Amboseli National Park is a bit of a hidden gem in Kenya. And it’s often overlooked by tourists in favor of the more famous Masai Mara National Park (also in Kenya) or Serengeti in Tanzania. Which is a shame. Amboseli was one of our favorite safaris we’ve ever done because it’s home to the largest population of African elephants in the world.
Plus, the view from here of Mount Kilimanjaro is amazing! It’s definitely one of the most picturesque national parks in Africa!
You’ve clicked on this blog as you’re wondering if an Amboseli National Park safari is worth doing! And the answer is yes, of course. But let me explain in more detail why this less-crowded National Park is worth adding to your Kenya itinerary. We added a safari in Amboseli National Park to our Africa Honeymoon Itinerary. And man, are we glad we did!
Set against Africa’s highest mountain – Mt Kilimanjaro, which makes for a spectacular backdrop for Amboseli National Park. Covering almost 400 sqm, it’s regarded as one of the best National Parks in Africa for wildlife viewing. This is due to its low rainfall and high concentration of animals.
In short, a safari in Amboseli is less popular and will feel less crowded than Kenya’s more famous national park, the Masai Mara. Plus, it has an abundance of elephants (we saw over 100 in one day!!)
Where is Amboseli National Park?
Amboseli National Park is located in Kenya, the closest major city to the park is Nairobi.
Amboseli National Park is situated about 240 km southeast of Nairobi. It is easily reached by car from Nairobi – taking approximately 3 hours door to door.
Or why not catch the very clean and very safe train from Nairobi to nearby Emali like we did. Your hotel in Amboseli will likely be able to pick you up from Emali train station – as long as you request it in advance. There will be a small fee for them to do this.
What is the best place to stay in Amboseli National Park?
We spent two nights in total at Amboseli, we stayed at the very unique Maasai Simba Camp. Located on the outskirts of the National Park. Maasai Simba Camp is run by the local Maasai people. It was one of the best and most authentic experiences of our entire month-long tour of Africa.
Your accommodation here is a basic wooden cabin but very clean and comfortable. Featuring your own private bathroom with a hot shower. All of your meals are included, but the best part for us was that staying here offered us a unique glimpse into life as a Maasai.
The package we booked with Simba Camp included a sunset walking safari, a full day in Amboseli National Park with a driver/guide and a packed lunch, a jewelry-making session with the Masai women, and a sunrise walking safari.
All of the profits from Simba Camp go towards helping the local community, and you can see the positive effect of the Camp when you drive through the village. We highly recommend staying at Maasai Simba Camp to anyone who wants to experience something a little different.
If you want luxury whilst staying in Amboseli National Park – then you need to book the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. This large 4-star Lodge is just meters from the Park’s entrance gate and features an outdoor pool, bar, and restaurant. If you’re on a budget the Amboseli Eco Camp is cheap and highly recommended by past guests.
You can search and book all available accommodation options in Amboseli National Park here. There are just 13 properties in Amboseli National Park so be sure to book early –
Amboseli National Park has the largest population of African elephants of any place on earth!
Yep, Amboseli National Park has the largest population of African elephants of any place on earth!
In fact, it is estimated that over 1,600 African elephants live in Amboseli. Not only this, but some of the biggest elephants live here, too, both in body and tusk size. This fact alone was what piqued my interest in Amboseli in the first place, as elephants are my favorite animals.
So, if you love elephants (like me), then you must add a safari in Amboseli National Park to your Africa bucket list.
What can you expect to see on an average day on safari in Amboseli?
From our personal experience, spending just one full day on safari in Amboseli we saw countless African elephants (easily 100 or more). We also saw numerous buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, impala and warthog. And never far away from their prey – were hyenas, jackals, and serval cats.
Towards the end of our tour, our driver spotted three lion cubs without their mother. This was clearly a rarity. The excitement was evident as dozens of cars pulled up to watch these babies.
We broke our long day up nicely with a stop at Observation Hill for a picnic. Observation Hill has a fantastic vantage point of the swam. From here, you can watch huge African elephants wading through the grassy green water, cooling down and eating the surrounding plants.
The Best Tours of Amboseli National Park
You can book a number of guided tours from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, below I’ve posted the best ones as well as the one we did –
Our favorite tour – this 3 day 2 night Amboseli safari
This 3-day-2-night safari tour is private – which means that you won’t have to share this experience with anyone else! That made it all the more magical for us!
