The Elephant-Crammed Amboseli National Park Offers Picturesque Views of the Kilimanjaro

Before we delve into Amboseli National Park, a word of caution is in order...

Your first impressions of Amboseli will be those of shocked disbelief as the park's dust and gloomy climate threaten to engulf you both literally and figuratively.

Patience is therefore a virtue you will definitely need while in the park.

But at the end of your Amboseli safari, you might like Joseph Thomson, a Scottish explorer did in 1885, exclaim, "How can such enormous numbers of large game live in this extraordinary desert?"

But the park offers more than just colossal wildlife...

Amboseli National Park's Ecosystem

The 392 square kilometer park embodies starkly contrasting landscapes; open plains but also acacia woodland, a dried-up lake basin but also a profusion of lakes and; rocky thorn bush country but also swamps and marshland.

Amboseli Attractions

Your Kenya Amboseli safari is bound to be dominated by the following sights and sounds:

• Stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

  Even though the majestic Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, the best views of it are, in fact, from Amboseli National Park which is strategically located at the foot of the mountain.

  Mount Kilimanjaro - which appropriately translates as "large rock" in Maa, the language spoken by the world-famous Masai - proudly stands 5,895 meters (19,340 ft) tall and can be gazed at from the Amboseli plains.

  Its sheer size and snow-capped summit make it a sight to behold (on a clear day!).

  Mount Kilimanjaro was the backdrop for Ernest Hemingway's classic short stories collection The Snows of Kilimanjaro published in 1936 and Under Kilimanjaro, a non-fiction account of his 1950s safari experiences published posthumously in 2005. Therefore...

  If you are looking for motivation for your next project, head straight to Amboseli. Its magical views might just do for you what they certainly did for Hemingway.

• While on safari, you are guaranteed to see countless herds of elephants ambling by. Nowhere else in Africa (or the world) will you get soooooo close to soooooo many free-ranging elephants.

  The Amboseli elephants also claim the coveted distinction of being the most celebrated free-ranging and largest elephants in the entire world. So...

  If you fancy being privy to surreal views of unbelievable concentrations of elephants against the backdrop of the gigantic beauty that is the Kilimanjaro, set up a rendezvous with this elephant country.

  Elephants are fascinating, not just because they are the largest living land mammals, they are extremely intelligent and have great memories.

  And, they might just impart some of these virtues to you when you visit the Amboseli National Park. Elephant females (called "cows") also dote on their young (called "calves") and baby elephants are welcomed into the world with much pomp and ceremony. In this sense therefore, Amboseli National Park is a mesmerizing lesson in nurturing.

• Mount Meru, which is 4,566 meters (14,980 feet) high, is an active volcano located 70 kilometers (44 miles) west of Mount Kilimanjaro. Though its beauty considerably pales in comparison to its more famous counterpart, it's still worth checking out.

• You should also be on the lookout for hippos, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and gazelles, vervet monkeys and with some luck, some incredibly focused lionesses on the hunting trail...

The best place to spot wildlife is Observation Hill, which as the name suggests, gives you a panoramic view over the park's landscape.

• Amboseli National Park is also a birdwatchers' haven as it is home to a dizzying array of birdlife...

  In fact, no less than 400 species of birds occur in the park.

  Waterbirds such as geese, pelicans and storks are particularly abundant as are herons, egrets, stilts, kingfishers, waders, geese and storks.

  If you're a bird lover, look for birds in the swamps and seasonal Amboseli, Ol Tukai and Kioko lakes.

  The most rewarding time to see birds is during the rainy seasons. These occur between March to May and October to December.

  During these wet seasons, the wetland birds such as Herons, attracted by the flooding swamps and lakes migrate in.

  And, from October to December, the local birds are joined by species from the Northern hemisphere, which migrate south in order to escape the harsh European winter.

• Make time to experience the park's magnificent and picturesque sunrise over the acacia trees. Gazing at some glowing golden sunsets and sipping sundowners against the stunning backdrop of the Kilimanjaro are all part of the Amboseli adventure.

  This breathtaking spectacle which will likely linger on your mind for a while.

Amboseli Hotels

The Amboseli hotels offer the best of both worlds - the treatment and amenities you'd expect in a world class hotel and the priceless exotic feel of the African wilderness. Which is the best? Hmm...

Check out these reviews and decide for yourself - I am torn between a couple.

Amboseli Porini Camp

Amboseli Porini Camp is located just north of the park.

Set in the Selenkay Conservancy which is a 15,000 acre private game reserve, it offers a small and exclusive ecofriendly experience.

Accommodations consist of 9 spacious en suite tents catering for a maximum of 18 guests at a time.

Porini offers an authentic feel of camping in the unspoilt African bush as there are no permanent structures such as swimming pools, bars and restaurants.

Meals are taken under acacia trees and you will be serenaded by African sounds at the campfire every evening.

Ol Tukai Lodge Amboseli

Half of Ol Tukai's rooms face a watering hole which elephants, zebras and wildebeest frequent and the other half, Mount Kilimanjaro. Therefore, you can take these views in from your cottage window.

Tortilis Camp Amboseli

Tortilis Camp is perched atop Kitirua hill just outside the southern boundary of the national park.

It is surrounded by a luxuriant acacia grove which bustles with birdlife particularly in the mornings. Its altitude guarantees soul-searing views of the Amboseli plains and Mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru.

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

The Serena lodge is located near a spring which attracts lots of elephants, lions, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes and baboons. It is set amidst an acacia grove and offers incredible views of the Kilimanjaro.

Amboseli Sopa Lodge

The Amboseli Sopa Lodge is set on 200 acres just outside the eastern park gate. Each of their tastefully decorated rooms has a deck from which you can visually conquer the snowcapped peaks of the Kilimanjaro.

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