Amboseli National Park

Located in southern Kenya, Amboseli National Park is arguably the most impressive place in Africa for elephant sightings. But not just any elephant sighting. Amboseli is home to some of the largest and most breath-taking ‘tuskers’. This is a term used for an elephant with huge ivory tusks that sweep the floor – some weighing more than 45kg pounds per tusk. Sadly, these extraordinary ‘tusker’ elephants are far and few, with only around 20 left in the world today, but a considerable number can be found in the Amboseli National Park and surrounding ecosystem.

Not only are these huge tusker elephants seen in Amboseli, but enormous herds of elephant are also found migrating through this expansive ecosystem. Large herds of elephants can be seen, walking in a line across the dry and arid terrain. To make it that little bit more special, Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s largest mountain – is often the backdrop of the landscape, dominating the sky with its snowy peak. On a clear day, Amboseli National Park is considered the best place to see the impressive 5,895-meter high mountain, which is actually in Tanzania.

As well as reliable elephant sightings, Amboseli National Park also has good numbers of lion prides, and plains game such as zebra, giraffe, and a wealth of antelope species. You will enjoy morning and late afternoon safaris, often in open-sided vehicles with professional safari guides. This park is particularly good for photographers – both amateur and professional – because many of the safari camps have specialized vehicles for photographers and their equipment, as well as experienced guides who know the best angles and lighting for the perfect shot.

The safari experience in Amboseli National Park is also more varied, as you can do activities like bush walks, cycling, community visits, and day and night drives. On top of that, you will enjoy some safari surprises along the way, such as breakfasts in the bush, and sundowners in front of waterholes, filled with resident hippo pods or crocodiles. It’s a very special park, and the safari camps in this area really have perfected the safari experience for guests. We recommend Amboseli National Park as either a stand-alone safari destination, or to combine it with another park like the Masai Mara National Reserve, and small aircraft planes make it possible to do this.