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{{Short description|National park in Kajiado County, Kenya}} {{Short description|National park in Kajiado County, Kenya}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox Protected area {{Infobox Protected area
| name = Amboseli National Park | name = Amboseli National Park
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| map_caption = Location of Amboseli National Park##Location of Amboseli National Park within Kenya | map_caption = Location of Amboseli National Park##Location of Amboseli National Park within Kenya
| map_width = 250 | map_width = 250
| location = ], {{KEN}} | location = Loitoktok District, ], Kenya
| nearest_city = ] | nearest_city = ]
| coordinates = {{coords|02|38|29|S|37|14|53|E|display=inline, title}} | coordinates = {{coords|02|38|29|S|37|14|53|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_km2 = 392 | area_km2 = 392
| established = 1974 as a national park (as a reserve in 1906) | established = {{Plainlist|* {{start date and age|1906}}; as a reserve
* {{start date and age|1974}}; as a national park}}
| visitation_num = 120,000 (estimated) | visitation_num = 120,000 estimated
| visitation_year = 2006 | visitation_year = 2006
| governing_body = ], Olkejuado County Council and the ] community | governing_body = ], Olkejuado County Council and the ] community
}} }}
'''Amboseli National Park''', formerly '''Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve''', is a ] in ] in Kajiado County,<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Government of Kajiado – Naboisho ang, engolon ang|url=https://www.kajiado.go.ke/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> ]. The park is {{cvt|39206|ha|km2}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdbpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=758&level=nat |title=World Database on Protected Areas: Amboseli Nationalpark |publisher=sea.unep-wcmc.org |access-date=2008-07-28 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> in size at the core of an {{cvt|8000|km2|sqmi|adj=mid}} ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-] border. The local people are mainly ], but people from other parts of the country have settled there attracted by the successful tourist-driven economy and intensive agriculture along the system of ]s that makes this low-rainfall area, average {{cvt|350|mm}}, one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world with 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, ] and 47 raptor species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amboselinationalpark.co.uk/facts-about-the-amboseli-national-park/ |title= Amboseli National Park |access-date=2011-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903215013/http://www.amboselinationalpark.co.uk/facts-about-the-amboseli-national-park/ |archive-date=3 September 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> '''Amboseli National Park''', formerly '''Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve''', is a ] in Loitoktok District in ], Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Government of Kajiado – Naboisho ang, engolon ang |url=https://www.kajiado.go.ke/ |access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> It is {{cvt|39206|ha|km2}} in size at the core of an {{cvt|8000|km2}} ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-] border.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdbpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=758&level=nat |title=World Database on Protected Areas: Amboseli Nationalpark |publisher=sea.unep-wcmc.org |access-date=2008-07-28 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> It harbours 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, ] and 47 raptor species. The local people are mainly ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amboselinationalpark.co.uk/facts-about-the-amboseli-national-park/ |title=Amboseli National Park |access-date=2011-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903215013/http://www.amboselinationalpark.co.uk/facts-about-the-amboseli-national-park/ |archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref>


The park protects two of the five main swamps, and includes a dried-up ] lake and semiarid vegetation. The park protects two of the five main swamps and includes a dried-up ] lake and semiarid vegetation.


==History== ==History==
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In 1883, ] was the first European to penetrate the feared Maasai region known as ''Empusel'' (meaning 'salty, dusty place' in ]). He, too, was astonished by the fantastic array of wildlife and the contrast between the arid areas of the dry lake bed and the oasis of the swamps, a contrast that persists today. In 1883, ] was the first European to penetrate the feared Maasai region known as ''Empusel'' (meaning 'salty, dusty place' in ]). He, too, was astonished by the fantastic array of wildlife and the contrast between the arid areas of the dry lake bed and the oasis of the swamps, a contrast that persists today.


Amboseli was set aside as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906, but returned to local control as a game reserve in 1948. Gazetted a national park in 1974 to protect the core of this unique ecosystem, it was declared a ] site in 1991. The park earned $3.5 m (€2.9 m) in 2005. On 29 September 2005, Kenyan President ] declared that control of the park should pass from the ] to the Olkejuado County Council and the Maasai tribe. Some observers saw this as a political favour in advance of a vote on a new Kenyan constitution; legal challenges are currently in court. The degazetting would divert park admission fees directly to the county council with shared benefits to the Maasai immediately surrounding the park. Amboseli was set aside as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906 but returned to local control as a game reserve in 1948. Gazetted a national park in 1974 to protect the core of this unique ecosystem, it was declared a ] site in 1991. The park earned $3.5 m (€2.9 m) in 2005. On 29 September 2005, Kenyan President ] declared that control of the park should pass from the ] to the Olkejuado County Council and the Maasai tribe. Some observers saw this as a political favour in advance of a vote on a new Kenyan constitution; legal challenges are currently in court. The degazetting would divert park admission fees directly to the county council with shared benefits to the Maasai immediately surrounding the park.


==Wildlife== ==Wildlife==
] is in the background.]] ] in the background]]
]
]
Amboseli National Park was home to ], the most researched elephant in the world, and the subject of many books and documentaries, followed for almost four decades by American conservationist ]. Echo died in 2009 when she was about 60 years old.<ref name="Elephants in Amboseli">{{cite web |title=Elephants in Amboseli |url=https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/see-elephants/ |website=Animals Around The Globe |publisher=Animals Around The Globe |date=2019}}</ref>
]
The park is famous for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://elephanttrust.org/|title=ATE – Amboseli Trust for Elephants |publisher=elephanttrust.org|access-date=2008-03-17 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216055023/http://www.elephanttrust.org/| archive-date= 16 February 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet Maasai and visit a Maasai village. The park also has views of ], the highest free-standing mountain in the world.


