AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Famously known as “Home of the African Elephant”, this park lies In Kajiado county in the southern part of Kenya. It is situated directly North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania, and surrounded by six communally owned group ranches. There are inherently five wildlife habitats inside this fascinating park: acacia woodlands, marshland, open plains, bush country and rocky thorn. Roads inside the park have loose surface of volcanic soil which makes it dusty in the dry soil whereas in the wet season they are almost inaccessible.
A number of gates serve the park: Remito Gate, Meshanani Gate, Olkelunyiet Gate/ Kimana Gate. What’s most captivating is the myriad of wildlife inside the park: African elephant, lion, spotted hyena, cape buffalo, masai giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, impala, leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, lesser kudu, porcupine, hyrax, dik-dik and many more. Home of the giraffe are the spattered thorn woodland, overshadowed by the distinguishing Acacia tortilis. Kilimanjaro, which is the highest mountain in Africa, rises above the park in an imposing design making this destination a photographer’s paradise.
Similarly rich mostly in the lakes and marshes of the park is the bird life consisting of kingfishers, egrets, pelicans, crakes, the Madagascar heron, among others. In this park as well you could experience for yourself a really authentic not to mention archaic African culture of the Masai community. For an exhilarating safari in this park, June to October is the perfect time to visit because it’s when the animals get together in the marshes, water holes and lakes. Be sure to carry your expensive DSLR camera hanging around your neck then!
Accommodations in this unique park vary from high-end lodges to budget tented camps. Depending on the depth of your pocket, you could choose between a variety of accommodation options. For budget travelers a more pocket-friendly accommodation option is Kimana Camp. My personal favorite is Amboseli Serena Lodge, with a TripAdvisor rate of 4.6 star.
Check out African Home Adventure Safaris for discounted Amboseli safari packages.