www.kws.go.ke
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay
overnight. Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen and guidebooks.
AMBOSELI
NATIONAL PARK
PLEASE RESPECT THE WILDLIFE CODE
Respect the privacy of the wildlife, this is their habitat.
Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable.
Don't crowd the animals or make sudden noises or movements.
Don't feed the animals, it upsets their diet and leads to human dependence.
Keep quiet, noise disturbs the wildlife and may antagonize your fellow visitors.
Stay in your vehicle at all times, except at designated picnic or walking areas.
Keep below the maximum speed limit (40 kph/25 mph).
Never drive off-road, this severely damages the habitat.
When viewing wildlife keep to a minimum distance of 20 meters and
pull to the side of the road so as to allow others to pass.
Leave no litter and never leave fires unattended or discard burning objects.
Respect the cultural heritage of Kenya, never take pictures of the local
people or their habitat without asking their permission, respect the
cultural traditions of Kenya and always dress with decorum.
Stay over or leave before dusk, visitors must vacate the Park between
7.00pm - 6.00am unless they are camping overnight. Night game driving
is not allowed.
KENYA WILDLIFE
• ABERDARE
HOW TO GET THERE
Roads
The main road into the Park is from Nairobi are via Namanga (240km) on the
Nairobi - Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmac upto Namanga
but is badly corrugated and potholed in places from Namanga to Meshanani Gate
(75km). The other road and via Emali (228km) on the Nairobi - Mombasa Road.
The road is tarmac up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64km)
Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet)
Gate. Park gate the park has five gates: kelunyuet, Iremito, IImeshanan, kitirua
and airstrip.
Byair
Airstrip the park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. Other
airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo lodge and Namanga town.
Open
Daily 6.00am-6.00pm including public holidays. Note: no entry is allowed on foot
and visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm.
Current entry charges
Obtainable via kws HQTel: +254(20)6000800, 6002345.
Email: [email protected]. website.www.kws.go.ke
Safari card required?
Entry is by safari card only. Safari card may be obtained and loaded at the Nairobi
park main gate offlangata road. Safari card may be loaded atthe Meshanani
gate, Amboseli National Park.
NATIONAL
NATIONAL
• KISUMU
PARK.
KAKAMEGA
NATIONAL
• MT. KENVA
NAIROBI
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Marketing & Business Development
P.O.Box 40241 - 00100 Nairobi Kenya.
Tel: +254 (020) 6000800, 6002345 Fax:+254 (020) 6007024
ISDN:+254 (020) 399 2000
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RESERVE
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Mobile Numbers:
+254 (0) 726610508/9,735663421,736663400
Email: [email protected]·www.kws.go.ke
PARK.
PARK.
RIVER PRIMATE
Telkom Wireless:
+254 (020) 2379407/8/9, 2379410/1/3/4/5/6
PARK •
PARK.
PARK.
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TSAVO WEST
NATIONAL
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KORA NATIONAL
MOM BAS" MARINE
NATIONAL
RESERVE.
PARK.
KISITE MpUNGUTI
RESERVE.
MARINE
NATIONAL
NATIONAL
PARK.
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RUMA
RESERVE.
MARINE
MAUNDI
RESERVE.
SAFARI
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NATIONAL
MT. LONGONOT
NAIROBI
ARABUKO
PARK. CHYUlU
NATIONAL
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MARINE
PARK.
OL DON YO SABUK
• SHIMBA
FOREST
PARK & RESERVE.
• MOMBASA
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SANCTUARY. KIUNGA
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• LAKE NAKURU
• MARS"BIT
SERVICE PARKS AND RESERVES
AMBOSELI
&I SOUTHERN ISLAND NATIONAL
• CENTRAL
• HELLS GATE
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AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
FACT FILE
The Swamps
The enkongo Narok swamps and other permanent swamps, which divide the
grey landscape into broad swatches, are favored resort for buffalo, hippo and
elephant. Close by graze groups of zebra, wildebeest and impala while numerous
birds feed, breed and nest in the lush vegetation. look out for graceful crowned
Cranes, the long-necked Africa's Darter, and kingfishers. Egyptians geese are
almost certain to be with a variety of ducts and plovers.
