat to different swamp bird species that are found in the park.
This lake is one of the attractions in the park where boat cruise can be enjoyed from and thrilling place for game viewing, it’s worth a visit out here.
Hot air balloon safaris are an incredible opportunity to experience Amboseli National Park uniquely. Hot air balloon adventures start very early in the morning when the winds are still calm, and as the balloon gently ascends, the magical scenery of Amboseli is uncovered. You will see herds of elephants roam freely in this park.
But it wasn’t just the land animals that captivated me. The sky was alive with the vibrant colors of numerous bird species gracefully gliding through the air. It was a symphony of nature’s harmonious melodies, adding an enchanting touch to the already breathtaking scene.
Hot Air Balloon
Horse riding
A short safari in Amboseli National Park on horseback is a unique way to go on a safari without the constraints of the car engine. The horses in this park are used to carrying beginners, making it possible for even first-time riders to enjoy the horse riding safari activity. You can horse ride next to wildlife like giraffes, zebras, impalas, water bucks, elands, ostriches, and baboons, getting close to them in their natural habitat. If you’re an experienced rider, we can arrange a more challenging horse-riding safari experience.
It’s important to note that there are weight limits for horse riding: beginners should not exceed 85 kilograms, and experienced individuals must not exceed 90 kilograms. This will keep both the rider and the horse safe.
Where to stay?
There are several safari lodges in Amboseli National Park that you can stay in during your Amboseli Safari. These facilities include Kibo Safari Camp ,Ol Tukai Lodge Amboseli ,Sentrim Amboseli Lodge ,Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, AA Lodge Amboseli, Camp Noomuran, Elewana Tortilis Camp ,Tawi Lodge, Elerai Camp, Porini Amboseli Camp and others·
When to go to Amboseli National Park?
One can visit Amboseli National park at any time of the year. However, it is recommendable to visit the park in the dry months, from January to February and June to October. It is good to visit Amboseli in the dry seasons because most animals gather at the water sources; hence, you will get to watch them in large numbers. The best view of the national park is early in the morning, as well as the sunset.
Visiting Amboseli in the rainy season has some advantages too. The rainy season starts in April, May, and mid-June. At this time, the rains will have transformed the landscape, making it look greener. Wildlife is also visible as you may encounter new-borns. Moreover, the rain brings migratory birds species giving birdwatchers a great experience. However, the rainy season may be challenging as the roads may be a challenge to navigate.
How to access Amboseli National park?
The journey starting from Nairobi to Meshanani Gate takes 2:30 hours’ drive, for a traveler to be able to reach the gate via Isinya and down the Magadi Road in Nairobi.
Namanga town which is a border town between Kenya and Tanzania from there it takes a traveler a driving distance of about 45-60 minutes to access Meshanani Gate but will depend on the type of the vehicle being used. Note, travelers are advised to always use 4x4wheel drive.
The journey starting from Mombasa the second largest town after Nairobi is easy to access the park through passing Tsavo West National Park via Kimana Gate, these road routes are extremely rewarding with scenic views of the country side and smooth passing through a beautiful small town of Emali on the main road to Mombasa.
All Kenyan parks accept payment by credit cards.