Amboseli

Why people go

Amboseli sits under Kilimanjaro, and the mountain is visible on most clear mornings from the northern lodges. The park is small, flat and dry, which is precisely why the elephant viewing is so reliable: they come to the swamps, and the swamps are always there.

This is where Kenya’s remaining big-tuskers live — the old bulls with ivory heavy enough to reach the ground. It is the single best place in the country to photograph elephants at close range with a mountain behind them.

It pairs naturally with a drive south to Tsavo, or with the Nairobi–Namanga road if you are crossing into Tanzania.

What you will actually do

• Large elephant herds in the Enkongo Narok swamps
• Kilimanjaro views at dawn from the northern lodges
• Big-tusker bulls — the best remaining population in Kenya
• Easy combination with Tsavo or a Tanzania crossing