Kajiado County
Amboseli
Source: State Department for Devolution, Government of Kenya (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Management of the park was handed to the County Government of Kajiado on 10 November 2025; in July 2026 the High Court paused the takeover while a challenge is heard.
Photo: Ninaras · CC BY 4.0 · original
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About Amboseli
A national park in southern Kenya near the Tanzanian border, famous for its large elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Highlights
- Large herds of elephants
- Views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the border in Tanzania
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
More photos of Amboseli
See all 9 in the gallery ›
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Park fees, rules and payment methods — the transfer of the park to Kajiado County is before the High Court, so fees and rules could change
- Road conditions to the park gates
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Amboseli, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains, expected peak.
- May: long rains.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Kajiado County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 3rd to 4th week of October and continuing into January.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Park entry fees
Information status: VerifiedAmboseli National Park — daily entry
Per person, per 24 hours. Children under 6 enter free.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| East African citizen | KES 1,500 | KES 750 |
| Kenya resident | KES 2,025 | KES 1,050 |
| African citizen | USD 50 | USD 25 |
| Non-resident / foreign visitor | USD 90 | USD 45 |
Official KWS tariff "Conservation Fees 2025" (checked 17 Oct 2026), which lists Amboseli as a premium park. KWS's 2026 fees for East African citizens, reported on 8 Sep 2026, are the same. A High Court order of July 2026 keeps the park under its existing management while the transfer to Kajiado County is challenged.
- Listed by KWS as a premium park, with Lake Nakuru.
- Amboseli was handed to Kajiado County in November 2025; in July 2026 the High Court paused the takeover while a case is heard. If the county takes over, it may set its own fees — check before you travel.
- Entry is charged per person and is valid for one visit of up to 24 hours.
- Children aged five and younger enter free; the child rate covers ages 5–17, and students up to 23 on an organised visit from their school or college.
- Kenyan citizens aged 70 and over and persons with disability are exempt.
- Vehicle charges are extra (from KES 600 a day for a vehicle with fewer than 6 seats), as are camping and activities.
Guides for Amboseli
Visiting Amboseli
Elephants and Kilimanjaro views, the court case over who manages the park, and the main airstrip's 2026 flood closure.
Kenya park entry fees explained
Who pays which rate at Kenya's national parks and the Maasai Mara, how seasons and children's ages change the fee, and what costs extra.
Best time to visit Kenya
Kenya's two rainy seasons, when the wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara, and what that means for planning.
Nairobi: the city and its national park
Nairobi National Park on the city's edge, the National Museum, and arriving by air or train.
Tsavo East: red elephants and the Galana River
One of Kenya's largest parks, between Nairobi and the coast — what sources confirm, and reaching it by train or road.
Tsavo West: Mzima Springs, lava and rhinos
Kenya's second-largest national park — springs under the lava, the rhino sanctuary, Lake Jipe, and reaching it by road or train.
Things to do in Amboseli
Photo: Ninaras · CC BY 4.0 · original
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Wildlife encounters
Photograph elephants beneath Kilimanjaro
Big herds against Africa's highest mountain in Amboseli.
Where: Amboseli
Where next from Amboseli
Close by
Photo: Richard Mortel · CC BY 4.0 · original
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Tsavo West National Parkabout 4½ h by road (estimate)
Photo: Alexmbogo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Nairobiabout 4½ h by road (estimate)
Photo: Byrdyak · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Tsavo Eastabout 5½ h by road (estimate)
If you like Amboseli
Photo: Syllabub · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Lake NakuruAlso good for safari, wildlife
Photo: Matteo Frigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Aberdare National ParkAlso good for wildlife, safari
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Maasai MaraAlso good for safari, wildlife
Thinking of visiting Amboseli?
Add it to a plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- State Department for Devolution, Government of Kenya (opens in a new tab) — Handover ceremony: management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) — Amboseli National Park (checked 16 Oct 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.