An Amboseli safari puts you in prime position for one of Africa’s most iconic images: snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro with an obliging herd of elephants in the foreground. Africa’s highest peak lies in Tanzania but it is Amboseli National Park in neighbouring Kenya that has the best views of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.
Included on many safari itineraries as a one or two-night experience, Amboseli offers a different side to the Masai Mara, with which it is often combined. A region of arid grassland as well as extensive wetlands, Amboseli is home to lions, leopards and cheetah plus buffalo, giraffe and many antelope species. Its placid elephants are among the easiest in East Africa to get close to for amazing photography and its bird count is said to be over 400 species – an astonishing number for a park less than 400 km² in size (about 150 miles²).
There are safari lodges scattered both inside the national park and on adjoining private concessions. Some lodges offer spa treatments, massages and swimming pools; others promise a more down-to-earth bush camp experience complete with bucket showers. The richly layered Amboseli is also great for families on a safari together. Several camps have family-friendly suites and provide guided activities suitable for children.
Morning and afternoon game drives are the main focus on an Amboseli safari but, depending on the accommodation, wildlife viewing may be mixed with cultural interactions and other adventures such as horseback safaris and bush breakfasts. Lodges that are privately located offer additional activities such as guided nature walks and spot-lit night drives.
Combining easily with Kenya’s Masai Mara, Amboseli also lies close to the Tanzanian border. This makes it relatively simple to combine Kenya’s best wildlife destinations with those of Tanzania including the world-famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. And with the advantage of domestic air travel, it is a straightforward exercise to combine Amboseli and a Kenya safari with the Indian Ocean coast for an unforgettable safari and beach holiday.
Talk to Safari Online about an Amboseli safari and we’ll recommend the best tour and accommodation for your budget and interests. We can also tailor-make an itinerary for you, combining Amboseli with your choice of safari destinations in Africa.
A diverse geography means a varied regional climate but Kenya is generally regarded as a year-round holiday destination. However, if you’re looking for a specific experience – the wildebeest migration, the best beach weather or swimming with whale sharks – then you’ll need to plan according to season.
Low, shoulder & peak season: Kenya’s January to March peak safari season delivers in terms of comfort and game viewing. It’s warm and mostly dry and sunny with many animals concentrated around water. Visitor numbers are high – especially in popular parks – so it’s worth thinking about an ‘out-of-season’ safari if you want to avoid the crowds. Kenya’s safari destinations turn green and leafy during the ‘long rains’ of late March to June and the ‘short rains’ of October to December. It makes for great photography and you’ll also enjoy low season accommodation and tour rates.
The Great Migration: By late July the wildebeest are arriving in the Masai Mara and it’s the best time to see the herds crossing crocodile-infested rivers. It is however a very popular time to travel so book well in advance! The wildebeest and zebra herds stay in the Masai Mara until the short rains send them south into Tanzania’s Serengeti but the Mara is worth visiting any time of year thanks to its diverse and abundant wildlife.
Beach break: Visitors to Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast and islands can expect hot and humid conditions all year round. Rain can fall at any time but is heaviest between mid-March and late May. The best conditions for diving and snorkelling is between October and January (especially November). Divers keen to swim with whale sharks should visit Kenya between October and April when these gentle giants migrate along the Kenyan coast.
Amboseli lodges are varied both in size and location. Ranging from large, hotel-type lodges to intimate bush camps with only half a dozen tents, accommodation may be set within Amboseli Park itself or in adjoining private reserves or conservancies. Several are positioned for postcard-perfect views of Mount Kilimanjaro while others are set on Maasai tribal land, offering you the chance to walk with red-robed warriors and visit local communities for a fascinating insight into village life.
Some Amboseli accommodation – small, private and luxurious – features among our top recommendations for romantic travellers and honeymooners; other camps are more suitable for families and come complete with 2-bedroom chalets or interconnecting family units. You’ll find some camps well-equipped with swimming pools, massage tables and even complimentary Wi-Fi. You’ll also find camps that are more rustic in nature, featuring traditional bucket showers and tented suites.
