| "Kilimanjaro's Royal Court"-Amboseli National Park | | | | thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro's |
| Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok District, | | | | ice cap, which funnel into two clear water springs in |
| Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The ecosystem mainly | | | | the heart of the park. |
| savannah grassland spread across the | | | | However, the climatic pendulum can swing from |
| Kenya-Tanzania border. The park is famous for being | | | | drought to flood, and in the early 1990's ceaseless |
| the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging | | | | rain changed Amboseli into a swamp.A few years |
| elephants among other wildlife species. Other | | | | later the rains failed and the grass-covered plains |
| attractions of the park include opportunities to meet | | | | turned to dust. |
| the Maasai and spectacular views of Mount | | | | Amboseli's dust is ancient volcanic ash, whose salt |
| Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the | | | | crystals shimmer on the surface of the parched |
| world. Though the mountain is across the Kenyan | | | | lakebed during the dry season. This creates hazy |
| border Amboseli provides the best views of the | | | | mirages which make you question just what is real. |
| mountain. | | | | Surrounding Amboseli are ranch areas where the |
| The image of elephants wandering across grass plains | | | | Maasai share the land with the wildlife. Wild animals |
| with the snowy peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in the | | | | tends to avoid the village areas as it there are far |
| background is one known even to armchair travellers. | | | | too many people and the grazing has already been |
| This epitomises Amboseli National Park and highlights | | | | eaten by the Maasai's all-important cattle. |
| the stark contrasts Africa has to offer. | | | | In - Park Accommodation includes Oltukai Lodge, |
| In Amboseli's case it is big skies and far horizons | | | | Amboseli Serena Lodge, Tortilis Camp, Kibo Safari |
| combined with swampy springs and dry and dusty | | | | Camp, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Sentrim Amboseli |
| earth trampled by hundreds of animals. Amboseli has | | | | among others. |
| an endless underground water supply filtered through | | | | |