Kenia safari | Amboseli | gamedrive
It's not without reason that Amboseli is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. The magnificent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro is particularly impressive during good weather. Amboseli National Park is also well known for its abundance of game, including leopards, cheetahs and elephants that have huge tusks and are completely unaffected by the Land Rovers that pass nearby. The sight of these elephants walking with the backdrop of the Kilimanjaro will give you take your breath away and make you appreciate how Karen Blixen must have felt.
At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the fragile ecosystem of Ambesoli National Park answers to the classic image that we have of East Africa. Amboseli means 'place of water', but nowadays Ambesoli National Park - which lies near to the Tanzanian border - is distinguished by its arid, dusty plains. Meltwater from the Kilimanjaro flows into underground streams, which in turn create sporadic pools that the animals drink from. These underground rivers emerge on the surface in the middle of the national park and form swamps that attract and sustain a large variety of wild animals. The low-lying vegetation here means that you can see these animals clearly. A total of five important habitats for game exist within Ambesoli.
In 1933 Ernest Hemingway went on safari through Kenya and Tanzania. Ambesoli was one of the regions that gave him inspiration for his stories about big game hunters. It's hard to imagine now having to sail for three weeks from Marseilles to Kenya first, followed by a night train to Nairobi, and then drive for a further two days to get here. However, all of his hardships paled into insignificance the moment he laid eyes on Kilimanjaro. In Pole to Pole, Michael Palin asked the maître de camp Patrick, who went on safari with Hemingway as a young boy, whether the writer could shoot well. 'Yes, well... I think the American cowboys taught him how to shoot, since whereas some people shoot in the leg or stomach, he never missed'. According to Patrick, General Tito was a far less accurate shooter and while Prince Charles was not interested in hunting, he nearly ended up as prey.
There is a spectacular fauna in this area of lions, leopards, rhinos, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, cheetahs, buffalos and hippos. Thankfully, the gunsights have been replaced by camera lenses nowadays.
Part of the park consists of the dry bed of Lake Amboseli and the blistering heat causes a shimmering mirage on its surface. Don't start to panic however if you suddenly see a number of Masai walking by, since they actually live here in complete harmony with the nature and the animals. These proud legendary warriors will be only too happy to acquaint you with their traditions and customs.
