Amboseli
The Amboseli area includes the Amboseli and Chyulu Hills National Parks, as well as large Maasai communities and wildlife sanctuaries. This is a very busy park because of its proximity to Nairobi and ease of reaching the many lodges/hotels built in and around the park. The trick is to stay in one of the less mainstream camps and visit the park from mid-morning to lunch when most of the other guests are back in their hotels enjoying brunch! Formerly known as the Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, the area extends to the Tanzanian border and covers an area of 39,206 hectares with a series of swamps at its core.
Amboseli National Park has the awe-inspiring ‘inselberg’ of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background towards the south of the park, and this giant of a mountain located oddly amongst vast plains makes Amboseli one of Kenya's most picturesque parks. The series of swamps that are the result of springs from the ice-melt of "Mount Kili" give the park an enormous biodiversity, and it's one of the foremost wildlife destinations in Kenya - almost equal to the spectacular game counts of the famous Masai Mara and the lesser travelled Laikipia.
The five habitats that occur here are open plains, acacia woodland, thornbush country littered with rocks, swamps and marshland. Most of the park lies across a pleistocene lake basin, now dry. In very wet weather, a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, floods and restricts access to this part of the park. The climate is mainly hot and dry and most of the park falls in the rainshadow of Mt Kilimanjaro.
The animals in the park are famous, especially the free ranging elephant families. There are large herds of buffalo and elephant that wallow in the swamps and are often seen in the palm forests. Zebra, wildebeest and hippo graze on the plains, whilst in the acacia woodland the uncommon fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk are found, and the spectacled elephant shrew.
The large Maasai community in the area means that traditional dances are frequently organised for visitors to observe and learn about the cultures and lectures are also available to learn even more about it. For the more traditional safari experience, bush barbecues, game drives and bird walks are offered, and these are an enjoyable way to spend your time here.
Interacting with the elephants is a big part of the experience in Amboseli and there are many film documentaries telling the stories of these graceful large creatures. The road network is very good although because of the nature of the ashy, volcanic structure of the soil, the park is incredibly dusty in dry season.
Some of the major attractions of the park are:
- Glacial peak of Mt Kilimanjaro if the clouds clear!
- Close interaction with the elephants
- Mt Meru - hiking
- Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants
- Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous homesteads (although a little commercialised, worth a visit)
- Camel safaris are also available in the area although we suggest the Laikipia offers better camel safaris with a more rounded experience.
Birding is excellent and includes the Madagascar Squacco Heron which shows up at intervals and the long-toed lapwing is present in small numbers.
A note on contributions to the community:
During 2009 a conservancy fee of US$100.00 is charged per client per night. This is a compulsory fee levied by the Kenya Wildlife Service and the local community and is a combination of parks fees, community conservation fee and community camp fee. This fee is included in the cost per night of our safaris and it is paid directly to the communities concerned.
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Our Recommended Tours
Spirit of Kenya
$ 4141
Masai Mara and Amboseli National Parks - 5 nights/6 days
This excellent short stay safari combines the two most popular parks in Kenya. You will stay in small bush camps where quality of guiding is the highest priority. These camps are as individual as the different habitats they occupy and while tented, have en-suite bathrooms and all the comforts so necessary in this environment.
Our Amboseli camp is just outside the busy section of the park, at the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro and offers the opportunity to enjoy breakfast in the open air with a view of the mountain right above you. Elephant tracking, stories and interaction is the speciality of this camp although joining in with the local Maasai is also an important activity. Our Mara camp is superb - the best guides in Kenya if not East Africa, 5 star game viewing in the heart of the Mara and wonderful hosting and company at meals. The camp itself has a prime position in the heart of the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Chyulu Hills and Amboseli National Park, Kenya - 7 days/6 nights
The price is per person fully inclusive for the duration of the trail, starting from Nairobi and ending in Nairobi. The special rate is for starting in Amboseli National Park and ending in Chyulu Hills.
This 7 day trail spends 3 nights in the first tented camp located just meters from the Kenya/Tanzania border and with fantastic views of Mt Kilimanjaro. Rides take place in and around the surrounding Amboseli park and game viewing should include elephant, buffalo, hyena, hippo, lion, cheetah, zebra and wildebeest amongst others. On the fourth day, we leave camp early in the morning and ride across the national park, over the dry bed of Lake Amboselli, to Olgulului Ranch for the night. Day 5 sees us aiming for the north end of the Chyulu Hills and two nights in Longeriti Camp on the Mbirikani Ranch. Day 6 is spent walking and driving in the wonderful misty forests on the Chyulu Hills although there is still time for an afternoon ride. The safari ends on the 7th day at the ranch airstrip and guests are flown back to Nairobi.
Out of Africa Air Safari
$ 5195
Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Tsavo East, Mombasa - 7 days/6 nights
Your private air plane has 8 very comfortable and luxurious First Class seats. Soft leather pads with a lot of leg space, board service and a private tour guide – this allows you to travel individually and "in style". During the flights, your pilot will give you information about the wildlife and the scenic highlights in the parks via headphones. Each seat has its own large window. Observe the passing elephant herds, the hippos close to the rivers and the extensive Kenyan savannah from a very close distance.
Best of Kenya
$ 7495
Chyulu Hills, Laikipia Plateau and Masai Mara - 9 nights/10 days
The price includes all costs other than international flights and is per person and is valid July, August, September.
Our "pick" of our Kenya safaris because it covers the three best game viewing areas; you will most likely see the Big Five, the little Five and much more besides. You will also see Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya and much of the Kenyan countryside from the air including the spectacular sight of the Rift Valley escarpment.
With just a little extra cost and planning, this safari is easily converted into a dedicated riding safari for the novice or the experienced rider and can include full or half day rides on any of the days at Chyulu Hills or on the Laikipia.
Camp closed April, May and November.
Other Options
A safari to Amboseli is best combined with a safari to the Masai Mara. This creates an easy to navigate trip to two of the best safari spots in Kenya. If you'd like to get "off the beaten" track a little, consider the Laikipia and the Northern Frontier district.
If culture is your thing, have a look at Lamu - Kenya's oldest town and one of the most humanly interesting locations in East Africa. The Mafia Islands in Tanzania are a similarly backward retreat where one can merge with the local way of life, and also enjoy some of the Indian Ocean's best beaches.
Kenya Safari Spots
Kenya Overview | Masai Mara | Laikipia | Amboseli | Kenyan Coast | Lamu | Samburu | Lake Naivasha | Northern Frontier District | Lake Turkana | Lake Nakuru | Chyulu Hills | Shompole | Tsavo West | Tsavo East | Lake Victoria | Meru
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