Amboseli

Amboseli National Park offers one of Africa’s most iconic vistas — vast herds of elephants with the largest tusks on the continent silhouetted against the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. This relatively compact park in southern Kenya punches far above its weight in terms of wildlife spectacle and photographic opportunity.

Famous for its elephant research led by Cynthia Moss since 1972, Amboseli is home to some of the last remaining “super tusker” elephants, whose enormous ivory tusks nearly touch the ground. These gentle giants roam freely across the park’s diverse habitats, from dried lake beds and dusty plains to lush swamps fed by Kilimanjaro’s underground meltwater. The swamps create a permanent water source that attracts huge concentrations of wildlife even in the driest months.

Beyond elephants, Amboseli supports healthy populations of lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and hippo. The park is also a birding paradise, with over 400 species recorded including flamingos, pelicans, and numerous raptors. Observation Hill provides a panoramic viewpoint over the entire park and the marshlands below, offering perspective on this remarkable ecosystem.