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Amboseli Safari Tours & Holidays

4.4/5  –  140 Amboseli Reviews

Amboseli is one of East Africa’s most rewarding national parks, and is a real classic of the Kenya safari circuit. Compact enough to get around easily, filled with wildlife, replete with good accommodation in and around the park, and with the best Kilimanjaro views to be had anywhere on the continent, Amboseli should be on the list of every safari visitor to Kenya. It’s also close to Nairobi, making it easy to visit in a short time frame, and combine it with other parks as well.

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8 Questions About Amboseli Safaris

Anthony Ham
Expert
Answered by

Anthony Ham


Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
› More about Anthony
1. When is the best time to visit Amboseli?
2. What are the best reasons to visit Amboseli?
3. Can you visit Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli?
4. What animals can I expect to see in Amboseli?
5. How long is the drive to Amboseli?
6. What condition are the roads in within Amboseli?
7. What are the pros and cons of different accommodation types?
8. What lodges or camps would you recommend in Amboseli?
 
 

8 Questions About Amboseli Safaris

Answered by Anthony Ham

When is the best time to visit Amboseli?

“July to September: this is the Dry season and, like so many parks and reserves you’re likely to visit on your Kenya tour, it’s the perfect time for Amboseli safaris for that familiar combination of clear skies, dry safari trails and wildlife congregating around a shrinking number of waterholes. Either side of this, June could be my favorite month, with Dry season conditions and, for the most part, low- or shoulder-season prices, while October is good for finding wildlife, but can also be fiercely hot. The short rains in October and November leave a lovely green tinge to the land through December, January and February. As a general rule, avoid March, April and, to a lesser extent, May, when rain can turn many trails into quagmires and most of the wildlife disperses beyond the park’s boundaries; Easter can also be overwhelming, with epic crowds of expats and locals flooding in from Nairobi and Mombasa.”

› More about the best time to visit Amboseli 1

What are the best reasons to visit Amboseli?

“The wildlife is outstanding, but it’s given an added sense of grandeur by the killer Kilimanjaro views. It is almost the signature image of the African safari – an elephant grazing in the greener-than-green swamp grasslands in the center of the park with perfectly proportioned Mount Kilimanjaro behind. Africa’s highest mountain may lie in Tanzania, but easily the best views of the mountain are from Amboseli, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Normantior, otherwise known as Observation Hill, is one of very few places where you can get out and stretch your legs, and also take in wonderful views in every direction. Elephants are everywhere in Amboseli, with big tusks and an untroubled demeanor – the elephants here have been studied at length by legendary scientist Dr Cynthia Moss for decades and they’re well accustomed to vehicles. There’s plenty of other wildlife, too, and the long sightlines make for more iconic African views – the savannah plains with acacia, the endless horizon, a silhouetted giraffe…”

2

Can you visit Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli?

“No. The grand old mountain may look so close that you can reach out and touch it, and the Kenya–Tanzania border is not far away (somewhere close to the lower foothills of the mountain), but there’s no crossing here. The nearest crossing if you wish to actually climb the mountain is east of here, at Oloitokitok, a busy Maasai border town with an immigration post. All told, you can expect to drive for half a day, including time spent at the border, from Amboseli to Marangu, one of the gateway towns to a Kili climb, or on to Moshi where many of the climbing tour operators have their base.”

3

What animals can I expect to see in Amboseli?

“Elephants are easily the main draw of any Amboseli safari – they’re big, they’re beautiful and they’re always found in the Enkongo Narok, Olokenya and Longinye swamps that lie in the park’s heart. Bad-tempered hippos also lurk in the waters, occasionally emerging to do battle for territory. I’ve always been really fortunate on Amboseli tours with lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas (including a den), while giraffe are often sighted amid the acacia’s in the park’s east. Other plains animals include zebras and Thomson’s gazelle in abundance, while baboons and vervet monkeys are similarly prolific. The swamps draw hundreds of bird species, especially waders, year-round but with a discernible spike in numbers from November when migrating species arrive from Europe.”

› More about the Wildlife of Amboseli National park 4

How long is the drive to Amboseli?

