How do I get to Amboseli?

Amboseli National Park is a Kenyan park that attracts a number of visitors from all over the world who come to see the wildlife species and enjoy the different safari activities. It can easily be accessed by either air or road, depending on what the visitors want to use. There are a few visitors who prefer to travel individually; however, there are those who travel in groups as well. Amboseli National Park is known for the huge elephant crowds, making it the largest in Kenya, and it is also home to over 350 bird species and other animal species, including cheetahs, lions, leopards, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes and many more others. Amboseli National Park is located southeast of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, and was declared a National Park in 1974 as a conservation of wildlife.

Most Popular Safaris

8 Day Tanzania Safari

3 Day Kenya Safari

19 Day Best of Uganda Safari

6 Days Nyungwe & Lake Kivu

18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari

4 Day Tanzania Safari

9 Day Best of Kenya safari

15 Day Kenya game safari

3 Day Serengeti National Park Safari

4 Day Kenya Game Safari

Located southeast of Nairobi city, Amboseli National Park in Kenya attracts several tourists these arrive in the national park by flight landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kilimanjaro Airport or Wilson Airport and from here, they will be transferred to their booked lodge or directly to Amboseli National park depending on the time you get into the country by a tour operator. You can either connect to Amboseli National Park from the airport or other national parks in the country. There are daily scheduled flights from Wilson Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport directly to Amboseli Airstrip, and this can easily be done through a tour operator who knows and understands the adventures in Kenya. Amboseli National Park can be accessed from Tsavo National Park by road, taking you about 8 hours.

Road transport is the best and most commonly used mode of transport to Amboseli National Park, and this gives you a chance to see the different beautiful scenery along the way, like the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the locals and the scenery from Nairobi to the park.

What do I need to get to Amboseli National Park?

Tourists planning on visiting Amboseli National Park need to first have their documents verified by authorities, especially their visa and passport. Visas in Kenya can be booked online or when you get to the country although it is best to book for them in advance. Kenya provides two types of visas, and these are the Single entry visa, which is valid for 3 months, and the multiple visa, which is valid for 6 months. There is also the East African visa, which costs $100 per person, valid for 90 days and has access to three countries, including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. We recommend that you send scanned copies of your passport and visa for an easy verification process.

Types of transport best for your safari to Amboseli National Park

You have been dreaming about traveling to Amboseli National Park and your dream has finally come true. There are two ways in which you can travel to Amboseli and these are road and air. In this article, we are going to be looking at the types of transport and explaining each of these in length.

Transport by road/ land

Getting from Nairobi, there are two highways that you can use to access Amboseli National Park and it can take you about three hours without traffic and other factors remaining constant. You can drive to Amboseli from Nairobi using the Namanga road, which takes 3 hours (240 kilometers), and this will take you to the Meshanani gate. The other highway to use is the Nairobi-Mombasa route, which is equivalent to 228 kilometers, taking about two hours and a half, and this leads you to the Remito gate.

This is the most commonly used mode of transport on a safari because it is affordable and there are several vehicles you can choose from each coming with pros and cons the vehicles include the following:

Overland vehicles: These are the best-equipped vehicles to survive on the roads leading to the park and are the most affordable. They are best used for longer and larger safari tours and since the safari is a long one, the vehicles come well equipped with space for storing luggage and a mobile kitchen. The seating is different depending on the setup of the overland truck. They have large windows which allow for better viewing of the wildlife, and they also come with charging facilities.

Land Cruisers and Land Rovers: Most of the safari companies in Kenya prefer using land cruisers and land rovers for game drives to Amboseli National Park. They carry a maximum of six people and they can easily handle the rough terrains of the safaris. The vehicles can easily be turned from normal bare bones to specialized vehicles that have a pop-up roof, AC and tinted windows among others. They are 4x4 WD vehicles which provide the best wildlife viewing, but note that your luggage will be placed in either a trailer or on the roof, and therefore make sure that you pack light.

Minivan safari vehicles: Minivans are the best for a safari in Amboseli National Park and are best if you are going for a short safari which does not involve hard terrain. They are good for group safaris carrying a maximum of 10 people but you need to ask more about the configuration of the safari vehicle before booking. Minivans are equipped with air conditioning, a pop-up roof and sliding windows for better wildlife viewing.

Open safari vehicles: Open safari vehicles are either open-sided or completely open during the game drives, giving tourists a close-up as they watch wildlife. These are converted land cruisers that can seat a maximum of 9 people and due to their nature, you are advised to bring a scarf, windbreaker, sunscreen, a sunhat and sweater to keep safe. With the help of an experienced guide, you get to enjoy the best wildlife viewing in Amboseli National Park.

