LocationAmboseli National Park, earlier known as Maasai Game Reserve, is situated in Kajiado District, Rift Valley Province in Kenya. The Park can be better defined as an ecosystem that spreads across Kenya-Tanzania border. Amboseli was announced as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted a National Park status in 1974. The Amboseli National Park extends up to an area of 392 square km.260 kilometres from the capital city Nairobi, Amboseli National Park is the third most visited game area in Kenya
The Park
The Amboseli National Park constitutes five important wildlife habitats which are open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland. A temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, which floods in heavy rainfall, is situated within the Pleistocene basin.
Amboseli is so famous for its exotic beauty and big game.The main attraction of this splendid Park is the view of elephants grazing in front of the majestic mountain which is visible early in the morning or late afternoon.Filled with great game such as giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, wildebeest, the long-necked mini-giraffe like gerenuks, impala, and baboons galore, Amboseli is indeed a tourist spot which you don’t want to miss ever. The ancient and most studied elephant population in sub-Saharan Africa lives in Amboseli.
Amboseli is also so rich with in its bird population. There are around 420 recorded bird species here which contains dozens of birds of prey including more than 10 different kinds of eagles. There is also a profusion of water birds including flamingo and more than 12 heron species in the swamp areas of Amboseli.You can experience a so eye-catching scene of water seeping up from the lava rocks at Enkongo Narok which is in the mid region of the park.
Camping & Lodging
Almost all the camp sites in the region are run by the Maasai authorities. The camps are accessible from the Park even though they are seen as technically outside.Group Ranch, situated very close to the border of the park, is the only public camp site. Even though it is a large place it is often preferred for low-scale safaris which can make it quite crowded sometimes.A special campsite known as Nairushari is located in a solitary place, in the southwest corner of the park. The high budget campers usually opts this campsite. Since there is only firewood supply, you need to bring your own water and food.
Entrance Fees
A smartcard is a mandatory requirement for entering the Park. The entrance fees for various groups of people are
- Adult resident – 500 Kshs
- Children resident – 200 Kshs
- Adult non resident – 30 US
- Children non resident – 10 US
