Amboseli National Park

Quick answer · Updated 28 October 2026

Amboseli is a compact national park of about 392 km² at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), famous for big elephant herds walking across open plains with the mountain behind. From the coast it's usually combined with Tsavo West on a 4-day safari; the Chyulu Gate–Kimana Gate link is about 100 km of sometimes-rough road.

At a glance

Area: ~392 km²^source
Gazetted: 1974^source
Gates: Iremito, Meshanani, Kimana^source
Bird species: Over 400, including about 40 birds of prey^source
Non-resident park fee: USD 90 adult / USD 45 child as of 28 October 2026 · fees & court note

Sights

Observation Hill (Nomatior)

A viewpoint over the swamps and plains.

Swamps and marshes

Permanent water that draws elephants and buffalo.

The Amboseli lake basin

A vast dry lakebed that fills in wet years.

Kilimanjaro views

Clearest early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Best time to visit

Kilimanjaro is clearest early morning and late afternoon.

Getting there

Chyulu Gate → Amboseli (Kimana Gate): ~100 km, ~3 hours, rough dirt road

Park fees

Park	Visitor category	Adult	Child
Amboseli	Non-resident	USD 90	USD 45
	Rest-of-Africa citizen	USD 50	USD 25
	Kenya resident	KES 2,025	KES 1,050
	East African citizen	KES 1,500	KES 750

Source: Kenya Wildlife Service park pages, checked 28 October 2026.

About the 2025 fee change: Kenya Wildlife Service introduced new conservation fees on 1 October 2025. On 2 October 2025 the High Court issued an order suspending them while a petition was heard. KWS's own park pages list the new rates as of the date shown. We confirm the fee that applies when we quote your trip. Park fees guide