Amboseli National Park is home to ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. A host of large and small birds occur too.
Amboseli was home to ], the most researched elephant in the world, and the subject of many books and documentaries, followed for almost four decades by American conservationist ]. Echo died in 2009 when she was about 60 years old.<ref name="Elephants in Amboseli">{{cite web |title=Elephants in Amboseli |url=https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/see-elephants/ |website=Animals Around The Globe |publisher=Animals Around The Globe |date=December 2019}}</ref>

The park was also a safe haven to an incredible bull elephant named Tim. This mighty leviathan quickly became one of the major attractions with his size and iconic tusks that reached the ground and was estimated to be around 50 years old at the time of his death from natural causes on February 5th 2020.

offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. A host of large and small birds occur too.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Visit Africa: Amboseli National Park|url=http://visitafrica.site/visit-amboseli-national-park.html|website=visitafrica.site|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Visit Amboseli National Park {{!}} The Travelling Souk|url=https://www.thetravellingsouk.com/destination/africa/visit-amboseli-national-park/|website=www.thetravellingsouk.com|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

The park has several rules to protect the wildlife: Never leave the vehicle, except at designated spots; do not harass the animals in any way; always keep to the tracks; no off-road driving; and always give the animals the right of way. The roads in Amboseli have a loose surface of volcanic soil that is dusty in the dry season and impassable in the wet season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amboseli National Park{{!}} Kenya Wildlife Safari{{!}} Africa Safari Companies|url=https://www.africasafaricompanies.com/east-africa/kenya/amboseli-national-park/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=African Travels {{!}} Amboseli National Park|url=https://africantravels.com/eng/destinations/kenya/national-parks/amboseli/|website=African Travels|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730102304/https://africantravels.com/eng/destinations/kenya/national-parks/amboseli/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Access ==
A small airport is in Amboseli, the ] (HKAM).


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*] *]
*] <ref>{{Cite web|title=County Government of Kajiado – Naboisho ang, engolon ang|url=https://www.kajiado.go.ke/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>


== References == == References ==
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{{Wikivoyage|Amboseli National Park}} {{Wikivoyage|Amboseli National Park}}
{{commons category|Amboseli National Park}} {{commons category|Amboseli National Park}}
* https://web.archive.org/web/20140425234012/http://amboselinationalpark.co.ke/ official website for Amboseli National Park
*
*
*

{{National Parks of Kenya}} {{National Parks of Kenya}}



Latest revision as of 10:03, 26 October 2024

National park in Kajiado County, Kenya

Amboseli National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the location of Amboseli National ParkMap showing the location of Amboseli National ParkLocation of Amboseli National ParkShow map of Tsavo national parksMap showing the location of Amboseli National ParkMap showing the location of Amboseli National ParkLocation of Amboseli National Park within KenyaShow map of Kenya
LocationLoitoktok District, Kajiado County, Kenya
Nearest cityNairobi
Coordinates02°38′29″S 37°14′53″E / 2.64139°S 37.24806°E / -2.64139; 37.24806
Area392 km (151 sq mi)
Established
  • 1906; 118 years ago (1906); as a reserve
  • 1974; 50 years ago (1974); as a national park
Visitors120,000 estimated (in 2006)
Governing bodyKenya Wildlife Service, Olkejuado County Council and the Maasai community

Amboseli National Park, formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is a national park in Loitoktok District in Kajiado County, Kenya. It is 39,206 ha (392.06 km) in size at the core of an 8,000 km (3,100 sq mi) ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. It harbours 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hamerkop and 47 raptor species. The local people are mainly Maasai.

The park protects two of the five main swamps and includes a dried-up Pleistocene lake and semiarid vegetation.

History

Mount Kilimanjaro is in the background.

In 1883, Jeremy Thompson was the first European to penetrate the feared Maasai region known as Empusel (meaning 'salty, dusty place' in Maa). He, too, was astonished by the fantastic array of wildlife and the contrast between the arid areas of the dry lake bed and the oasis of the swamps, a contrast that persists today.

Amboseli was set aside as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai in 1906 but returned to local control as a game reserve in 1948. Gazetted a national park in 1974 to protect the core of this unique ecosystem, it was declared a UNESCO site in 1991. The park earned $3.5 m (€2.9 m) in 2005. On 29 September 2005, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki declared that control of the park should pass from the Kenya Wildlife Service to the Olkejuado County Council and the Maasai tribe. Some observers saw this as a political favour in advance of a vote on a new Kenyan constitution; legal challenges are currently in court. The degazetting would divert park admission fees directly to the county council with shared benefits to the Maasai immediately surrounding the park.

Wildlife

Elephants in Amboseli National Park with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background
"Tim" the Elephant at Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park was home to Echo, the most researched elephant in the world, and the subject of many books and documentaries, followed for almost four decades by American conservationist Cynthia Moss. Echo died in 2009 when she was about 60 years old.

Amboseli National Park is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant's zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too.

See also

References

  1. "County Government of Kajiado – Naboisho ang, engolon ang". Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. "World Database on Protected Areas: Amboseli Nationalpark". sea.unep-wcmc.org. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  3. "Amboseli National Park". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  4. "Elephants in Amboseli". Animals Around The Globe. Animals Around The Globe. 2019.

External links

National Parks of Kenya
National Parks
Reserves
Marine national parks
and reserves
Sanctuaries
Former national reservesTana River Primate National Reserve
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