Amboseli National Park: Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands. They can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture.
We will start our drive early in the morning at 5am and drive on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, crossing the African savannah. We’ll soon take in a luminous Kenya sunrise lighting up a countryside of homesteads and brightly outfitted Maasai herdsmen with their cattle. Relax and enjoy this idyllic African scene as we wind our way to Amboseli Park.
Within 3 – 4 hours we will arrive and start the adventure with our first game drive. With Mt. Kilimanjaro as our background, you’ll see the herds of protected elephants, many sporting immense ivory tusks. We’ll settle in at Ol Tukai Lodge to freshen up and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast. We’ve already spotted wildlife in the park, but our day has hardly begun!
We’ll set out for more wildlife viewing on a mid-morning game drive. Because the vegetation here can get sparse during the dry months, the park offers wonderful opportunities for spotting animals. The birdlife is also abundant in Amboseli, especially around the swamp and marshlands of the park. You’ll find raptors and also water birds like pelican, crake and kingfisher.
For even more wildlife viewing, we’ll take a ride up to Observation Hill. This vantage point will give us an overall vista of the entire park. Check out the swamps below where the elephants gather daily. You can also walk about the hill as it’s one of the few places in the park you can explore on foot. Another unique feature here is the indigenous Maasai people who live within the park’s borders. If you’d like you can take an optional visit with the Maasai to meet them and learn about their culture and lifestyle.
Lunch will be served at the Amboseli Serena Lodge, one of the nicest hotels in the park. After lunch proceed with game drive. This will be a shorter tour, but we may spot elephants roaming from the marshes as they tend to later in the day. We may also get views of Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak as its cloud-shrouded summit can clear toward evening.
Having taken in the best of Amboseli, we head back to the highway and to the capital city of Nairobi, arriving in the evening. This has been a full day of sights, sounds, magnificent wildlife and a glimpse into the safari life in Africa. For your journey, you’ll be guided, hosted and looked after by your own experienced driver/guide.
Transportation between parks and game viewing will be in a private 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep – this vehicle is the safari standard with its higher seating and rugged all-wheel drive.
Tour Highlights:
PRICE PER PERSON
US$. 199.-p.p
Price includes
Price does not include:
