AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK.

KILIMANJARO'S ROYAL COURT

Amboseli National Park lies North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. It was established as a Reserve in 1968 and Gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers an area of 390.26 sq. km, and forms part of the much larger 3000 sq. km, Amboseli ecosystem. Large cncentrations 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 bushland, swamps and marshland) and covers part of the 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 Mount Kilimanjaro and 'floating' elephants within the swamps

There is so much to see at the Amboseli. The fantastic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest Mountain in Africa rising to 5896m above sea level. Its snow capped summit dominates the landscape and on a clear day visible during early morning and late afternoon. It is a superb backdrop for wildlife photographers. The park provides a unique habitat for approximately one thousand elephants. Few visitors will go home without superb elephant images beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Enkongo Narok swamp and other permanent swamps, which divide the grey landscapes into broad green swatches, are favourd resorts for buffalo hippo and elephants. Close by, groups of grazing zebra,wildebeest and impala as well as numerous birds feed,breed and nest in the lush vegetation. Look out for graceful Crowned Cranes, the Long Necked Africa's Darter and Kingfisher. Egyptian geese are almost certain to be the variety of ducks and plovers.

From the observation hill, there is a panoramic view of most of the park and the short climb is worth the effort in the end. It was inhabited many years ago by the hunter-gatherer people-the Ndorobo. Signs and traces of their pottery and implements have been found here giving rise to the Maasai name 'nomatior', the place of pottery. The heart of Amboseli woodland of 'yellow fever trees' and the doum palm known as 'Ol' Tukai ' by the Maasai and 'Makindu' by the Swahili.A cool oasis of tree, Ol Tukai is a retreat for wildlife and greatly favoured by elephants.