KENYA, AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
In depth guide to the seasons, animals, birds and wildlife habitats of the African safari region
of Amboseli in Kenya.
To
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Amboseli in Kenya, click here >>> |
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The
image of elephants wandering across grass plains
with the snowy peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in the
background is one known even to armchair travellers.
This epitomises Amboseli National Park and highlights
the stark contrasts Africa has to offer.
In
Amboseli's case it is big skies and far horizons
combined with swampy springs and dry and dusty
earth trammelled by hundreds of animals. Amboseli
has an endless underground water supply filtered
through thousands of feet of volcanic rock
from Kilimanjaro's ice cap, which funnel into
two clear water springs in the heart of the
park.
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the climatic pendulum can swing from drought
to flood, and in the early 1990's ceaseless
rain changed Amboseli into a swamp.A few years
later the rains failed and the grass-covered
plains turned to dust.
Amboseli's dust is ancient volcanic ash, whose
salt crystals shimmer on the surface of the
parched lakebed during the dry season. This
creates hazy mirages which make you question
just what is real.
Surrounding
Amboseli are ranch areas where the Maasai share
the land with the wildlife. Wild animals tends
to avoid the village areas as it there are far
too many people and the grazing has already
been eaten by the Maasai's all-important cattle. |
| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
This park is renowned
for its elephants, who may be seen in herds
over 100 strong drinking from the surface springs.
There are so many of them that their penchant
for pushing down trees is destroying the habitat
that sustains them. Big old bull elephants carry
some of the largest tusks to be seen anywhere
in Africa and is a renowned feature of this
park.
Also
happily roaming the grasslands are buffalo,
wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, impala and warthog.
Attendant carnivores include lion, leopard,
caracal, cheetah, jackal, hyena and serval cat.
Unfortunately any rhino are long gone from this
area after intensive poaching.
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| Birdlife
is extremely good and you can expect to see
pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers and many types
of eagles.
SEASONS
Rainy Season: The long hot
and humid rainy period starts around April and
lasts until June, then the short rains come
during the warm months of November and December.
Dry Season: January through
to March are hot and dry, while July to October
are warm and dry. The warm dry season is the
best for game viewing and for personal comfort.
AMBOSELI
SPECIALITIES
· Majestic Mt Kilimanjaro
backdrop
· Large herds of elephants
· Big old tuskers
· Contemporary Maasai
Culture
FACTS
Altitude is between 3,900-4,500 feet (1,189-1,372
metres)
The park encompasses an area of 151miles²
(392km²)
The park first opened in 1948
This is a malarial area.
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Follow the links below to Kenya's premier wildlife regions
and game reserves
PRIVATE
SAFARI LODGES WE RECOMMEND IN THE AMBOSELI REGION |
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