About Amboseli
Amboseli National Park sits at the foot of Kilimanjaro on the Tanzanian border, four to five hours south of Nairobi. The mountain is in Tanzania, but the view of it is Kenyan, and it is the backdrop to every photograph anyone has ever taken here.
The park's swamps, fed by the mountain's meltwater, hold some of the largest-tusked elephants left in Africa and keep them here year round. Kilimanjaro is clearest at dawn and dusk, so we time the game drives around it. Observation Hill, where lunch is taken on the full day, looks over the whole park.
Known for
- Kilimanjaro views at dawn
- Large-tusked elephant herds
- Observation Hill
- The swamps that hold game year round
Wildlife you can expect
- Elephant
- Lion
- Cheetah
- Giraffe
- Buffalo
- Hippo
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
When to visit Amboseli
- Jan – Feb
Clear mountain
The driest, clearest months for photographing Kilimanjaro.
Our pick - Mar – May
Long rains
Cloud often hides the peak; the plains are green and empty.
Quieter and cheaper - Jun – Oct
Elephant season
Herds gather at the swamps and the mountain is usually visible at first light.
Our pick - Nov – Dec
Short rains
Passing showers, big skies and newborn plains game.
Good time to go
Safaris that visit Amboseli
Want Amboseli on your route?
Send your dates and a rough idea of what you want to see. We come back with a day-by-day route and a quote, usually within one working day.