Home > Facts > National Parks Facts > Amboseli National Park Facts

Amboseli National Park Facts

Amboseli National Park Facts
Amboseli National Park is a 151 square mile park located in Kajiado County, Kenya, formerly called Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve. The first known European to enter the Maasai region was Joseph Thompson, in 1883. In 1906 Amboseli designated the 'Southern Reserve' but in 1948 it was returned to Game Reserve status. In 1974 Amboseli National Park was established and in 1991 it was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Amboseli is considered to be one of the world's optimal places for viewing wildlife. Amboseli National Park protects the wildlife and the ecosystem that makes up the park that extends out of the park and across the border into Tanzania.
Interesting Amboseli National Park Facts:
The word 'amboseli' is derived from the Maasai language and it means 'salty dust.'
Amboseli National Park is considered to be Africa's best spot for viewing free-range elephants.
The park is considered to be one of the most popular parks in Kenya due to its views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the huge elephant herds that live in its boundaries.
Amboseli National Park is made up of several distinct habitats. They include savannah, woodlands, wetlands, and the mostly dried up Lake Amboseli. 10,000 years ago the lake was a permanent lake at least 40 meters in depth. It is small and only seasonal today.
Visitors to Amboseli National Park can enjoy amazing views of the world's highest free-standing mountain - Mount Kilimanjaro, which is located in the distance.
Wildlife that can be seen in Amboseli National Park includes blue wildebeests, plains zebras, Maasai giraffes, elephants, Cape buffalos, Maasai lions, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, impalas, wild dogs, crocodiles, nocturnal porcupines, gazelles, rhinos, hippos, mongooses, hyraxes, dik-diks, lesser kudus, and many others.
Amboseli National Park contains more than 600 bird species. Some of these species include cranes, at least 47 raptor species, water birds, pelicans, hammerkops, Madagascar pong herons, lesser flamingoes, shoebills, lesser kestrels, and kingfishers.
Migratory birds travel through Amboseli National Park from October the January, making this a popular time for bird watching.
Temperatures in Amboseli National Park range from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Between March and April the region experiences longer rains and between November and December the region experiences shorter rains.
Amboseli National Park is located over a natural underground water system that filters water in the volcanic rock. This clean water is then fed into springs in the center of the park.
At times Amboseli National Park can experience drought, or too much water. In the 1990s the park almost became a swamp because of the rain that would not quit.
The Maasai people still live around the park and those that choose to visit the area can also get a taste of the authentic culture of the region's Native people.
While visitors to Amboseli National Park are usually not permitted to leave their vehicle because of the dangers associated with the wildlife, they can get out at Observation Hill - which is a pyramid shaped hill that provides an excellent view of the surroundings.
The best time to view elephants is in the evening or in the early morning, when they tend to graze.


Related Links:
Facts
National Parks Facts
Animals Facts