It’s also all-inclusive, so conveniently, all your accommodation, all meals, and national park fees are included. It costs from $935 USD per person – which is great value considering all it includes! During the 3 days, you’ll visit 5 different habitats within Amboseli, from the savannah to sulfur springs – which increases your chances of spotting wildlife significantly.
During the 3 days, we were lucky enough to see lots of elephants, numerous buffalo, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, and hyenas!
Handily, airport transfers or pick-up from the Tanzanian border are included in the rate, too. You’ll also get to visit a local Maasai village during the tour. Which was a real eye-opening experience for us.
BOOK your 3-day 2-night Amboseli Safari Tour here!
Cheapest overnight option – Overnight tour to Amboseli from Nairobi
This two-day one-night tour to Amboseli from Nairobi includes all entrance fees and one night full board accommodation. You’ll get to go on two game drives during the two days – which opens up your chances of seeing the big 5. The more time in the park, the more likely you are to spot hard-to-see animals like serval cats.
The tour through the park takes place in a pop-up van. This particular tour costs $345 USD per person, and pick-up from most hotels in Nairobi or the airport is included in the price.
BOOK your Two Day One Night Tour to Amboseli here!
If you’re short on time – This day-trip tour from Nairobi to Amboseli
If you’re short on time, you can book a day-trip to Amboseli from Nairobi. This includes transport in a van with a pop-up roof through the park (it is easier to spot all the animals that way), lunch at a lodge, and all entrance fees. Keep in mind this is a 13-14 hour day, so may be tiring!
It costs only $170 USD per person, which is a steal of a deal in our opinion! It also picks up from most hotels in Nairobi and includes a stop at a local Maasai village.
BOOK your one-day Amboseli Safari Tour here!
See more awesome tours of Amboseli National Park here:
How many days do you need in Amboseli?
My best advice is to book a 3-day 2-night tour to Amboseli. The National Park is pretty small (just 400 square meters) in comparison to much larger parks like Serengeti and Masai Mara, therefore you are likely to see everything you planned in three days.
It’s also not too far of a drive to Nairobi from Amboseli, so you don’t need to spend longer here to recover from a long travel journey.
How much does a safari to Amboseli cost?
For a 2-day 1-night tour expect to pay from $345 USD total per person. While, for a private 3-day 2-night tour expect to pay from $935 USD per person. For a day-trip to Amboseli from Nairobi you will likely pay $170 USD per person.
How does Amboseli compare to more popular parks like the Serengeti?
We were lucky enough to experience our honeymoon in Serengeti and Amboseli on this trip. Honestly, it’s very difficult to compare them as they are two very different safari experiences.
Firstly, Serengeti is huge – there is no way you could spend just a day in the Serengeti. The area is so large, and each part of the park is very different, with different animals to see in each part. We actually did 3 full days of Safari in Serengeti, as this is what all the safari companies recommended. We’re so glad we listened to their advice.
We could have spent longer in the Serengeti if I’m honest. So, if you’re short on time and still want a fantastic wildlife viewing experience, then Amboseli will be better suited for you.
Is Amboseli National Park worth visiting?
Back to my first question in this piece – is a safari in Amboseli National Park worth it? Yes, it definitely is, especially if you’re after a safari experience away from the crowds that Serengeti and Maasai Mara attract. If you love elephants – you will easily see, as I did over 100 in a day. From huge bull elephants to the cutest baby elephants.
Are you after a National Park that’s not too difficult to get to? Perfect – Amboseli is just over 3 hours in a car from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. You can book a professional guide and driver to take you from Nairobi to Amboseli, which is surprisingly reasonably priced at around $150 USD per person!
Thanks for reading my blog!
We also did gorilla trekking in Uganda and visited the stunning island of Zanzibar on our honeymoon. We visited the famed Rock Restaurant on Zanzibar – be sure to read about our experience there! You can also read about how to climb Kilimanjaro! It was honestly the best travel experience of our lives to date!
Tell me have you visited Amboseli National Park? I would love to hear your thoughts on it in the comment section below.
Like this post? PIN IT for later!
Last Updated on March 12, 2025 by snaphappytravel
2 thoughts on “My Top Tips for Planning a Safari in Amboseli National Park in Kenya”
Amboseli is home to the few world’s remaining big Tuskers. Visiting is one way of ensuring that there protection continues.
What a delightful post – I havent explored this region at all; not even on a bucket list. Loved all the pics you have shared here.