Amboseli National Park is a flat, semi arid basin lying below the most famous symbol of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro. Rising dramatically out of the savannah to 5,895m (19,340 ft), Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world.
The majestic giant with its snow-clad peak floating in the stark blue African sky forms a dramatic backdrop behind the abundant wildlife that live in the Amboseli National Park.
A large part of the park consists of the alluvial dried-up bed of the seasonal Lake Amboseli, which in the rainy season can transform into a shallow flood whilst the dry season brings strange mirages above the dry shimmering surface.
Towards the centre of the park are a series of swamps, fed by the underground rivers running off the mountain. It is here, closer to the water, that the concentration of wildlife intensifies, from the ever present herds of elephant to the colorful birdlife. This includes a wide variety of water birds such as grey heron, saddle bill stork, Egyptian goose as well as long-toed lapwing., yellow throated sand grouse and up to 6 species of vulture. The rare Madagascar Squacco Heron is a frequent visitor. Other game frequently seen include buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, Masai giraffe, lion and cheetah.
