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Photo: Amoghavarsha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kenya · East Africa · Safari

Amboseli National Park

Big elephant herds with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.

Best timeJan to Feb, Jun to Oct
Ideal stay2 nights
GatewayNairobi
Month by month
  1. JAnuary (good)
  2. FEbruary (good)
  3. MArch
  4. APril
  5. MAy
  6. JUne (good)
  7. JUly (good)
  8. AUgust (good)
  9. SEptember (good)
  10. OCtober (good)
  11. NOvember
  12. DEcember

Travel advice: some regions are off-limits. Check your government’s advice for the exact areas before you book.

Amboseli is famous for one image: elephants walking in front of snow-capped Kilimanjaro. Its elephants are among the most studied in the world, and the swamps fed by Kilimanjaro’s snowmelt keep wildlife here even in the dry season.

African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana) female with six-week-old babyElephantMale lion on savannaLionCommon hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius kiboko) SerengetiHippoPlains zebras (Equus quagga) KrugerZebraMasai Mara GiraffeGiraffe

Highlights

  • Elephants with Kilimanjaro views
  • Observation Hill
  • Flamingos on seasonal lakes
  • Maasai village visits

Wildlife to look for

Where to stay

Lodges and tented camps inside and around the park, including private conservancies on its edge.

Getting there

About 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi, or a short flight.

Tips

  • Kilimanjaro is clearest early in the morning.
  • It is dusty in the dry season; protect your camera.
  • Combine with Tsavo or cross to Tanzania.

Best time to visit

Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct. See where to go in Africa in January and our guide to the best time to visit Africa.

Travel advice: Parts of the country are off-limits under most government travel advice. Check your government’s advice before booking.

Plan your stay

Hotels on Booking.com Tours on GetYourGuide Tours on Viator

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Amboseli National Park?

Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct. Kilimanjaro is clearest early in the morning.

How long should I spend at Amboseli National Park?

2 nights.

How do I get to Amboseli National Park?

About 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi, or a short flight.

Have you been to Amboseli National Park?

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Serengeti National Park

Endless plains, big cats and the Great Migration year-round in different parts of the park.

Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights

Ngorongoro Crater

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Jun to Feb 1 to 2 nights

Masai Mara

Kenya’s most famous reserve, with dense big cat populations and the migration from about July to October.

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Okavango Delta

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