Observation Hill-Nomatior
From the observation Hillthere is a panoramic view of most of the parks and
climbing is worth the effort. It was inhabited many years ago by the hunters and
gatherers people-the Ndorobo. Signs and traces of their property and
implements have been found here giving rise to the Maasai name nomatior;
the place of pottery.
KILIMAJARO'S ROYALCOURT
Amboseli lies North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. It
was established as a reserve in 1968 and Gazetted as a National Park in 1974.
The Park covers 390.26sq.km', and forms part of the much larger 3,000sq.Km'
Amboseli ecosystem. large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry
season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6
communally owned group ranches.
The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia
woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part
of a pleistocene lake basin, now dry.
Within this basin is a temporary lake, lake Amboseli, that floods during years
of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic
beauty - the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro and floating elephants
within the swamps.
WHAT TO SEE
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Visit Amboseli National Park for fantastic views of Kilimanjaro the highestfree
standing mountain in Africa rising at 5,896m above the sea level. Its snow
capped summit dominates the landscape and on clear day is easily visible
during early morning and afternoon. It is a superb backdrop for wildlife
photographs
Herds of Elephants against the backdrop of
Mt. Kilimanjaro
The park provides a unique habitat for approximately one thousand elephants.
View visitors will go home without superb elephant images beneath
Mt.kilimanjaro.
01 Tukai
The heart of Amboseli woodland of'yellow fever trees' and the doum palm
known as 01 Tukai by the Maasai and Makindu in Swahili. A cool oasis of trees,
01 Tukai is a retreat for wildlife and greatly favored by elephants.
ACTIVITIES OPTION
Public campsite
Ol-kinyei public campsites are near the parks headquarters with running water.
latrine, showers, firewood and kitchen.
Picnic site
A picnic site (observation point) with view points, shade, nature trail, latrine.
WHAT TO TAKEWITH YOU
Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intent to stay
overnight. Also useful are: binoculars, cameras, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and
guidebooks.
Altitude: 1150 meters sea level
Area: 390.26km'
Location: loitoktok District, Riftvalley Province
Distancefrom Nairobi:250 km
Gazetted: October 1974
Climate: The climate is mainly hot and dry. Amboseli is in the rain shadow of
Mt. Kilimanjaro.The maximum average temperature of the warmest
month is 33'C during the day, while that ofthe coldest is 27-28'C.
Anannual rainfall of 300mm per annum is distributed in two seasons:
April/Mayand November/December. Recurrent droughts and potential
evaporation of 2200mm per annum typifies the region (KWS,1991).
Vegetation: Swamps are dominated by Papyrus and CyperusImmenses, the dominant
plant species are Sporobolus, in the grassland, Acaciain woodland, and
Suaeda Monica in the bush land,
Wildlife: Elephants estimated at approximately 1500, buffaloes estimated
at approximately 472, lions estimated at approximately 40.
Reptiles: Monitorlizards,Chameleons,EgyptianCobra,Python,PuffAdder,BlackMamba.
Birds: more 400 recorded species
Features: Arid wildlife species, ice capped Mt. Kilimanjaro, salty dust
with mirages, permanent swamps, observation point.
Roads: Viewingroads network covers the park adequately. Many of
the park viewing roads are not usable during the rains and because of the
loose ashy nature of volcanic soil, the roads become very dusty during the
dry season.
WHERE TO STAYLODGESAND TENTED CAMPS
Tortillas Camp, Cheli & Peacock,
Tel: +254(20)603090/6040/4,
Fax +254(20)604050,
E-mail: [email protected]
603066
Outside the park are several camps and lodges, including the well known Tortilis
Eco-lodge, KiboTented Camp, Mada Hotels.
KWS SELF-CATERINGACCOMMODATION
There is a selection of 5 economically priced KWSself-catering 'bandas' (offered
inclusive of bedding, towels, cooking equipment, bathrooms, showers and
communal eating area). The self-catering 'bandas' are Kilimanjaro, Kibo, Simba,
Nyati and Chui.
Reservations are made through the Warden or KWSHQ,Nairobi.
Tel: +254 (0) 20 600800, 602345· Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kws.go.ke
WHEN TO GO
The Park is Accessible on 2WD between April-Oct. It is Accessible on 4WD
between Oct-March on all roads.