WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOUDrinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stayovernight. Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen and guidebooks.

PLEASE RESPECT THE WILDLIFE CODERespect the privacy of the wildlife, this is their habitat.Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable.Don't crowd the animals or make sudden noises or movements.Don't feed the animals, it upsets their diet and leads to human dependence.Keep quiet, noise disturbs the wildlife and may antagonize your fellow visitors.Stay in your vehicle at all times, except at designated picnic or walking areas.Keep below the maximum speed limit (40 kph/25 mph).Never drive off-road, this severely damages the habitat.When viewing wildlife keep to a minimum distance of 20 meters andpull to the side of the road so as to allow others to pass.Leave no litter and never leave fires unattended or discard burning objects.Respect the cultural heritage of Kenya, never take pictures of the localpeople or their habitat without asking their permission, respect thecultural traditions of Kenya and always dress with decorum.Stay over or leave before dusk, visitors must vacate the Park between7.00pm - 6.00am unless they are camping overnight. Night game drivingis not allowed.

HOW TO GET THERERoadsThe main road into the Park is from Nairobi are via Namanga (240km) on theNairobi - Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmac upto Namangabut is badly corrugated and potholed in places from Namanga to Meshanani Gate(75km). The other road and via Emali (228km) on the Nairobi - Mombasa Road.The road is tarmac up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64km)Access from Mombasa is mainly through TsavoWest via Kimana (Olkelunyiet)Gate. Park gate the park has five gates: kelunyuet, Iremito, IImeshanan, kitiruaand airstrip.

ByairAirstrip the park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. Otherairstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo lodge and Namanga town.

OpenDaily 6.00am-6.00pm including public holidays. Note: no entry is allowed on footand visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm.

Current entry chargesObtainable via kws HQTel: +254(20)6000800, 6002345.Email: marketing@kws.go.ke. website.www.kws.go.ke

Safari card required?Entry is by safari card only. Safari card may be obtained and loaded at the Nairobipark main gate offlangata road. Safari card may be loaded atthe Meshananigate, Amboseli National Park.

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE PARKS AND RESERVES• ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK. AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK. ARABUKO SOKOKE NATIONAL RESERVE.

• CENTRAL &I SOUTHERN ISLAND NATIONAL PARK. CHYUlU Huts NATIONAL PARK.

• HELLS GATE NATIONAL PARK. KAKAMEGA FOREST NATIONAL RESERVE. KISITE MpUNGUTI MARINE PARK •

• KISUMU IMPALA SANCTUARY. KIUNGA NATIONAL MARINE RESERVE. KORA NATIONAL PARK.

• LAKE NAKURU NATIONAl PARK' MAUNDI MARINE NATIONAL PARK.

• MARS"BIT NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE. MERU NATIONAL PARK. MOM BAS" MARINE NATIONAL PARK.

• MOMBASA MARINE RESERVE. MOUNT ELeoN NATIONAL PARK.

• MT. KENVA NATIONAL PARK I MT. LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK I MWEA NATIONAL RESERVE I

I NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK. NAIROBI SAFARI WALK" ORPHANAGE. NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK.

I OL DON YO SABUK NATIONAL PARK I RUMA NATIONAL PARK. SAIWA SWAMP NATIONAL PARK.

• SHIMBA HILLS NATIONAL RESERVE I SIBllOI NATIONAL PARK. TANA RIVER PRIMATE RESERVE I

• TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK. TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK. WATAMU MARINE NATIONAL RESERVE.

KENYA~WILDLIFE "

SERVICE nMarketing & Business DevelopmentP.O.Box 40241 - 00100 Nairobi Kenya.

Tel: +254 (020) 6000800, 6002345 Fax:+254 (020) 6007024ISDN:+254 (020) 399 2000

Telkom Wireless:+254 (020) 2379407/8/9, 2379410/1/3/4/5/6

Mobile Numbers:+254 (0) 726610508/9,735663421,736663400Email: marketing@kws.go.ke·www.kws.go.ke

www.kws.go.ke

AMBOSELINATIONAL PARK

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

KILIMAJARO'S ROYALCOURTAmboseli lies North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Itwas established as a reserve in 1968 and Gazetted as a National Park in 1974.The Park covers 390.26sq.km', and forms part of the much larger 3,000sq.Km'Amboseli ecosystem. large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dryseason, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6communally owned group ranches.The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acaciawoodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers partof a pleistocene lake basin, now dry.Within this basin is a temporary lake, lake Amboseli, that floods during yearsof heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenicbeauty - the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro and floating elephantswithin the swamps.

