Google Maps offers two roads from Tsavo East National Park to Amboseli National Park. Still, these are not roads but some paths through the Tsavo NP; you must pay the entrance fee (54,34 USD) and carefully drive through; it’s probably passable with a small 4WD, but not with our truck. So we went back to Gede and then through Mariakani and Emali to Amboseli. It took us two days (644 km) to get there with an overnight at Total gasoline station in Voi, where there is a lovely coffee shop, Java Expres. All roads had tarmac, but all were single-lane roads with heavy traffic, mainly trucks, with most reaching maximum speeds of 25 km/h to 40 km/h.
We drove straight to Kimana gate and parked next to the main building. We had some beer (White Cap – 250 KES) and chatted with rangers in the evening. In the morning, we paid the entrance (🎟️62,62 USD) by card and hired a car (Boi 📞 +254726571362) for a full day (180 USD). Water is also available, so we refilled the tank on our departure and left a tip with rangers for two nights and water (500 KES).
Amboseli belongs to the elite of Kenya’s national parks. Its signature attraction is the sight of hundreds of big-tusked elephants set against Africa’s best views of Mt Kilimanjaro (5895m), Africa’s highest peak. We saw some wildebeest and zebras. Later, we walked to the top of the Normatior (Observation Hill), which had spectacular views over plains, swamps, and roads below. We were lucky that Lake Amboseli was not bone dry, as usual, and we could enjoy the drive through wetlands to see some of the more than 370 bird species living there.
Parking location – Kimana Gate: 2.720102S 37.379487E (🅿️,🚻,💦)