Amboseli National Park
Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands. They can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture.
Attractions
- Large Herds of Elephants
- Mt. Kilimanjaro
- Big Five
- Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants,
- Swamp below observation hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of water fowls like pelican, Egyptian goose
- Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle
Best Time to Visit
The two drier periods of the year, between the area’s short and long patches of rainfall, and in the Dry season proper (June to September), are the best times to visit. Your game drive won’t be ruined by rain, and the animals can’t hide in the thin vegetation. The park does get quite busy at these times, however.
In Amboseli, the average daytime temperature sits around a hot 28°C/82°F, while at night, the average doesn’t go much lower than a warm 15°C/59°F. Temperatures peak towards the end of the Wet season (October to May), with the April heat particularly fierce. Things cool down a little in the Dry season (June to September), after the downpours of the ‘long rains’, and before the lighter showers of the ‘short rains
Game drive viewing
Amboseli national park is a home of wild animals and most boost with high population of elephants which are inhabitant of open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, marsh land. Game drive viewing are conducted all day long but the best time to see wild animals is early in the morning which starts at 6:30am till 11:30am and evening begins at 2pm till 6:30pm.During day time you can be able to see the high concentration of animals on water banks quenching their thirsty ,animals to see include ;spotted hynes which can be seen early in the morning going back for its hide outs ,bush baby and serval cat can be easily seen on night game drive ,waterbucks ,buffalos ,baboons ,aardwolf ,leopards ,jackals ,lions ,fringed eared ,Thomson’s ,Grants gazelles ,Hippopotamus ,zebras ,elephants among other. Visit Amboseli national park on game drive viewing and have a classic view of African elephant walking across the open plains beside a solitary acacia trees.
Guided Nature walk
The park is naturally rewarded with stunning vegetation, swamps, mammal species which can be encountered on your nature walk experience. Guided nature walk in Amboseli national park can be conducted around the park and on the observation hills. guided nature walk is the best way of adventuring the hidden treasures of the park since it is done on foot and also get a chance to have closer viewing of wild animals such as herds of elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, buffaloes among others as you listen to sweet melodies of birds singing as well as having a rewardable sightseeing with back drop of snowcapped Kilimanjaro and leave with wondrous experience once in life time.
Bird watching
Amboseli national park is an ideal place for birding since it is a home of over 400 bird species and they can be spotted along swamp areas, grasslands, acacia woodland such bird species to be encountered in here include; Greater flamingo, Lesser flamingo, Long toed lap claw, Rufous chatterer, Spike-heeled heron, Tavete golden weaver, vonder Dicken’s horn bills, Dickinson’s kestrel, Common redshank, African swamp hen, pangani long claw, Hartlaub’s bustard among others. The best time to do birding in Amboseli national park starts from May to June and October to December. You need to carry your binoculars to have clear sightseeing of bird species on far distances.
Cultural Tours
The park is surrounded with local community ‘’Maasai people’’ on your visit to Amboseli national park you can visit this local people in the afternoon time. And get to learn about their unique way of life such as their thrilling traditional dances as they jump up and down you can join them and leave with quite remarkable experience once in life time, unique clothing, you can as well as participate in the re-afforestation by planting seeds with them.
Hot air balloon safari
This is rewarding activity conducted very early in the early as you can be able to fly the skies of Amboseli national park and have a great rewardable aerial viewing of herds of elephants, buffaloes, the plains, birds of the air and many more.
