Have you been to Amboseli?

Diani Beach is a superb place to holiday, and even better news is:  your beach holiday destination is not far from Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants , Cheetahs and other big game that Kenya is famous for. One can still take 2-3 days off the beach for a proper Safari to the Amboseli National Park.

Set against the backdrop of the towering Kilimanjaro Mountain on the Kenyan – Tanzanian border, Amboseli National Park is one of the Kenyas oldest,  enchanting and unique park.

Besides the magnificent Kilimanjaro Mountain, Amboseli is home to the millions of wildebeests and zebras crossing over to the Maasai Mara in a spectacle that has become an annual ritual and tourist attraction.

However, many other animals are present here including lions, buffaloes, elephants, hippos and over 400 bird species.  Due to conservation efforts, the lion population in Amboseli has grown massively and it is one of the best places to view the majestic cats. The flat grassland plains also make it one of the parks where you are likeliest to witness a high-speed Cheetah hunt

Most notable are the buffaloes, browsing on the vast grasslands oblivious to tour vans that drive close enough for that perfect camera shot. The Elephant population is not to be ignored either as they go about their business. At Amboseli, the Hippos are a sight to behold with their gaping gigantic mouths at Lake Amboseli . If you are lucky, you can move in for a closer look but be cautious since the animal is highly irritable like its cousin the Rhino.

If you are travelling by road from Diani Beach, you can access Amboseli via the Tsavo West National park at the Kimana gate. An alternative route is via the Namanga border where you depart from Nairobi and take the Nairobi – Namanga road for close to 200 km.

You can also fly from the Diani Beach Airport to the National Park  where there are two airstrips; one at the Park headquarters and another at the Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge. There are plenty of light aircraft that chartered by tourists to take them to Amboseli.

Accommodation options are in plenty. You can book into the following privately owned lodges; Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge or the Tortillis Camp. The best thing is that you can do the bookings from Diani Beach. All of the above have splendid park views giving you the opportunity to watch the animals, right in the comfort of the hotel lawns.

For budget travelers, the Park’s managers, Kenya Wildlife Service, runs several affordable accommodations. Guests can stay at the Kilimanjaro Guest House, Kibo Guest House, Simba Bandas, Nyati Bandas or the Chui Bandas.

The climate at the Amboseli is hot and dry all year round with top temperatures of 33°C or lows of 27°C. With such perfect weather conditions the Amboseli is open all year round and the guests have numerous options when they visit.

Put Amboseli National Park in your itinerary and you won’t be disappointed.

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