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| Amboseli
National Reserve - Basic Facts |
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Size:
392 sq kms
Province: Rift Valley
District:
Kajiado
Geographical Location: On
the Tanzanian border north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Altitude: Up to 1,155m
Bird Life: More than
425 recorded species.
Visitor Facilities: Four
lodges and several campsites.
Vegetation: Semi-arid
acacias and grasses papyrus sedges in the swamp lands.
Fauna: Fifty-six species
of mammal including baboon, vervet monkey, lion, cheetah,
elephant, zebra, hippo, black rhino, Maasai oryx, wildebeest,
gerenuk, impala and gazelle. |
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| Amboseli
National Reserve - General Information |
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| Amboseli National Reserve
(formerly Amboseli National Park), located at the foot of
Africa's highest mountain, 5895-meter Mount Kilimanjaro,
is one of the most popular of Kenya's national parks. Amboseli
National Reserve (formerly Amboseli National Park) lies
some 240 kilometers south-east of Nairobi very close to
the Tanzania border. The snow- capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro
rising above a saucer of clouds dominates every aspect of
Amboseli. Amboseli was gazetted as a national park in 1974;
it covers only 392 square kilometers but despite its small
size and its fragile ecosystem it supports a wide range
of mammals, well over 50 of the larger species, and birds
with over 400 species.
Amboseli National Reserve lies
immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border
with Tanzania. Amboseli was established as a reserve in
1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park
covers 392 km2, and forms part of the much larger 3,000
Km2 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 on the Tanzania side but best seen
from Kenya side.
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| Accessibility
to the Reserve |
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The main route into the park
is along the C103 from Namanga, on the Nairobi - Arusha
(Tanzania) road, via Meshanani Gate. This road is
badly corrugated and potholed in places. It is also
possible to enter via Kelonyeti Gate on the C103 from
the Chyulu Gate in Tsavo West National Park. Lemito
Gate can be accessed from a road which joins the C102
road from Sultan
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| Hamud on the main Nairobi
- Mombasa road. The track from Namanga to Kitirua Gate goes
through Tanzania and is not presently used. Buses from Nairobi
go as far as Namanga, and hitching would be necessary to
get into the National Park. This is usually difficult, as
most vehicles entering the park are safari company minibuses
and walking within the park is prohibited. |
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| Lodging
& Camping in Amboseli |
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Lodging in the Amboseli National
Reserve includes the Amboseli Serena Lodge with 182
beds, the Amboseli Lodge with 240 beds and the Kilimanjaro
Safari Lodge, also with 240 beds. Outside of the park,
the Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge offers 200 beds while
the Kimana Lodge has 112 beds for visitors. The campsites
in Amboseli National Park are run by Masaai communities.
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Although they are technically
just outside of the park boundary, they can only be accessed
from within the park. Payments are made directly to the
Masaai communities.There is only one Public Campsite in
Amboseli, sometimes referred to as the Group Ranch. It is
quite large but popular with low-budget camping safari companies
so that it can get rather crowded and noisy at times.
This site is just outside of the park boundary, south-west
of Observation Hill. There are pit toilets here and a water
supply which is not always reliable, so water has to be
brought from one of the lodges at times. The special Nairushari
Campsite is used by higher budget camping safari companies,
located in a secluded site through the south-west corner
of the park near Ilmbireshari Hill. There is firewood here,
but bring your own food and water. |
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| Further
Information and Booking |
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| AfriChoice operates
a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to
Mt. Kenya National Park by providing transport and booking
hotels for you. Our safari consultants will always be at
your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to
this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding
this topic, DO NOT hesitate to contact
us. |
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| Related
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