Activities offered at Amboseli lodges focus on wildlife. Early morning and late afternoon game drives are the most rewarding and there is often the opportunity to go on a full-day safari to make the most out of your Amboseli experience – ideal if you only have one day there. Accommodations in private conservancies offer their guests additional activities – guided nature walks and spot-lit night drives – while most lodges will have Maasai song and dance shows as part of their evening entertainment. Many offer opportunities to visit local villages for a taste of Maasai life on the savannah.
Browse our recommended Amboseli lodges below or simply contact us for advice on suitable accommodation for your needs and budget.
In the heart of Amboseli National Park, where the vast plains meet Mount Kilimanjaro, Soroi Amboseli will be a sanctuary of luxury, comfort, and wild indulgences. Offering a collection of thoughtfully designed safari tents in a forested area, facing Mount Kilimanjaro & Mount Meru.
Tortilis Camp is situated in one of Amboseli's areas of Acacia Tortilis woodland, with the majestic backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, and the World’s highest free-standing mountain, snow-capped Kilimanjaro.
Angama Amboseli is an intimate lodge in the heart of the 5,700-acre private Kimana Sanctuary and the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro. Set within a forest of towering Fever Trees where some of Africa's last Super Tuskers roam.
Set in an exclusive-use conservancy, this 6-tent camp blends rustic simplicity with comfort & personalised service. Game drives in the private reserve are very rewarding & are augmented by nature walks & night drives plus safaris in Amboseli itself.
Amboseli National Park is usually part of a broader Kenya safari which takes in other destinations such as the Masai Mara, Mount Kenya and Samburu National Park. By incorporating Amboseli onto these itineraries, the visitor is assured of a wide range of wildlife experiences and scenery, including iconic Mount Kilimanjaro. Some of these tours visit private Amboseli conservancies, offering excellent game viewing and diverse activities for you to enjoy.
There is also the opportunity to combine an Amboseli safari with other rewarding destinations in East Africa. Tanzania’s Serengeti – home to the wildebeest migration when it is not in the Masai Mara – and the Ngorongoro Crater – offering arguably Africa’s easiest Big 5 game viewing – are both included on an itinerary with Amboseli.
And if you feel like finishing off your safari itinerary with soft sand between your toes and a shady hammock spend an afternoon in, then an Amboseli safari is also part of a safari and beach combination. Blending the drama of Kenya’s top game viewing destinations with a beach resort on the Indian Ocean, the tour makes a great honeymoon or romantic trip.
Browse our recommended tours below, each including an Amboseli safari as part of its itinerary. Alternatively, if you’d like a more personalised approach, simply contact Safari Online and we’ll tailor-make an itinerary based on your needs and budget.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
One of Kenya’s smallest conservation areas, Amboseli National Park is best experienced as part of a larger itinerary in Kenya – and even beyond.
Top of the list of destinations to combine with Amboseli is of course Kenya’s flagship reserve, the Masai Mara. Home to the wildebeest migration, the ‘Mara’ remains one of Africa’s best destinations for big game regardless of the time of year and is easy to access – most of our tours feature charter flights between the two destinations. Other possible destinations in Kenya are the Samburu National Park, the private Lewa Conservancies and Mount Kenya, each offering a different aspect to the Kenyan landscape, its culture and its wildlife.
And thanks to Amboseli’s location close to the border with Tanzania, it is relatively easy to combine Kenya and Tanzania on a single safari itinerary, giving you the best of Kenya along with Tanzania’s ‘unmissables’ – the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Such combinations assure the traveller of amazing bio-diversity and many excellent photographic opportunities.
We’ve listed our best and most popular destinations to combine with Amboseli below but if you’ve got someplace else in mind, just contact us.
