Amboseli
Kenya
Home to free-ranging elephant herds set against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak.
<p>Amboseli National Park occupies a special place in African safari lore: nowhere else on Earth can you photograph enormous free-roaming elephant herds with the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro -- Africa's highest mountain at 5,895 metres -- soaring on the horizon behind them. The park covers 392 square kilometres in southern Kenya, just kilometres from the Tanzanian border, and its flat, open terrain makes for outstanding all-round game viewing with exceptional photographic conditions.</p>
<p>Amboseli's elephant population is one of the best-studied in the world, with researchers having tracked individual families for decades. The elephants here are notably relaxed around safari vehicles, allowing remarkably close encounters. The park's swamps -- fed by underground water filtering through from Kilimanjaro's glaciers -- attract huge concentrations of elephant, buffalo, hippo, and waterbirds, particularly in the dry season (June through October) when water elsewhere is scarce. Over 600 bird species have been recorded in the park. Observation Hill offers a panoramic 360-degree view across the park and is a must-visit at sunset.</p>
<p>The Maasai people are the traditional inhabitants of the Amboseli landscape, and their striking red-robed figures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop are among Africa's most photographed sights. Many lodges facilitate authentic cultural visits to Maasai bomas (homesteads) where you can learn about traditional lifestyle, livestock keeping, and the ceremonies that mark Maasai life. The best Amboseli experience combines early morning and late afternoon game drives -- Kilimanjaro is most visible in the morning before clouds build -- with leisurely sundowners on your lodge deck as the mountain turns pink at dusk.</p>
<p>Amboseli's elephant population is one of the best-studied in the world, with researchers having tracked individual families for decades. The elephants here are notably relaxed around safari vehicles, allowing remarkably close encounters. The park's swamps -- fed by underground water filtering through from Kilimanjaro's glaciers -- attract huge concentrations of elephant, buffalo, hippo, and waterbirds, particularly in the dry season (June through October) when water elsewhere is scarce. Over 600 bird species have been recorded in the park. Observation Hill offers a panoramic 360-degree view across the park and is a must-visit at sunset.</p>
<p>The Maasai people are the traditional inhabitants of the Amboseli landscape, and their striking red-robed figures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop are among Africa's most photographed sights. Many lodges facilitate authentic cultural visits to Maasai bomas (homesteads) where you can learn about traditional lifestyle, livestock keeping, and the ceremonies that mark Maasai life. The best Amboseli experience combines early morning and late afternoon game drives -- Kilimanjaro is most visible in the morning before clouds build -- with leisurely sundowners on your lodge deck as the mountain turns pink at dusk.</p>
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