Above the vast grass plains of Amboseli National Park, a mighty mountain massif rises on the horizon — Mount Kilimanjaro, standing 5,895 meters high. Its summit is crowned with perpetual ice. It was Ernest Hemingway who, with his novel “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” brought both the mountain and the park on the Tanzanian border to worldwide fame. Especially during the dry season, Amboseli is an ideal place for wildlife viewing. Around Lake Amboseli, animals of every kind gather, creating the setting for an unforgettable experience in the African wilderness.
Amboseli is a park of contrasts. Although it appears dry, its underground springs are constantly fed by meltwater from Kilimanjaro. These emerge at two locations within the park. During the dry season, the dried-out lake often produces bizarre mirages, forming what look like villages on the horizon — interwoven with real herds of wildebeest and zebra.
Amboseli National Park is probably the best place to observe elephants up close. Beyond elephants, the park is home to a wide range of wildlife — from Maasai giraffes and Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles to lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Depending on the season and time of day, animals can be found beneath shady acacia trees, among thorny bushes, out on the open plains, or wallowing in the swampy mud — all with Mount Kilimanjaro as a breathtaking backdrop.
