green trees near snow covered mountain during daytime

Amboseli

A Kenyan park of large elephant herds, a dry lake bed and green swamps, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising across the Tanzania border on clear days.

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Amboseli National Park lies in Kajiado County, Kenya, close to the Tanzania border, about 2 hours by road from Nairobi. The park covers 392 square kilometers at the core of an 8,000 square kilometer ecosystem that crosses the border. Visitors come mainly for its large population of African bush elephants, seen across open, dry ground. A dried-up Pleistocene lake bed and semi-arid vegetation contrast with two of the five main swamps, which form a green oasis.

The park also has 50 to 80 other mammal species, among them lion, cheetah, Cape buffalo, Masai giraffe and zebra, plus more than 400 bird species. Annual rainfall is low, about 350 mm, but the swamps make Amboseli one of the best places in the world to see wildlife. On clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro rises across the border in Tanzania. The Maasai people live around the park, which was set aside as a reserve in 1906 and became a national park in 1974.

Amboseli in five

Budget for the premium park feeAmboseli is a Kenya Wildlife Service premium park, charged per adult per day in US dollars with a lower child rate. Check the current KWS tariff before you fix a budget.KWS fees
Pay through eCitizenKWS has moved to cashless payment: pay online through the KWS eCitizen portal or by card, and ask your camp or operator which route they use.KWS payments
Drive at dawn for the mountainKilimanjaro is often clear early and hides in cloud by late morning, especially in the rainy months.
Combine it with TsavoKWS sells combined Amboseli and Tsavo tickets, useful on a Nairobi to Mombasa route. Ask whether your camp can book it with the stay.Tsavo West

Things to do in Amboseli

See all attractions in Amboseli

A person in a white t-shirt using binoculars on a rocky cliff overlooking a forest

Sight · AmboseliEnameshera

a flock of birds standing on top of a body of water

Sight · AmboseliLake Amboseli

two grey elephants on grass plains during sunset

Sight · AmboseliAmboseli Elephant Research Camp

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AmboseliPut the places you like in Amboseli on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Entrance: US$90 non-resident adult, US$45 child (KWS) Read more
Permits: Park fee only; paid cashless through eCitizen Read more
Season: Year-round; driest Jan–Feb and Jun–Oct
Nearest town: Kimana or Namanga
Getting there: KWS: 204 km via Emali or 220 km via Namanga from Nairobi; light aircraft

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Dry, clear peak
FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh31°Low18°Dry, hot
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh31°Low19°Rains start
AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Long rains
MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Wet
JunePartly cloudy1 rainy dayHigh28°Low16°Dry, cool
JulyPartly cloudy1 rainy dayHigh28°Low16°Dry, dusty
AugustPartly cloudy1 rainy dayHigh29°Low16°Dry, clear
SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Dry, clear
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh31°Low18°Warm
NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Short rains
DecemberRain20 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Mixed

Average daily high and low in Amboseli, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Amboseli

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 60%
Wind: 15 km/h
Chance of rain: 96%

Amboseli

01:38 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+3

Today29°19°96%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 96%.
Wed30°18°63%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 63%.
Thu29°19°27%Thursday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 27%.
Fri30°17°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 12%.
Sat31°17°49%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 49%.
Sun31°18°91%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 91%.

Updated 11:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 129.9 KES

Amount

Converted to

KES · Kenyan Shilling

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Before you go to Amboseli

Amboseli safarisTwo-night trips out of NairobiCompare tours

Amboseli camps and lodgesStay near the gates for dawn drivesCheck availability

eSIM for KenyaCoverage thins out inside the parkRead the guide

Travel insurance for safarisEvacuation cover for remote campsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Amboseli, checked

Pay Kenya Wildlife Service park fees online through the KWSPay portal; M-Pesa, Visa card and bank transfer are the accepted methods.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Amboseli

All of Kenya

Parks, the coast, entry rules and money

Read the guide Nairobi

Gateway for road and flight transfers

Read the guide Maasai Mara

Big cats and the migration, a flight away

Read the guide Tsavo West

Lava flows and springs on the road to the coast

Read the guide Kilimanjaro National Park

The mountain from the Tanzanian side

Read the guide Kenya eTA guide

Apply before you fly to Nairobi

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Compare safari day and overnight trips

Read the guide

Amboseli FAQ

How many days do I need in Amboseli?

Two nights gives you three game drives, including at least one dawn for the Kilimanjaro view.

Can I see Kilimanjaro from Amboseli?

Yes, on clear days. Mornings are best; clouds often cover the peak by late morning.

How much is the Amboseli park fee?

It is charged per adult per day in US dollars, with a lower rate for children, under the KWS tariff that took effect in October 2025. Check the KWS portal for the current figure before you book.

What is the best time of year for Amboseli?

The dry months, roughly January to February and June to October, give the best odds of clear mountain views and elephants at the swamps. Dust is highest late in the dry season; the rains bring green views and fewer vehicles.

Can I visit Amboseli as a day trip from Nairobi?

It is possible but tiring: KWS gives 204 km via Emali and 220 km via Namanga each way, partly on murram. One or two nights lets you do a dawn and a dusk drive, which is when Kilimanjaro is most likely to show.