Amboseli National Park, regarded as “the home of the African Elephant,” is crowned with Africa’s tallest mountain. The park is one of Kenya’s most popular, with an abundance of animals, particularly elephants. Amboseli National Park is called after the Maasai word Amboseli, which meaning “salty dust”. The park is quite dusty, particularly during the dry season.
Amboseli National Park, originally known as the Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is located in Kajiado County, in southern Kenya. It is around 240 km from Kenya’s main city, Nairobi. It is Kenya’s second most popular park, after only the huge Maasai Mara National Reserve. The park’s overall land size is 39,209 hectares (392 square km). The Amboseli National Park was founded in 1906 as a national game reserve until 1974, when it was granted park status and called Amboseli National Park.
It is traditionally known that Joseph Thompson was the first European to visit the feared Maasai territory known as Empusel, which translates to “salty dusty place” in the local language. After his visit, he was so impressed with the enormous herds of wildlife in the area, as well as the clear view of Mount Kilimanjaro, that the territory was designated as a game reserve. The reserve was taken over by the residents in 1948 and managed well until 1974, when it was named a national game park. The Kenya Wildlife Service manages Amboseli National Park, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Amboseli National Park is the best spot in Kenya, and second in Africa after Tarangire National Park, to see big herds of free-roaming elephants at close range. The park offers a variety of attractions, including a glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding peak.
The park is particularly well-known for the documentary about the most investigated elephant in the world, known as “Echo,” who died in 2009 at the age of 60. Other permanent occupants of the park include Cape Buffalo, Lions, Cheetah, Hyena, Giraffe, Zebras, Wildebeest, Impala, Warthogs, Gazelles, and many more. Amboseli National Park is home to more than 300 bird species, making it a birding paradise in Africa.
Weather and Climate in Amboseli National Park
The park enjoys favourable meteorological conditions, even though the drought season can sometimes last longer, and the park receives a good amount of rainfall during the rainy season. The weather is divided into two rainy seasons, the first of which lasts from late March to May and brings significant rains. The second short rainy season runs from late October until November. The dry season lasts from June to September, however this has little effect on the wildlife in the park because multiple water streams run from Kilimanjaro and pass through the park, providing water to the animals.
The vegetation of Amboseli National Park.
The park has a fascinating vegetation cover that varies from north to south as one approaches Mt Kilimanjaro. The Northern is distinguished by short grass that grows dusty during the dry season, while the Centre features marshy marshes.
Best Time to Visit Amboseli National Park
The Amboseli National Park is open all year, but the dry months are the best time to visit. The game drives are best done during this time of year (June to September), when the animals are easily seen in the low grass. They also gather near the water moisture destinations.
Accessing Amboseli National Park.
Amboseli National Park is accessible by road from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, or from the coast. If one does not wish to take a long, bumpy road drive, he or she can fly directly from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport, as well as from many local airstrips located across Kenya’s national parks.
“Amboseli national park remains one of the best parks not only in Kenya but Africa and it gives vibrant wildlife experience to the guests.”
