The essence of Amboseli is Mt. Kilimanjaro at 5,896 meters. This highest free-standing mountain in the world dominates everything in sight.  Although Africa's highest mountain  lies across the border in Tanzania, the most impressive views of its snow-capped peak are in Amboseli. The early light of dawn turns the mountain a dark hue of purple, and its snows into an ethereal pink. The sight of Kilimanjaro high above the herds of elephant crossing the plains of Amboseli is a timeless African image.

Amboseli is renowned for its large herds of elephant population. This is the main attraction of the park. Set in rolling savannah scenery, the park is 400 sq kms, with its southern boundary along the Tanzanian border. The park is also home to more than just Elephants, and herds of lion, buffalo,  giraffe, baboon, gazelle, hippo can be seen. Wildebeest, zebra and impala graze on the open plains. The  areas of acacia forest make for good birding  and are home to many small mammals as well. There are over 400 species of birds in the park. Cheetahs are also often sighted here.

There are few trees in Amboseli and part of its attraction is the ease and certainty of game viewing, unobstructed by bush and scrub manner of reptilian, flora and fauna. Through most of the year, Lake Amboseli is a dry soda bed that produces intriguing mirages.

This area is home to many Maasai communities. The park is centered around a large hill, with fantastic views of the surrounding plains, often crossed by whirlwinds that send winding columns of dust into the sky. This open country is good walking territory, and many camps and lodges organise game walks, or trips to spend time in local Maasai villages.
Amboseli is about 5 hour drive from Nairobi and Mombasa. The nearest town is Namanga, on the Kenya/ Tanzania border. The Park has a central airstrip and there are daily scheduled flights from both Nairobi and the coast. Private Charters are also used by many guests.