Amboseli National Park: facts and visitor basics

Amboseli National Park covers 392 square kilometres in Kajiado County, southern Kenya, about 204 km from Nairobi by road via Emali to Iremito Gate. The Kenya Wildlife Service manages it, three public gates open from 6 am to 6 pm, and it protects elephants, swamps and the classic view of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Where is Amboseli National Park?

Amboseli National Park lies in Kajiado County in southern Kenya, on the Tanzania border, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its centre sits at about 2.65 degrees south and 37.25 degrees east. Kilimanjaro itself stands across the border in Tanzania, and Amboseli gives the classic view of it from the Kenyan side. The nearest road towns are Emali, Kimana and Namanga, and Nairobi is about 204 km away by the KWS figure for the Emali route. Our how to get to Amboseli guide gives drive times and flight options, and our Amboseli map guide lays out the gates and zones.

How big is Amboseli National Park?

Amboseli National Park measures 392 square kilometres, or 39,206 hectares. That is small for a Kenyan park, and it is why one dawn and one afternoon can show you so much. The park sits at the core of an ecosystem of about 8,000 square kilometres that runs across the border into Tanzania, and the land around the park belongs largely to Maasai communities. Many animals use that wider land through the year and walk into the park for the swamps.

What is the history and status of Amboseli National Park?

Amboseli National Park at a glance, from public records (Wikipedia, Wikidata, UNESCO and the KWS management plan 2020 to 2030)

IUCN classes Amboseli as category II, a national park managed mainly to protect ecosystems and allow visits. A tentative listing is the first step towards World Heritage status. It does not mean the park is inscribed.

What habitats and wildlife does Amboseli National Park protect?

KWS lists five main habitats in Amboseli National Park: savanna grassland, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshland. The park also covers part of a dried Pleistocene lake basin, Lake Amboseli, which floods only after heavy rain. Springs fed by water from Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills keep the swamps green in a semi-arid landscape that gets about 350 mm of rain in an average year.

Four of the Big Five live in the park: elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard. Rhinos are no longer there. KWS records more than 400 bird species, including more than 40 birds of prey. Read our Amboseli elephants guide, wildlife guide and birds guide for the detail.

Which gates and opening hours does Amboseli National Park have?

Gates open at 6 am and close at 6 pm, unless you are staying overnight inside the park. Check current hours and rules with KWS before you travel, because they can change. Fuel is not sold inside the park, so fill up in Emali, Kimana or Namanga.

What does it cost to enter Amboseli National Park?

A non-resident adult pays USD 90 for each 24 hours and a non-resident child USD 45. Kenya residents and East African citizens pay in Kenya shillings. KWS sets the fees, and our packages include them. The Amboseli park fees guide has every category, how to pay and what 24 hours means.

How do you visit Amboseli National Park?

Most visitors come from Nairobi by road or by a 40 to 50 minute flight from Wilson Airport. A day trip shows you the swamps and elephants. One night adds a dawn on the mountain, and two nights give you a full day. Our 2 Day Amboseli Safari and 3 Day Amboseli Safari cover most first visits, and our how many days guide helps you choose.

Next, read where to stay in Amboseli and how many days to spend in Amboseli, or see is Amboseli worth visiting if you are still deciding.

Written by our lead safari guide at Amboseli National Park Safaris. Updated 2026-10-17.