Amboseli is a place of stark contrast. Meaning "A place of water" in maa, language of the Maasai. Amboseli, despite its sometimes dry and dusty appearance, has an endless water supply filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro's snow melt. These underground streams converge into two clear water springs in the heart of the park. The endemic dust is volcanic ash which spewed from Kilimanjaro a millennia ago. During dry seasons a curious feature is the shimmering dry lake bed where false mirages of populated horizons, punctuated by real herds of zebra and gnu (wildebeest) hover in front of visitors. The principal attraction at Amboseli is its vast herds of elephants. The bulls have some of the largest tusks in Kenya. There are zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and leopard, caracal and serval cat can be seen. Birdwatchers can see pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, African fish eagle, martial eagle and pygmy falcon. Amboseli is an important rangeland in Maasai culture. The ranch areas outside the park offer a wealth of gameviewing and walking safaris. The Kenya Wildlife Community Service works closely with local elders to develop ecotourism attractions which benefit indigenous communities and protect this fragile eco-system. Fact File: - Altitude 3,900 - 4,500ft
- Area 392 sq. ft.
- Distance from Nairobi 135 kms.
- Airstrip
- Opened April 1948
- International bio - sphere reserve
- Unrivalled views of
Mounts Kilimanjaro & Meru - Contemporary Maasai Culture
- Excellent Elephant
& bird viewing - Year round springs
& waterholes
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Amboseli National Park
