Amboseli National Park

Amboseli is one of Kenya's best-known parks, famous above all for its large herds of free-ranging elephants and for the sweeping backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, rising snow-capped just across the border in Tanzania. Its plains, swamps and dry lake bed draw not only elephants but lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and a wealth of birds, all beneath one of the great views in Africa.

History

The Maa name of the region, Empusel, means "salty, dusty place". Amboseli was set aside as part of the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906, became a game reserve in 1948 and a national park in 1974, protecting two of the area's five main swamps and a dried-up Pleistocene lake (Wikipedia, Amboseli National Park).

The landscape

• The elephant herds - the great herds roaming the plains.
• Mount Kilimanjaro - the snow-capped peak as a backdrop.
• The swamps and wildlife - the lions, cheetahs, giraffes and birds.
• The classic photo - elephants against the mountain.

When to go

The dry seasons, June to October and January to February, are best for wildlife and for clear views of Kilimanjaro, which is often hidden by cloud; the mountain is clearest at dawn and dusk, so an early start rewards you with the famous view.

What to expect

Kilimanjaro is frequently shrouded in cloud, so the famous photo of elephants beneath the peak takes patience and an early or late start; it is clearest at dawn. The park is quite small and can feel busy with vehicles at good sightings. It is dusty in the dry season.

Nearby

The Tsavo parks and, across the border, Kilimanjaro itself in Tanzania are within reach.

Key facts