Traveler’s Guide of Amboseli National Park - Park Fees, Weather, Things to Do, & More

Amboseli National Park - AjKenyaSafaris.com

Amboseli National Park is a vast plain of scrubby vegetation that allows fantastic game viewing opportunities. It is the second largest park in Kenya from the Masai Mara. The park is well-known for its impressive wildlife variety, including Africa’s largest population of free-roaming herds of elephants.

 Amboseli is derived from the Masai word “Ambosel,” which translates to a dry, open plain. Ambosel is a fitting description of Amboseli’s open land, acacia woodlands, and rocky thorny bushes, which are hardly ankle-high. It is also home to more than 50 mammal species.

Amboseli National Park is the perfect place in Africa to get up close with large herds of free-roaming elephants and other wildlife. Watching the sun rise or set from the park is divine. Standing in Amboseli, you will view Mt Kilimanjaro – the world’s largest free-standing mountain – resting peacefully on its spot.

Contact Us to Book Your Safari to Amboseli National Park

You can reach our team at james@ajkenyasafaris.com or safarioffers@ajkenyasafaris.com to book your safari to Amboseli park. We are also available via phone or WhatsApp at +254-748-258-880.

Our Most Booked Safari to Amboseli and Other Packages

Our Most Booked Kenya Safari Packages 2023Price Per Adult SharingThe Detailed Itinerary
1-Day Nairobi National Park & Giraffe Center TourFrom USD 119See the Itinerary
1-Day Nairobi National Park & Nairobi Animal Orphanage TourFrom USD 34See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Camp PackagesFrom USD 1015See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Christmas PackagesFrom USD 1010See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Easter PackagesFrom USD 985See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Festive PackagesFrom USD 1315See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Lodge SafariFrom USD 995See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara PackagesFrom USD 955See the Itinerary
3-Day Masai Mara Packages from NairobiFrom USD 995See the Itinerary
3-Day Ol Pejeta Easter SafariFrom USD 1175See the Itinerary
4-Day Africa Migration Masai Mara PackagesFrom USD 1360See the Itinerary
4-Day L. Naivasha & Masai Mara Easter SafariFrom USD 1249See the Itinerary
4-Day L. Naivasha & Masai Mara SafariFrom USD 1174See the Itinerary
4-Day L. Nakuru & Masai Mara SafariFrom USD 1162See the Itinerary
4-Day Masai Mara Camp PackagesFrom USD 1195See the Itinerary
4-Day Masai Mara Easter PackagesFrom USD 1235See the Itinerary
4-Day Masai Mara Migration PackagesFrom USD 1360See the Itinerary
4-Day Mombasa & Diani SafariFrom USD 937See the Itinerary
4-Day Mombasa & Diani Valentine SafariFrom USD 1405See the Itinerary
5-Day Flying Safari to Masai Mara & Ol Pejeta ConservancyFrom USD 3777See the Itinerary
6-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari from IndiaFrom USD 1730See the Itinerary
7-Day Kenya Christmas SafariFrom USD 3093See the Itinerary
7-Day Kenya Wildlife SafariFrom USD 1884See the Itinerary
8-Day Kenya Wildlife SafariFrom USD 4413See the Itinerary
8-Day Wildlife & Beach SafariFrom USD 1585See the Itinerary
12-Day Kenya Wildlife & Beach SafariFrom USD 4216See the Itinerary
18-Day Kenya Family SafariFrom USD 5849See the Itinerary

The Ultimate Guide to Amboseli National Park - Things to Know

Below are some things you should know before booking your safari to Amboseli. They will help you plan your Kenya safari better.

Amboseli National Park Location

The park is in the Rift Valley Region of Kenya, Kajiado County, Loitoktok District, along the Kenya-Tanzania border.

It lies on 392 km2 at the heart of Masai grasslands. So, during our classic tours to this park, our tour guide will take you to the local villages to meet the Maasais.

Amboseli National Park from Nairobi

The park is located 240 km southeast of Nairobi. A road trip to the park in our comfortable 4×4 Kenya safari land cruisers takes about 3 hours. By air, it’s a short journey of about 30 minutes from Wilson Airport.

Amboseli National Park Weather

Amboseli falls slightly off the rain shadow of Mountain Kilimanjaro. Its climate is mainly hot and dry, with an average temperature of 33°C during the hot months (January-March; and June to October).

The wet months (April-May; and November-December) record a lower temperature of 27-28°C. Amboseli is popularly dusty, with a layer of volcanic ash that characterize the park during droughts and dry months.

