Amboseli National Park

Formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve

Amboseli National Park,is a national park in Kajiado South Constituency in Kajiado County, Kenya. The park is 39,206 ha (392.06 km2) in size at the core of an 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi) ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. The local people are mainly Maasai, but people from other parts of the country have settled there attracted by the successful tourist-driven economy and intensive agriculture along the system of swamps that makes this low-rainfall area, average 350 mm (14 in), one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world with 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hamerkop and 47 raptor species.

The park protects two of the five main swamps, and includes a dried-up Pleistocene lake and semiarid vegetation.

1.By Road:

Via Nairobi - Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi-Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmaced up to Namanga but is murram from Namanga to Meshanani Gate (75km).

Via Emali Road - (228 km) on the Nairobi- Mombasa Road. The road is tarmaced up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64 km) Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.

2.By Air:

The Park has an airstrip at Empusel gate. There is also an airstrip for light aircraft at the Park Headquarters (Olekelunyiet). Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge and Namanga town.

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Most famous for: Large herds of African elephants, including some of Africa’s biggest tuskers

Other wildlife:

Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas
Zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes
Over 400 bird species (including flamingos, pelicans, and raptors)

Habitats: Open savannah, acacia woodland, swamps, and seasonal lakes

Geography & Landmarks

Mount Kilimanjaro: Visible from the park, located just across the border in Tanzania
Lake Amboseli: A seasonal salt lake that fills briefly during rains
Enkongo Narok Swamp: A key water source attracting elephants and birdlife year-round

Conservation & Communities

Managed by: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
Conservation success: Known for long-term elephant studies by Dr. Cynthia Moss and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants
Local people: The Maasai people live in the surrounding areas and play a central role in eco-tourism and cultural preservation

Tourism Activities

Top Activities: