Things to Do in Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya's most iconic wildlife destinations, renowned for its spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and incredible elephant populations. Located in southern Kenya near the Tanzania border, this 392-square-kilometer park offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa, with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro providing a dramatic backdrop for photography and game drives. The park's diverse ecosystem includes wetlands, savannah, and woodlands, supporting over 80 mammal species and 400 bird species. Amboseli is particularly famous for its large elephant herds, which are among the most researched in the world, and visitors can observe these magnificent creatures up close as they move between the park's permanent water sources. The contrast between the arid landscape and the lush swamplands fed by Kilimanjaro's meltwaters creates unique viewing opportunities and supports a remarkable concentration of wildlife year-round.

Top Things to Do in Amboseli National Park

Game Drives

Experience world-class wildlife viewing with morning and afternoon game drives through Amboseli's diverse habitats. The park's open plains and permanent water sources attract large herds of elephants, buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest, along with predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. The relatively flat terrain and sparse vegetation provide excellent visibility for photography and wildlife observation.

Booking Tip: Book through your lodge or a reputable tour operator for $50-80 per person for half-day drives. Early morning drives (6-9 AM) offer the best wildlife activity and clearest Kilimanjaro views. Choose operators with experienced guides who know elephant family groups and seasonal animal movements.

Elephant Watching

Amboseli is home to over 1,600 elephants, making it one of the best places in Africa to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch entire family groups as they bathe in the swamps, interact socially, and care for their young. The elephants here are particularly habituated to vehicles, allowing for close-up encounters and incredible photographic opportunities.

Booking Tip: Specialized elephant watching tours cost $60-100 per person and are best during dry season when elephants concentrate around water sources. Look for guides trained by the Amboseli Trust for Elephants who can identify individual elephants and share research insights. Early morning and late afternoon provide the most active elephant behavior.

Mount Kilimanjaro Photography

Capture iconic images of Africa's highest peak rising majestically behind herds of wildlife on Amboseli's golden plains. The clear mountain views are best in early morning and late afternoon when the light is soft and the peak is visible. Professional photography tours focus on composition techniques and the best vantage points for combining wildlife with the mountain backdrop.

Booking Tip: Photography-focused tours range from $80-150 per person and should be booked during dry season (June-October, December-March) for clearest mountain views. Choose tours departing before sunrise for golden hour lighting. Bring telephoto lenses and ensure your guide understands photography needs for positioning and timing.

Maasai Cultural Visits

Experience authentic Maasai culture through visits to local villages where you can learn about traditional customs, witness warrior dances, and understand the coexistence between the Maasai people and wildlife. These cultural exchanges provide insight into pastoralist lifestyles and the challenges of modern conservation in traditional lands.

Booking Tip: Cultural visits cost $30-50 per person and should be arranged through community-based tourism initiatives to ensure fair compensation. Morning visits work best as they don't interfere with prime game viewing times. Choose operators that support genuine community projects rather than tourist-focused performances.

Bird Watching

Explore Amboseli's remarkable avian diversity with over 400 recorded bird species, including water birds in the wetlands, raptors on the plains, and colorful species in the acacia woodlands. The park's varied habitats support everything from flamingos and pelicans in the swamps to secretary birds and ground hornbills on the savannah.

Booking Tip: Specialized birding tours cost $40-70 per person and are best during migration periods (November-April). Early morning tours starting at dawn offer the most bird activity. Choose guides with ornithological knowledge and ensure tours cover multiple habitats including swamplands, plains, and fever tree forests.

Getting There

Amboseli National Park is accessible by both road and air from Nairobi, located approximately 240 kilometers southeast of the capital. By road, the journey takes 3-4 hours via Namanga on a mix of tarmac and murram roads, with the final stretch requiring a 4WD vehicle during rainy seasons. Several airlines operate daily scheduled flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Amboseli's airstrip, with flight times of 45 minutes. Most visitors arrive as part of organized safari packages that include transportation, though self-drive options are available for experienced travelers with appropriate vehicles.

Getting Around

Movement within Amboseli National Park is restricted to designated roads and tracks, with 4WD vehicles essential for navigating the sometimes challenging terrain. Most visitors explore the park through organized game drives with experienced guides who know the best routes and wildlife locations. Self-drive is permitted but requires a reliable 4WD vehicle, GPS navigation, and good knowledge of park regulations. Walking is only allowed in designated areas and with armed guides, as this is big game country with potentially dangerous wildlife.

Where to Stay

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Ol Tukai Lodge

Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Tented Camp Accommodations

Kimana Sanctuary Lodges

Community Conservancy Camps

Food & Dining

Dining in Amboseli is primarily lodge-based, with most accommodations offering full-board packages featuring international cuisine with local influences. The lodges typically serve buffet-style meals with fresh ingredients, grilled meats, and vegetarian options, often incorporating Kenyan specialties like nyama choma and ugali. Some camps offer bush breakfast and sundowner experiences in scenic locations within the park. Outside the park, Kimana town has basic local restaurants serving traditional Kenyan fare, but most visitors rely on their lodge's dining facilities for all meals during their stay.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is during the dry seasons from June to October and December to March, when wildlife concentrates around permanent water sources and Mount Kilimanjaro is most visible. During these periods, game viewing is at its peak, roads are more accessible, and the weather is generally pleasant with clear skies. The wet seasons (April-May and November) can make some roads impassable and reduce visibility of Kilimanjaro, but they offer lush landscapes, fewer crowds, and excellent bird watching opportunities as migratory species arrive.

Insider Tips

Visit Observation Hill for panoramic views of the entire park and Mount Kilimanjaro - it's one of the few places in Amboseli where you can leave your vehicle

The swamplands near Enkongo Narok offer the best elephant viewing, especially during midday when herds come to bathe and drink

Carry plenty of dust protection for cameras and electronics as Amboseli's dry lake bed creates extremely dusty conditions, especially during windy periods

Things to Do in Amboseli National Park