Amboseli Safari: Elephant Herds, Kilimanjaro Views & Lodge Stay

Summary

See Amboseli’s elephants and Kilimanjaro on an overnight trip

You’ll travel from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park with a local guide, spotting wild elephants against Mount Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak and staying overnight at a lodge inside the park. Expect close-up wildlife moments, fresh air tinged with dust and grass, and time to climb Observation Hill for sweeping views before heading back home.

What’s the experience like?

The morning started with us running late — I’d somehow managed to misplace my only clean socks, so we left Nairobi in a bit of a scramble. Our driver, Peter, just laughed and said “Hakuna matata” before weaving us out of the city. The road south was all dust and sunlight, with flashes of Maasai herders moving their cattle along the roadside. I kept trying to spot Mount Kilimanjaro through the haze but it was hiding behind clouds most of the way. We stopped once for tea at a little roadside place where the air smelled faintly sweet, almost like hay after rain.

By midday we rolled into Amboseli National Park. Lunch at the lodge was simple but good — rice, stewed beef, something spicy I still can’t name. After a quick rest (I may have dozed off), we piled into the van for our first game drive. It’s hard to describe that feeling when you see your first elephant herd up close; they’re just… enormous. There must’ve been fifty or more, calves sticking close to their mothers’ legs. Peter pointed out one old bull with tusks so long they nearly touched the ground — apparently he’s famous around here. The light kept shifting as clouds drifted past Kilimanjaro in the distance; sometimes you’d catch snow on the peak for just a second.

The next morning was chilly enough that my breath fogged up the window as we set out early. We watched giraffes picking their way through acacia trees and zebras flicking their tails at birds — it’s quieter than I expected out there, except for the odd shout from another guide over the radio (“Simba!”). At Observation Hill we climbed up for views across the whole park; wind tugged at my jacket and everything below looked impossibly green after last night’s rain. I didn’t want to leave yet — it felt like we’d only just arrived.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel to Amboseli and afternoon safari

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel at 0700hrs
• Drive to Amboseli National Park via Nairobi-Mombasa road
• Arrive at Amboseli National Park for lunch
• Rest midday at lodge
• Afternoon game drive in Amboseli National Park
• Overnight at AA Amboseli Lodge

Day 2 — Morning safari and return to Nairobi

• Early post-breakfast game drive
• Half day game drive with picnic lunch
• Depart Amboseli after lunch
• Arrive Nairobi late afternoon
• Drop off at Nairobi hotel or residence

Top questions

How far is Amboseli National Park from Nairobi?

It’s about 4 hours by road from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park.

Is hotel pickup included in this Amboseli safari?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel within Nairobi CBD are included.

What animals can I see on an Amboseli safari?

You can see elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, warthogs and more.

Does this tour include meals?

Dinner and breakfast are included during your stay at AA Amboseli Lodge.

Where will I stay overnight in Amboseli?

You’ll stay overnight at AA Amboseli Lodge inside or near the park.

Are park entrance fees included in this safari?

Yes, all park entrance fees are included in your booking.

What’s included

Your trip includes hotel pickup and drop-off within Nairobi CBD, all transport in a pop-up roof van for game viewing and photography, park entrance fees covered throughout your stay, bottled water along the way, dinner and breakfast at AA Amboseli Lodge plus an overnight accommodation right by the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro before heading back after lunch on day two.