Amboseli for photographers

Amboseli is one of the best choices for photographers.

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 photographers?

• Chances to photograph lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo and giraffes.
• The best light is in the first hour after sunrise and the last before sunset.

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 birdwatching.

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 photographers

• Okavango Delta Botswana
• Masai Mara Kenya
• Merzouga Morocco
• Mana Pools Zimbabwe
• Ngorongoro Tanzania
• Tarangire Tanzania

Full Amboseli guideBest safaris for photographers

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.