Amboseli National Park
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Amboseli National Park is one of the premium national parks that is located in the Southern part of the country bordering Tanzania. The park is also close to the famous Mt Kilimanjaro which is the highest peak in Africa. The park is one of the close protected areas to the capital city Nairobi; it hosts the largest population of African Elephants in entire Kenya. The park is endorsed by a wide range of tourist attractions and this has made the park one of the most popular national parks not only in Kenya but in entire Africa. Visiting Kenya for a wildlife game minus reaching Amboseli is more incomplete.
The park was established in 1974 as a national park. It has a great history as one of the oldest protected areas in Kenya which was first established as a game reserve in 1906 before it was upgraded to the status of the national park. It was later in 1991 that the park was declared a UNESCO world heritage site to protect, preserve, and conserves the different unique species at the park.
Due to the wide range of inhabitants that cover the park, it has opened a wide gate for the different animal species at the park. The scenic views of the mountain Kilimanjaro is one of the added advantages the park has capitalized for its popularity. It’s such a small protected area covering only 392 square kilometers this makes it easily exploited within a one-day safari even.
Major Attractions: Mount Kilimanjaro; 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 waterfowl like pelican; Egyptian goose; contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle; herds of elephants.
Wildlife: Amboseli has over 80 different mammals to be found ranging from the tiny (and rarely seen) spectacled elephant shrew to the huge bulk of the African elephant. Few visitors will go home without superb elephant pictures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. There are over 400 bird species.
Best time to visit – Although Amboseli can be visited at any time of year it is recommended to go in the dry months, which are from June to October and January to February. Views of Kilimanjaro are hit-and-miss, but chances are best early morning and late afternoon in the Wet season months from November to May, when the sky is clear of dust.
The government body responsible for managing the Amboseli National Park is the Kenya Tourism Board with support from several wildlife conservation Agencies. The Park entry of the Amboseli is €54 and there are some other optional activities like meeting the Masai and Cultural tours to the Masai communities
The greatest health risks in Kenya like all the other East African are accidents and malaria. Much of Kenya lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are recommended. Travelers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medicines and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk.
Travelers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider, and should consider bringing a small first aid kit. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required.
Amboseli can be reached by air and road. The nearest airport and link to the park is Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Uganda Airline, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and KLM all have flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From Nairobi Wilson Airport, one would need to book a smaller plane to Amboseli airstrip which can be booked with the help of a tour operator or you can still reach the park by driving from other parks if you’re doing a road trip around the Kenya country. The distance from Tsavo West or Tsavo East covers about 8hours.
For further advice on planning your Amboseli National park, simply enquire with one of our local Safari Experts.
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Visa Costs
A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 (exclusions apply for select countries and is valid for 90 days)
A multiple Tourist Visa US $100 (exclusions apply for select countries and is valid for 12 months)
The East African Tourist Visa (EATV) covers Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda costs $100 and is valid for 90 days.