Amboseli National Park
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Amboseli, “Salty Dust” in Maasai, is famous for its scenic beauty, with Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain dominating the view.
- ALTITUDE: 3,900 – 4,500 FT
- AREA: 392 SQ. KMS.
- DISTANCE FROM NAIROBI: 265 KMS.
- OPENED: APRIL 1948
- MT. KILIMANJARO – AFRICA’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN (5,894 M. – 19,340 FT.)
Mt. Kilimanjaro spewed out volcanic ash over a millennium ago, causing thick fine dust. But despite its dry and dusty appearance there is an endless water supply which filters through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro’s ice cap. These underground streams converge into two clear water springs in the heart of the park.
Amboseli National Park is made up of five wildlife habitats and a generally dry lake bed – which during the dry season shimmers with mirages.
The open plains, rocky, lava strewn thorn-bush, swamps and marshes and large stretches of yellow-barked acacias are home to animals such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, giraffe, and huge herds of elephant – the bulls having some of the largest tusks in Kenya.
Lion, leopard, cheetah and caracal can also be seen, along with the Gerenuk, or “Giraffe-necked Antelope” and the Fringe-eared Oryx.
Rare birds such as the Taita Falcon and Southern Banded Harrier Eagle live here and birdwatchers enjoy pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, African Fish Eagle, marshal Eagle and the Pigmy Falcon.
