Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5vKxRisDX8 to see more about the elephants of Amboseli.
Amboseli is an incredible destination for a wildlife safari as it is the stomping ground of some of the biggest elephants (both in body and tusk size) in the world. What’s more is that they are also the longest studied elephant population, and perhaps the most famous, globally. Unfortunately, they have faced the same challenges of human conflict, poaching and habitat destruction as other elephant populations found throughout Africa.
Amboseli national park which was formally known as Maasai Amboseli Game reserve is one of the premium protected areas not only in Kenya but entire east African region and is home to African elephants. The park is located in the Kajiado South Constituency spreading in the borders of Kenya and Tanzania crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close.
The park size is only 392 square kilometers but inhabits the largest population of wildlife especially the African Elephants. **The famousness of Amboseli national park is its permanent residents those are Amboseli national park Elephants** Amboseli national park Elephants has made the park one of the most popular gaming viewing destinations across Kenya. Despite its size the park is the second best tourist destination in Kenya after the famous Wildebeest migration icon that is Masai Mara national reserve.
The park has over 1600 Elephant individuals that freely roam at the park ecosystem of the park, which were grouped into 58 families by (28 Jun 2021)
The different habitants found at the park has created a fertile ground for the increasing population of Amboseli national park Elephants. The habitants that range from the cool wetlands where the Elephants spend much of their time during the dry season and the sunny hours of the day. The open savannah grasslands where they mostly enjoy during the cool hours for grazing and sunbathing. Other habitants include the woodlands, the lake shores basin and others. These unique diversified ecosystem has supported the great population of wildlife at Amboseli. This rare situation is primarily due to two factors – the presence of researchers and tourists in the park, and the support of the local Maasai people.
African Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are the largest living terrestrial animals, male African elephants can reach a height of 4 m and weigh 7,000 kg. These animals have several distinctive features, including a long proboscis or trunk used for many purposes, particularly for grasping objects. Their incisors grow into tusks, which serve as tools for moving objects and digging and as weapons for fighting. The elephant’s large ear flaps help to control the temperature of its body. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs. Elephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savannahs, forests, deserts and marshes. They prefer to stay near water. They are considered to be keystone species due to their impact on their environments.
Amboseli national park Elephants are the highlights of your great experience in Amboseli national park. The Kenyan safari is counted complete after visiting this awesome national park where you enjoy close range views of the African Elephants in large numbers.The park also hosts four members of the African big 5 only missing one (Lions, Leopards, Elephants and buffaloes). It homes more big cats like Lions, leopards, Cheetahs, Serval cat and many more. Other game in Amboseli include: Wildebeests, zebras, Jackals, Hyenas, Impala, giraffes, Warthogs, dik-dik, kobs, Gazelles, topis and many more. The presence of these other animals has made the park more famous through giving the guests more luxury wildlife experience. You will never dose when doing game drives at the park. You can also experience the aerial view of the park through the Hot air Balloon safaris in Amboseli.
Besides the animals, Amboseli is also little bird paradise with over 400 bird species recorded at the park. The park hosts over 40 species of birds of prey more than any other protected park in Kenya. The diversified habitants that are found at the park has greatly contributed to the large bird species at the park. Some of the available bird species include: Waders, papyrus gonolek, order Charadriiformes, Fish Eagle, Secretary bird, Martial eagle, owls, Vultures, lovebirds, Weaver bird, Secretary bird, Sacred Ibis, Hammer kop, African Jacaranda, Flamingo, Grey Crown Crane, Lapwing, Dickson’s Kestrel, African Swamphen, Pangani Longclaw, Herons, Ostriches, Hornbill and many more.
Other attractions in Amboseli national park include the local Maasai people, lake Amboseli, Mount Kilimanjaro and others.Your safari to Amboseli is considered complete in the way that there are several other wildlife at the park.
The Amboseli Elephant Research Project has also contributed much on the population growth of the Elephants. The Project which was founded way back in 1972 through Amboseli Trust for Elephants. The main aim of the project is to conserve and improve the welfare of the African Elephants. The project took initiative to involve the local community members through training them, conduct the community outreach, create public awareness and advocacy. This has created fertile ground for the Elephant research programme that has improved the welfare of African Elephants. To date of Amboseli national park Elephants is one of the highlights of Kenya wildlife safari. It has attracted many tourists who wish to experience live wildlife experience. The park elephants are permanent residents at Amboseli making it possible for the guests to view them at any time of the year. During your game drives guests can see a group of large herds of Elephants that can range from 50 to 100 members. They like scrowing on the dusty red soils of the park while at times play with their little ones at the shores of the lake. They spray the little ones with water as they cool themselves.
Amboseli National Park Elephants
Thanks to Amboseli Trust for Elephants through Amboseli Elephant Research Project fo their great work to conserve and protect the Amboseli national park Elephants. Amboseli is among the few national parks in Africa where the population of Elephants are increasing daily. The locals are fully engaged in the protection of the Elephants hence fighting the act of poaching in the park.
