- Address: Loitoktok District, Rift Valley, Kenya
- Phone: + 254 45 622251
- Website: http://www.amboseli.com/
- Area: 392 km²
- Foundation date: 1974
- Ticket price: adults - $ 90, students and children - $ 55
Amboseli Exotic National Park is located in the southeast of one of the most mysterious African countries of Kenya , in the province of Rift Valley, near the town of Lhotokitok. This area is an integral part of a unique ecosystem formed on an area of more than 3000 square meters. km on the border of Kenya and Tanzania . From the capital of the country Nairobi to the reserve is only 240 km, if you go in a south-easterly direction.
History of the park
The name of the reserve comes from the name of the area, which the natives of the Masai tribe called Empusel - "salty dust". The founder of the park is the European Joseph Thomson, who first came here in 1883. He was captivated by an amazing combination of a variety of wild animals, arid soil in the place where there was a dried lake, and an oasis of swamps that occupy a large area.
In 1906, the region turned into a "Southern Reservation" for the endangered Masai tribe, and in 1974 it was granted the status of a national park, which prevented human intervention in the unusual world of Kenyan landscapes. Since 1991 Amboseli Park has been under the protection of UNESCO. In the works of Ernest Hemingway and Robert Rouark it is he who becomes the site of the safari in the African savannah.
Local beauties
The reserve is considered one of the most visited Kenyan national parks. It attracts lovers of unspoilt nature from all over the world: some - to admire the magnificent scenery against the majestic mountain Kilimanjaro , others - to get acquainted with the local fauna and see at the distance of the elongated hands of African animals grazing herds, including elephants. The terrain here is flat, with a small number of low hills. However, do not forget that the peak of Kilimanjaro is often covered with a thick veil of clouds and is not always clearly visible. However, the trip is unlikely to disappoint you, and in this case: Amboseli is inhabited by over 80 species of mammals and 400 species of birds.
When visiting the dried up lake basin, tourists often see fantastic, shaky mirages in the hot, hot air. The reservoir is filled with water only after abundant and daily precipitation. Marshes and springs feed underground water, so the inhabitants of the park feel great even during a drought, coming here for a watering place.
In the park there is always something to do even the most jaded traveler. You can:
- Observe the life of elephants, approaching them to a safe distance.
- Visit the picturesque village of the Masai tribe and join their unusual traditions and way of life. On the whole territory of the reserve there are a lot of abandoned natives' houses - manyatta, which are quickly built from poles and sticks, and the role of clay was played by cow excrement. These huts are thrown when the grazing is over and the Masai must drive the cattle further.
- To see the life of African animals in all its features. Because the climate of the area assumes long droughts, the vegetation in the park is quite scarce, so that neither the smallest mammal nor the tiny bird will hide from your view. The reserve is a native land not only for the African elephant, but also for the wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas, impala, lions, cheetahs and many other animals. A distinctive feature of Amboseli is the absence of rhinoceroses.
Rules of behavior in the park
When ordering a car for a trip to Amboseli, please note that the local soil has a volcanic origin and therefore is characterized by increased looseness. Therefore, during the rainy season, the soil very much soaks, so you can drive only on an off-road vehicle. In the dry season (June-August) it is quite dusty. For this reason, a hat with fields and even a mosquito net will not be superfluous.
You can travel in the reserve not only by car, but also on foot along well-maintained paths, accompanied by a guide. Do not forget that the temperature drops are not uncommon: in the daytime the thermometer's column rises to +40 degrees, at night it can fall to +5. Therefore, warm clothes will not be superfluous either.
The park is allowed to stop for a few days. Numerous safari lodges are waiting for you, campsites (here you can stay in a large tent, and we will note hot food and shower from the bonuses), elite five-star hotels and private cozy boarding houses. If you are dreaming of waking up under the trumpet roaring of elephants, order a room at Ol Tukai Lodge: next to it there is a watering hole, where these wonderful animals often come.
How to get there?
The park has its own small airport, which has the same name with this recreational zone. Flights from Nairobi on light-engine aircraft or "jets" are made here with enviable regularity. Also from the capital to Loidokitoka you can reach the Matata or the bus along the C103 highway, and then order a taxi or a shuttle. On average, it will take you 4-5 hours.
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