In contrast, the wet months are periods of massive flooding, which, by magic, turns the once arid lands into swampy marshlands. During the dry season, the ice at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro starts to melt, forming a small underground stream that flows from Mt Kilimanjaro right to the middle of the park. 

That makes the vegetation that surrounds it green and sumptuous. In turn, the lush vegetation attracts a diverse wildlife community around the lake.

Amboseli National Park Charges - Entrance Fee

You can check the latest Amboseli national park fees from the KWS website. The cost varies from season to season. Expect to pay the following during the peak season:

  • Foreigner Adult: USD 70
  • Foreigner Child: USD 20
  • Resident Adult: USD 8
  • Resident Child: USD 2.15
  • Citizen Adult: USD 8
  • Citizen Child: USD 2.15

Amboseli National Park Best Time to Visit

The road from Nairobi to Amboseli is all-tamarack and well-maintained. So, you can visit the park any time of the year. 

With that said, Kenya has two rainy seasons; the short rainy season that starts in November-December and the long rainy season between April to May. The animals are usually scattered all over the park.

The conditions are excellent for game viewing during the dry months, especially from June to September. For bird lovers, align your visit to the park with the homecoming of the migrating birds, which happens annually between October and January.

The Top 6 Amboseli National Park Attractions & Things to Do

You can explore the national park on horseback safaris, guided nature walks, or game drives. Given its proximity to the Mara and Tanzania, most of our Kenya tours to Amboseli also include expeditions to the Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

The animals you should expect to see during a typical safari to Amboseli include Lions, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Buffalos, spotted Hyenas, and numerous species of birds. Here are the things you can do at this national park.

1. Game Viewing at Amboseli National Park

We must agree that this is why most people visit Amboseli. It is among the best wildlife viewing parks in Kenya and the world. Apart from the famous big five, gazelles, warthog, the African fox, antelopes, crocodiles, peacocks, and ostriches are present. 

And these are just the tip of the theoretical iceberg. Other animals are the eland, white-bearded wildebeest, coke’s hartebeest, and the common waterbuck. In dry areas, you will see fringe-eared Oryx and Gerenuk. 

Most tourists visit the park to see Amboseli national park elephants. They are large in numbers and, most of the time, in groups. The Velvet monkey, bat-eared foxes, and black-backed jackals also roam the park grounds. 

You will see the enormous beast and experience them like you won’t. If it is your lucky day, you may even get to see a new addition being brought to the family.

Amboseli National Park Elephants
Amboseli National Park Elephant & Mt. Kilimanjaro

2. Bird Watching at Amboseli Park

If you are a bird lover, Amboseli is your paradise. The parks host 400 birds, including the lesser flamingo, Madagascar pond Heron, the shoebill, and the lesser Kestrel. The same goes for you if you are a bird photographer or artist. 

The birds are spread across the park but are mainly concentrated in and around the lakes and swamps. Come with your binoculars and cameras and sketch the birds as you enjoy the view.

3. Camping Safari at Amboseli

Several camping sites in the park allow you to drink a cold drink around a bonfire under the diamond sky. They are different in size, location, and price, but each offers a magical experience.

They include Amboseli Porini Camp, Amboseli Tortilis Camp, Amboseli Kibo Safari Camp, and Amboseli Ol Kanjau camp.

4. Photography Safari in Amboseli

This goes without saying. Whether a professional wildlife photographer or an amateur like the rest, you cannot resist the urge to capture every centimeter of the park.

You can capture everything from the sunrise in the morning to the different species of birds, the vast planes, and a unique-looking bug. Don’t forget the beautiful ice-crowned Mt Kilimanjaro that seems always to be peaking to see what is happening in the park.

You will have so many photos you may need to carry an extra memory card just for Amboseli. Aj Kenya Safaris also got your back when looking for the best sites to take pictures.

5. Hot Air Balloon Safari at Amboseli National Park

Don’t miss a balloon ride during your park safari. You can view the park’s beauty from an aerial angle. Let go and feel the wind blow through your hair and clothes.

6. A Cultural Dance from the Maa Community

Our tour guides will happily take you to the Maasai community. This will be your chance to learn about the well-preserved and authentic culture of one of the most famous tribes in Africa; the Masai.

The Maa people are the custodians of Kenyan culture. They have been able to resist change and influence from the Western world. On a visit to their village, you will see how the Maasai live, eat, cook, sing, dance, and interact.