AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Amboseli National Park , at the foot of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, is one of Kenya 's most popular national parks.  It lies 150 miles south-east of Nairobi , very close to the Tanzania border. The snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds dominates every aspect of Amboseli.

Established as a national park in 1974 it covers 150sq miles and supports a wide range of mammals (well over 50 of the larger species) and birds (over 400 species). Years ago this was the locale around which such famous writers as Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark spun their stories of big game hunting in the wilds of Africa .

The park encompasses dry lake beds, savannah woodland and extensive swamps constantly fed by springs emanating from the mountain. The water and seasonal lakes attract a wide variety of bird and animal life, in particular herds of elephant.  Amboseli is one of the best parks in Africa to observe family groups of elephants and large bull elephants at close quarters.