Game Drives in Amboseli National Park :Amboseli national park is among the second popular destinations in Kenya for game viewing drives, only coming second to Maasai Mara national reserve. Amboseli national park formerly known as the Masai Amboseli Game Reserve should be on top of your list of safari destinations when planning your wildlife Kenya Safari.
Amboseli national park is located in South-Eastern region of Kenya covering an area of over 300 square kilometers, the park is a home to a wide range of wildlife including large herds of elephants with big tusks, the big five, a variety of bird species and great views of Mountain Kilimanjaro – the tallest mountain in Africa with snowcapped peak.
Game viewing drives are the best way to explore Amboseli national park and they are carried two times a day with the first one starting very in the morning and the second one starting in the late afternoons. Day game drives are part of the park entrance fees and the Night game drives are offered at an extra cost and you have took in advance.
Game drives refer to an adventure that involves driving around the savannah plains of wildlife destination (national parks) in the comfort of your 4×4 open roof while viewing animals. Game drives are the highlight of every African safari and the same is as Amboseli national park, the park receives a lot of tourists visiting the park intending to see a wide range of animals that permanently live within the Amboseli national park.
What Expect during Game drives in Amboseli National Park
Things that you must carry on your game drive in Amboseli
Amboseli national park is a top destination for game drives in Kenya and as you are planning on spending a few days exploring this magnificent destination, there are essentials that you must carry to enjoy your trip and these are as follows
- Camera
Though even smart phones now days have cameras and can take good photos, the best way to take photos during game drives in Amboseli national park is by using a camera.
Cameras are the recommended and traditional way of taking still photos while on a safari, DSLR cameras are recommended and with the many photos you get to take, you will need to carry extra batteries for the camera. Also do not forget to keep your camera and batteries in a small dustproof and waterproof bag.
- Sun protection gear
Your packing list to Amboseli national park should include sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, a wide – brimmed hat is recommended while on game drives and polarized sunglasses and sunscreen will keep you safe from the heat and direct sunlight.
- Binoculars
Binoculars will help you view animals that are a bit far away, the binoculars with an 8X30 magnification are the best use while on game drives in Amboseli national park.
- Insect repellent
Insect repellents will help to prevent you from insect bites, Amboseli national park is known to be filled with mosquitoes and other bugs that is why insect repellent is a necessity while on your safari. Game drives are normally carried out in the mornings and is the time when mosquitoes come out when the sun is not ye out.
- Safari Clothes
Perfect attires will make you game drives in Amboseli national park more enjoyable and memorable, choosing the perfect clothes to take on your game drive normally depends on the weather and the time of the day that the drive is scheduled to take place. Your packing list should include long-sleeved shirts and long trousers and they should be of neutral cool colors, these are recommended for game drives since they do not attract the attention of wildl animals and you will also need to blend in the wild.
Rules and Regulations to follow on Game drives in Amboseli national park
Game drives in Amboseli national park are operated on a set of rules and regulations which were put to protect bot the animals and the tourists, these are as listed below. Normally at the start of the game dries, your Kenya safari–driver guides briefs about the activity.
- Do not feed the animals
- Make sure you keep a healthy distance between yourself and the animals.
- Do not over speed while driving through the National Park because you might knock down the animals that keep randomly moving around the Park.
- Never alight the vehicle while on game drives.
- Turn your phones and radios off because noise disrupts the animals.
- Do not litter the National Park. You are advised to keep all the rubbish in the van till you remove the Park premises.
What to expect on a game drive in Amboseli national park
A game drive in Amboseli national park take you to the observation hill where you get to view the whole park from a cone shaped hill, drive around Lake Amboseli where you will see some of the aqua/water animals like hippos, cape buffaloes, crocodiles, the Sinet delta which is the best birding spot for tourists, you will also enjoy great views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Some of the animals you will enjoy watching on game drive in Amboseli national park include lions, hippos, buffalos, elephants, kudus, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, ela and gazelles among others.
When to go for game drives in Amboseli national park
Game drives in Amboseli national park are best done during the dry season, the dry season is experienced from July to October and it is the best time for game drives because of the following.
- It is the time of the year when the park has large concentration of animals
- The trail routes used for game drives are dusty but not slippery and muddy in the dry season
- Due to the thinning vegetation, the animals can easily be spotted during the dry season
- Less rainfall is received during the dry season causing the animals to move to the water holes for water.
Where to stay during the game drives in Amboseli national park
Amboseli national park has a variety of accommodations (different lodges and camps) where you can stay during game drives and these include
- Satao Elerai camp
- Tawi Lodge
- Ol Tukai Lodge
- Kibo Lodge
- Amboseli sopa lodge
- the Tortilis camp among others.