“From Nairobi, it’s a four- to five-hour drive, although traffic levels along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway vary greatly. The most commonly used park gates are Eremito and Kimana. It’s also possible to drive from the Kenya–Tanzania border at Namanga, although you’ll need a 4WD vehicle for this route along the rough tracks of the park’s western reaches. There are a number of airstrips in the Amboseli Basin, and it’s a good alternative to the road journey – you can arrive for Amboseli tours in an hour from the capital’s Wilson Airport, through which there are connections to other Kenyan safari destinations, such as the Masai Mara or Samburu.”

5

What condition are the roads in within Amboseli?

“Although I always prefer to travel in a 4WD vehicle, most Amboseli safari tour trails (with the possible exception of the western sector of the park) are accessible in a normal 2WD vehicle. Indeed, the most commonly sighted safari vehicle in Amboseli is the ubiquitous white minivan with a pop-up roof. I have seen minivans crossing the park with ease in April (the heart of the rainy season), but Amboseli’s poor soils quickly turn to mush after rains and only an experienced local driver should consider visiting the park in a 2WD at this time. There are, of course, no paved roads in Amboseli.”

6

What are the pros and cons of different accommodation types?

“With Amboseli safari packages, the question is whether to stay inside the park or just beyond its boundaries. In the center of the park, there are two long established but extremely comfortable lodges, a luxury tented camp and campsites, meaning a range of Amboseli safari prices. Whichever you choose, the advantage is that you don’t have to wait until the park gates open at 6 AM before exploring the heart of the park. It also means you can linger a little longer as the sun nears the horizon – it’s forbidden to drive inside the park after sunset. Staying outside the park means you’ll have more choice, from campsites, lodges and tented camps to luxury options on nearby Maasai lands.”

7

What lodges or camps would you recommend in Amboseli?

“Inside the park, I’ve always had a soft spot for the ageing Amboseli Serena, a sturdy structure and the first safari lodge I ever stayed in, while Ol Tukai has a fabulous location and rather lovely grounds. Tortilis Camp is an elegant and nicely secluded luxury tented camp away from the busier areas of the park but still with fantastic Kilimanjaro views. Beyond the park, two places rank among the most storied and luxurious of Kenya safari accommodation options, and both boast Kilimanjaro views. Ol Donyo, out beyond Mbirikani northeast of the park, is quite possibly the most beautiful lodge I’ve stayed in while on a Kenya tour, while Campi ya Kanzi, away to the east off a trail to Tsavo West, has a real Maasai feel to it and is a beautiful tented camp.”

8

Amboseli Safari Reviews

4.4/5 140 Reviews
Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Guaranteed wildlife-viewing at the foot of Kilimanjaro
5/5

Amboseli has instant likeability and although it can be crowded with game-viewing vehicles, there are plenty of good reasons for its popularity. For a start, it’s a straightforward drive from Nairobi via the newish C102 road – the...

Full Review

Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for CNN Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

One of Kenya’s most picturesque parks with spectacular views of Kilimanjaro
5/5

I creaked into Amboseli after a frantic break-neck drive with the military convoy from Tsavo in a near-dead Suzuki Vitara hire-car. I had a soldier riding with me and the cartridge of his AK47 wore a hole through the dashboard because of...

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Andrea Meroi  –  
Argentina AR
Reviewed: Jan 27, 2019
5/5

We chose Alliance Destinations because James was who first answered us, very willing to accommodate the trip to our needs: specifically, to begin in Nairobi and end it in Mombasa (rather than return to Nairobi) and quickly search an...

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Lara Del Valle Johnson  –  
Uruguay UY
Reviewed: Jan 16, 2019
5/5

Even though there weren't that many elephants (from what I understand, since it was right before the rainy season, they tend to move to higher ground), I had an amazing time watching them bathe and hang out, it was amazing, got some great...

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Ray  –  
Philippines PH
Reviewed: Dec 31, 2018
5/5

Does not need an explanation, not much better a sight than seeing a large herd of elephants crossing in front of view with a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. This year we were lucky that we even saw flamingoes on Lake Amboseli.

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Tracey Braun  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Dec 18, 2018
5/5

Because of the lushness of Amboseli because of our timing, lots of birds. Was saw lions our first 5 minutes in the park. We had come for the elephants and were not disappointed. We saw Kilimanjaro every day we were there and got...

Full Review

All 140 Amboseli Safari Reviews