WHAT TO SEEMt. KilimanjaroVisit Amboseli National Park for fantastic views of Kilimanjaro the highestfreestanding mountain in Africa rising at 5,896m above the sea level. Its snowcapped summit dominates the landscape and on clear day is easily visibleduring early morning and afternoon. It is a superb backdrop for wildlifephotographs

Herds of Elephants against the backdrop ofMt. KilimanjaroThe park provides a unique habitat for approximately one thousand elephants.View visitors will go home without superb elephant images beneathMt.kilimanjaro.

The SwampsThe enkongo Narok swamps and other permanent swamps, which divide thegrey landscape into broad swatches, are favored resort for buffalo, hippo andelephant. Close by graze groups of zebra, wildebeest and impala while numerousbirds feed, breed and nest in the lush vegetation. look out for graceful crownedCranes, the long-necked Africa's Darter, and kingfishers. Egyptians geese arealmost certain to be with a variety of ducts and plovers.

Observation Hill-NomatiorFrom the observation Hill there is a panoramic view of most of the parks andclimbing is worth the effort. It was inhabited many years ago by the hunters andgatherers people-the Ndorobo. Signs and traces of their property andimplements have been found here giving rise to the Maasai name nomatior;the place of pottery.

01TukaiThe heart of Amboseli woodland of'yellow fever trees' and the doum palmknown as 01 Tukai by the Maasai and Makindu in Swahili. A cool oasis of trees,01 Tukai is a retreat for wildlife and greatly favored by elephants.

ACTIVITIES OPTIONPublic campsiteOl-kinyei public campsites are near the parks headquarters with running water.latrine, showers, firewood and kitchen.

Picnic siteApicnic site (observation point) with view points, shade, nature trail, latrine.

WHAT TO TAKEWITH YOUDrinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intent to stayovernight. Also useful are: binoculars, cameras, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses andguidebooks.

FACT FILEAltitude: 1150 meters sea level

Area: 390.26km'Location: loitoktok District, Riftvalley Province

Distancefrom Nairobi:250 kmGazetted: October 1974Climate: The climate is mainly hot and dry.Amboseli is in the rain shadow of

Mt. Kilimanjaro.The maximum average temperature of the warmestmonth is 33'C during the day, while that ofthe coldest is 27-28'C.Anannual rainfall of 300mm per annum is distributed in two seasons:April/Mayand November/December. Recurrent droughts and potentialevaporation of 2200mm per annum typifies the region (KWS,1991).

Vegetation: Swamps are dominated by Papyrus and CyperusImmenses, the dominantplant species are Sporobolus, in the grassland, Acaciain woodland, andSuaeda Monica in the bush land,

Wildlife: Elephants estimated at approximately 1500, buffaloes estimatedat approximately 472, lions estimated at approximately 40.

Reptiles: Monitorlizards,Chameleons,EgyptianCobra,Python,PuffAdder,BlackMamba.Birds: more 400 recorded species

Features: Arid wildlife species, ice capped Mt. Kilimanjaro, salty dustwith mirages, permanent swamps, observation point.

Roads: Viewing roads network covers the park adequately. Many ofthe park viewing roads are not usable during the rains and because of theloose ashy nature of volcanic soil, the roads become very dusty during thedry season.

WHERE TO STAYLODGESAND TENTED CAMPSTortillas Camp, Cheli & Peacock,Tel: +254(20)603090/6040/4, Fax +254(20)604050, 603066E-mail: safaris@cheliandpeacock.co.ke

Outside the park are several camps and lodges, including the well known TortilisEco-lodge, KiboTented Camp, Mada Hotels.

KWS SELF-CATERINGACCOMMODATIONThere is a selection of 5 economically priced KWSself-catering 'bandas' (offeredinclusive of bedding, towels, cooking equipment, bathrooms, showers andcommunal eating area). The self-catering 'bandas' are Kilimanjaro, Kibo, Simba,Nyati and Chui.

Reservations are made through the Warden or KWSHQ,Nairobi.Tel: +254 (0) 20 600800, 602345· Email: marketing@kws.go.keWebsite: www.kws.go.ke

WHEN TO GOThe Park is Accessible on 2WD between April-Oct. It is Accessible on 4WDbetween Oct-March on all roads.