Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is famous for its free-roaming elephants; there are over nine hundred in the park. Visitors will also see many other animals such as lions, zebra, monkeys, giraffes, antelope and hyenas. The area was declared to be a reserve in 1968, and attained national park status in 1974. In 2005, the president transferred control of the park from Kenya's Wildlife Service to the county council and the Masai tribe. This decision is still being contested in the courts because it could affect the way other Kenyan parks are run.
Amboseli National Park covers just over one hundred fifty square miles, and has a topography that's a mixture of acacia trees, thornbushes, plains and marshland. The diversity of the terrain along with the long dry season means that there are abundant chances to see the wildlife of Africa. The park offers a breathtaking view of Mount Kilimanjaro, and there is also a dry lake basin which temporarily fills during the rainy season.
Amboseli National Park offers some of the continent's best wildlife viewing due to the lack of vegetation, and when you arrive, the game warden will tell you to stay in your vehicle except in certain spots, to not harass the animals, to stay on the beaten path, and to let animals have the right of way. Amboseli's roads are loose and dusty in the dry season, and almost impassable during the rainy season. Kenyan wildlife safaris are almost invariably hot, so be sure to wear a hat and some comfortable, cool clothing. Don't forget to bring sunglasses, binoculars, a camera and plenty of water.
Like most of Africa, the climate in Amboseli National Park is dry and hot. It is in Mount Kilimanjaro's rain shadow, on the mountain's northwest side- daily temperatures only vary by a few degrees throughout the year. The average temperature can range from 27 to 33 degrees Celsius. Drought is too common in this area, and standing water quickly evaporates. The park only gets 300 millimeters of rain during the short wet seasons of April-May and November-December.