Amboseli lies immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania Kajiado District, South Kenya with atotal area 392sq.km. Amboseli was established as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The park is fairly small with an area of 392 sq. km and is amazingly very rich in both flora and fauna. Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most popular parks, mainly due to the magnificent backdrop of snow-capped Kilimanjaro- 5,895 Meters Africa’s highest point, which dominates the sweeping game dotted plains. The mountain is on the boundary of the Amboseli Park and it is certainly one of the finest locations for mountain spotting with Mt. Meru also being seen in the horizon.
The Ambodeli National Park is part of the much larger 3,000 Km2 Amboseli ecosystem. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches.
A 'salty dust' formed by the volcanic ash from Mount Kilimanjaro eruptions which occurred about millennium ago. The arid plains are covered by this dust which forms heat wave mirages in the dry season. Amboseli which means "Salty Dust" in the Maasai language is an important rangeland to the Maasai pastoralists’ culture. Amboseli National Park is surrounded by Maasai. Ranches and the area offer a wide variety of walking safari cycling safari and game drive viewing safari.
The endless herds of animals seem to waver in the distance, with only the interruption of herds of wildebeest and zebra hovering in front. Waters from melting snow from the snow capped peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro feed the marshland and swamps below, so that hippos are found throughout the year. The park’s main attraction is the vast herds of elephants; the bulls elephants have some of the largest tusks in Kenya, and also found in the park are giraffe, cheetah, wildebeest, and hyena
The elephants are a major attraction in the Amboseli. A most detailed knowledge of these magnificent elephants has been carried out by Cynthia Moss and her assistants who have been following the elephants for over twenty years. Generally the elephant are found in larger herds than in most other areas of the country and are quite habituated to people. The Amboseli is probably most famous for its spectacular photographs of elephant with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
Amboseli National Park is designated to become an International Bio-sphere reserve and is the home of a large number of elephant which makes it world famous with researchers. An International Bio-sphere is a conservation area designated by UNESCO in an attempt to establish a protected area. Elephants roaming across massive grassy plains with the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro in the background gives a clear picture of what one expects to experience at the Amboseli with its large population of these wandering Jumbos
The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a pleistocene lake basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, that floods during years of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty - the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli may be accessed by road from Nairobi are through Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi - Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmac upto Namanga but is badly corrugated and potholed in places from Namanga to Meshanani Gate (75km). The other road and via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi - Mombasa Road. The road is tarmac up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64 km) Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.
The park can also be accessed by air through an airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. There other airstrips at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town. The park has five entry points Kelunyiet, lremito, Ilmeshanan; Kitirua and Airstrip.
The major attractions at the amboseli are :
- Spectacular Mt. Kilimanjaro
- Mt. Meru
- Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle
- massive herds of roaming elephants
- Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants,
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Accommodation Facilities:
Lodges:
Oltukai Lodge Amboseli, Amboseli Serena Lodge, Kimana Lodge, Tortilis Tented Camp, Amboseli lodge, Porini Camp,Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Climate:
The climate is mainly hot and dry. Amboseli is in the rain shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The maximum average temperature of the warmest month is 33°C during the day, while that of the coldest is 27-28°C. An annual rainfall of 300mm per annum is distributed in two seasons: April/May and November/December. Recurrent droughts and potential evaporation of 2200mm per annum typifies the region (KWS, 1991).
Altitude: 1 189m - 1 372m above sea level.
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