Transport by air

Besides using road transport, you can also fly to Amboseli National Park using domestic flights. Air transport is the fastest way to get to the park but it is as well the most expensive way to get there.

All Kenya safari destinations can easily be accessed by use of domestic flights including Amboseli National Park. You can choose to fly from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Wilson Airport to Amboseli Airstrip, and the charter flights can be booked, including all the arrangements by a trusted tour operator like Encounter Safaris. Note that the airports are located in different directions and only a few kilometers from Nairobi making it easy and possible to fly to Amboseli.

Kenya has several domestic flights that are comfortable but carry a limited number of people and these include Mombasa Air which flies from Mombasa, Malindi, Diani Beach and Masai Mara, Air Kenya which flies from Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Safari Link which flies from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West among others. There are daily flights to Amboseli Airstrip, and all tourists have to book the flights as early as possible.

Below are some of the ways you can use to get to Amboseli by air.

Helicopters: Several helicopters are used by tour operators for safaris some of which have a maximum of 4 to 6 seats. They have bubble windows that offer excellent viewing but these have to be booked in advance to properly prepare for the safari.

Light plains: Many light planes can be chattered for the safari to Amboseli National Park. They need to be booked earlier on through your tour operator and you need to make sure that you meet the weight limit set by the different planes.

Wildlife in Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is one of the popular destinations in Kenya and is mostly known for its elephant population. It has a wide range of animal species that can be spotted by taking game drives early in the morning and late afternoon and some of these include cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, elephants, impalas, hippos, hyenas and lions among others.

The national park is also home to over 400 recorded bird species, including both migratory and endemic bird species, and these include Von der Decken’s, Eurasian thick-knee, Greater Flamingo, Common Redshank, Rufous-bellied heron, African swamphen, Lesser flamingo, steel-tube whydah and yellow-necked spurfowl among others.

What to do in Amboseli National Park

There are a lot of activities that are carried out in Amboseli National Park, and these include bird watching, game drives, guided nature walks, photography safaris and cultural trips to the Masai, among others. The activities that are best carried out during the dry season include guided nature walks, game drives, cultural trips and boat rides, among others, and the best activities carried out in the wet season include photography safaris and bird watching, among others.

Highlights in Amboseli National Park

There are a lot of tourist attractions in Amboseli National Park that are worth spotting and these include the following:

• The observation hill has great views of the entire national park, especially the wildlife, the swamps and the large elephant herds. It has a 360-degree view of the park, and long before that, it was referred to as Poachers Hill because this is where poachers would station when hunting animals, especially rhinos, which are now extinct in the park.
• The highest population of large tusked elephants
• The five different Amboseli habitats include savannah grasslands, savannah woodlands, sulfur springs and woodlands.
• The big four include lions, leopards, elephants and hippos.
• The local Masai community. The Masai community is a must visit when you are going to Amboseli National Park as you will learn about their unique culture, the jumping dance, enjoy songs and dance, buy yourself s few souvenirs from the locals and enjoy their local food.
• The Sinet Delta is a birder’s paradise with many bird species seen throughout the year. It is located in the northern part of Amboseli and is one of the places that are worth visiting.

Amboseli National Park is mainly arid but is filled with several permanent springs that the animals in the park feed on and during the dry season, several animals can be found lounging around the swamps to cool off. These swamps are surrounded by open savannah plains, and due to the open nature of the park, it is easy to spot the animals, making it a great opportunity for photography safaris as well.

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is during the dry season experienced from June to October. During this period, the grass has thinned offering great views of the animals in the national park and due to the heat experienced during this period, animals gather around the watering holes in large numbers to cool off. The rainy season experienced in March to May is the best time to travel for bird watching and when your budget is constrained. You can still travel to Amboseli throughout the year because the park is an all-year-round destination depending on the safari activities and your budget.

Where to stay in Amboseli Park

There are a variety of comfortable accommodation facilities which are categorized into luxury, mid-range and budget facilities, and these include Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Kibo Safari Camp, Ol Donyo Lodge, Ol Tukai Lodge, Kilima Safari Camp and Campi ya Kanzi among others. Accommodation also needs to be booked in advance, and this is because due to the high number of visitors to the park, especially during the dry season, you might end up getting something that doesn’t match your taste. For better accommodation facility booking, get in touch with us.

In conclusion, Amboseli National Park can be accessed by both road and air transport and the choice to use depends on the tourists’ choice and budget. Book your Amboseli National Park safari earlier to avoid any inconveniences, and we shall make sure that we make all the necessary arrangements on your behalf for better delivery.