Kenya · Kajiado County
Amboseli National Park
A compact Pleistocene lake basin gazetted in 1974, fed by underground springs from Mount Kilimanjaro. Home to Africa's most-studied elephant population and iconic big-sky views of Kibo's snow-capped peak.
392 km²Park Area
~1,600Elephants
400+Bird Species
5Permanent Swamps
1974Gazetted
Longest-Running Study4,076 elephants catalogued since 1972 by the AERP
Geography & Hydrology
A flat Pleistocene lake basin at 1,100–1,200 m elevation, sitting in Kilimanjaro's rain-shadow. Despite only 300 mm of annual rainfall, glacial meltwater percolates through porous basaltic aquifers and wells up as cold freshwater springs.
Enkongo NarokLargest swamp; highest hippo density; primary elephant foraging channel.
Olokenya SwampDense papyrus; highest daily elephant and megaherbivore traffic.
Longinye SwampSedge meadows; vital water source for the park's lion prides.
Ol TukaiCentral tourism hub; interspersed with dead yellow-fever tree stands.
Iconic BackdropMount Kilimanjaro — clearest Jul–Oct at sunrise
Signature Wildlife
Super-tusker bulls carry ivory reaching the ground. Matriarchal herds navigate by ecological memory. Rare hirola and Maasai giraffe share the alkaline plains with lion, cheetah, and wild dog.
Avian IBA400+ Species · 47 Raptors
Getting There
Iremito GateMain northern entry · 1.5–2 hrs from Emali SGR
Kimana GateEastern entry · via C102 from Emali then dirt road
Meshanani GateWestern entry · Namanga road from Nairobi
Emali SGR StationNairobi 08:00 → Emali 09:27 · Mombasa 08:00 → 12:36
Dongo Kundu BypassDiani to Miritini SGR in ~45 min · avoids Likoni Ferry
On the GroundGame Drives · Walking Safaris · Night Drives
Park Entry Fees (24 hrs)
| Visitor Type | Adult | Child/Student |
|---|---|---|
| East African Citizen | KES 1,500 | KES 750 |
| Kenyan Resident | KES 2,025 | KES 1,050 |
| African Citizen (Non-EAC) | USD 50 | USD 25 |
| Non-Resident (Int'l) | USD 90 | USD 45 |
Paid cashless via eCitizen "GavaPay." Tsavo West + Amboseli combo: USD 150 non-resident adult.
Health & Park Rules
- Malaria endemic — begin prophylactics 4–6 weeks before travel; use DEET repellent at dusk.
- Yellow Fever certificate required if arriving via Tanzania's Namanga border.
- Remain in vehicles at all times; exit only at Observation Hill or marked picnic sites.
- Maintain 20 m minimum distance from all wildlife; never feed primates.
- Drink only bottled or lodge-filtered water; avoid street food in Emali or Namanga.
- Request an armed escort after dark — lions and hyenas are active nocturnal hunters.
When to Visit
Dry Season
Jun–Oct & Jan–Feb. Wildlife concentrates at permanent swamps; Kilimanjaro clearest at sunrise. Protect cameras from fine alkaline dust off the dry lake bed.
Wet Season
Mar–May "Long Rains," Nov–Dec "Short Rains." Lake Amboseli floods, attracting flamingo blooms. Wildlife disperses; black cotton soils demand 4x4 with mud-terrain tyres.
Birding Peak
Nov–Apr. Palearctic migrants arrive from Europe and North Africa. Madagascar Squacco Heron, Lesser Kestrel, and waders active in the papyrus marshes.
Safari Destinations
Safari Trips
- info@dropintowildsafari.com
- Call: +254 710 203178