Amboseli National Park

Good overall experience in Amboseli National Park

My visit to Amboseli National Park aimed to accomplish two objectives: see large herds of elephants in the open and view Mt. Kilimanjaro. Anything extra was considered a bonus for me because I was going to visit Serengeti National Park for other wildlife opportunities. I can confidently say that these objectives were met and I did end up getting what I would call "bonus material".

First, the elephant herds were very large and easy to spot. There were herds of more than 20 elephants. Since these elephants have been well protected from poachers, there are many mature elephants with very large tusks. If you are into elephants, this is the place to go.

Second, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I enjoy mountain scenery and always have high hopes of good mountain viewing. Unfortunately, I was only able to view Kili in the very early morning hours. The remainder of the day it was shrouded in clouds. While that was mildly disappointing, I was grateful to have seen it. When the mountain was visible, it did not disappoint. What makes this a unique viewing opportunity is that Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. There are no other dominant mountains or foothills around it.

Other wildlife was easily visible in the park because of the vast open plains. There were few predator sightings; although, I did manage to see a few hyenas and jackals. There are lions in the park, but are seldom seen. The wildlife in Amboseli National Park does not teem with animals on the scale of Masai Mara or Serengeti. Again, as previously stated, this park specializes in elephants and you would be hard pressed to find other destinations that offer the abundance of opportunities to get clear views of elephants.

The weather in the park was what one should expect from African plains. It was very warm with abundant sunshine most of the day. There were brief periods of higher humidity followed by a short rain. That did not negatively impact the safari experience.

The transportation in the park is quite easy. The park is much smaller than Serengeti or Masai Mara, making it easy to see the entire park in a couple of days. The roads were in good condition while I was there in November.

I stayed in a campground just outside the park. The accommodations were comfortable and the food was good. However, I will say that I am quite low maintenance when it comes to food and lodging.

My safari guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He knew his wildlife species well and he would drive to specific locations when I asked him. He also asked me questions about the specific things that I wanted to see so that he could ensure that my experience was exactly what I was looking for.

Overall, I would highly recommend Amboseli National Park as a safari destination. It is a convenient place for those who are on their way from Nairobi to Arusha for additional safari tours. Furthermore, it is difficult to find better places to view Mt. Kilimanjaro and find elephant herds as large as those found in Amboseli.

Giraffes with Kilimanjaro in the background: the perfect picture

I have a great experience of safaris in East Africa but never visited Amboseli. Although it lacks the roughness and wilderness of the Serengeti or Masai Mara, it sure is one of the most scenic and beautiful national parks I've ever seen.

Many elephants to see

Amboseli: An Absolutely Awesome Safari Destination

Amboseli was the first destination on our safari. What an awesome introduction to African wildlife! Even before we got there we saw groups of hippopotamus, elephants, crowned cranes, many sorts of antelope, wildebeest, and many other animals and birds. We stayed at the Oltukai Lodge, from which many elephants, in particular, were seen. On our first outing, there were lions, hyenas, flamingos and many other water birds, wildebeest and zebras, and many other antelope and birds. It was beyond our wildest dreams. We had thought maybe we might get to see an elephant, and probably some antelope. The reality was so much more stunning than our preconceptions that it was mind-blowing. We were able to see and obtain excellent photographs of the "big five". It was truly the trip of a lifetime. I am so glad we went!

One of the particularly nice things was the weather. I don't think it was above 73 degF or below 67 degF at any time during the trip. Most amazing of all was the lack of bugs. We had spent hundreds of dollars on mosquito-proof clothing, sprays, shots, etc. There wasn't a single mosquito. All in all, it was a majestically fine trip. I recommend it highly.

Between the Masai people and the wonderful herds of elephants, the most interesting place on earth.

We spent 2 days at Amboseli, as part of a 9 day safari with Wildlife Kenya Safaris.
We visited other parks including Tsavo, Lake Nakuru, Mara and Mt. Kenya.
I believe Amboseli was my favorite because of our fascinating visit with the Masai tribe that lived there and the huge herds of elephants that went walking past our van on a regular basis. Seeing 30 or 40 elephants march within a few yards of our van was an incredible experience. Galdessa at Tsavo East was the most luxurious of the camps we stayed in. A beautiful place. We traveled to Kenya at the end of June into the beginning of July. The weather was for the most part, very pleasant. We had very little rain. The food in most of the places we stayed was satisfactory, but by no means gourmet. The food at the Serena Mountain Lodge at Mt. Kenya was the best.
I would highly recommend a safari with Wildlife Kenya Safaris. This was a very well organized, stress free holiday. Sammy (our driver) picked us up from the airport in Nairobi and was incredible. He was trustworthy, reliable, knowledgeable, and a very experienced driver on the very difficult roads. He also had the most incredible eye for spotting animals that were well camouflaged and often miles into the distance.
Overall the safari with Wildlife Kenya exceeded our expectations. I would not hesitate to book with them again.

Thank you for such an amazing experience, I would highly recommend both Wildlife Kenya Safaris and Sammy to anyone interested in travelling to Africa.









The entire trip was a perfectly organised, stress free holiday. Sammy (our driver) picked us up from the airport and was incredible. He was trustworthy, reliable, knowledgeable, and a very experienced driver on the very difficult roads. He also had the most incredible eye for spotting animals that were well camouflaged and often miles into the distance.

The accommodation recommended by the company were all excellent, and exceeded our expectations, especially Galdessa in Tsavo East.

Wonderful scenario with a gorgeous view on Kilimangiaro.

Unforgettable

To say in a single word : unforgettable.
I will visit again this park

Enjoyed the wildlife in this park lots of species to see

We had a fantastic day and saw a lot of wildlife and had very nice lunch

Personally, I thought this was the most beautiful park. Wasn't too big and had all the animals you hope to see.