Amboseli for a first safari

Amboseli is a good choice for a first safari.

Suitability: ★★★★★

Amboseli is a Kenya Wildlife Service park near the Tanzanian border, with open plains, swamps and acacia woodland. It is known for its elephant herds and its backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Why Amboseli for a first safari?

• 2–3 days are enough for a good experience.

What awaits you in Amboseli

• Large elephant herds and the site of the longest-running wild elephant study
• Views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the border
• Permanent swamps within dry plains
• More than 400 bird species
• Visits to surrounding Maasai communities

Wildlife you may encounter: lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and hippos.

Suggested time on the ground: 2 to 3 days. Reached by road from Nairobi via Namanga or Emali in about 4-5 hours; light aircraft use an airstrip at Kimana near the park.

Activities that fit

game drives and cultural visits.

When to go

The best period overall is July to September.

Dry season; elephants and other animals gather around the swamps fed by Kilimanjaro groundwater.

Other destinations for a first safari

• Masai Mara Kenya
• Merzouga Morocco
• Ngorongoro Tanzania
• Pilanesberg South Africa
• Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
• Kruger South Africa

Full Amboseli guideBest safaris for a first safari

Sources: Kenya Wildlife Service - Amboseli National Park · Magical Kenya - Amboseli National Park · Climates to Travel - Kenya (Amboseli normals)
Figures are approximate averages and vary from year to year.