know YOUR COUNTY
The ride to the wild in Amboseli
By Joseph Maina
It is by air or by road. Whatever the mode, the journey to Amboseli National Park, which has a
big concentration of elephants in the wild than many parks in the continent, is as exhilarating as
treasurable. Our writer made a maiden trip to the facility and explores the safari options.
T
here are several wa ys
of travelling to Amboseli
National Park from Nairobi.
For starters, one can travel
by air,which is the fastest way to
get there. There are several local
airlines offering flights between
Nairobi and Amboseli, as well as
connecting to other parks.
You have the option between
Wilson Airport and the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport.
Chartered flights can be
arranged. With Air Kenya, which
this writer travelled in, you can
pay $266 (Sh27, 453.86) in the
low season to get to Amboseli
from the city.
High season tickets cost
US$319 (Sh32, 923.99). At the
time of going to press the USD
to Ksh exchange rate was 103.21.
From the JKIA, a flight to the
park could take an average of 35
minutes.
Some airlines also offer
helicopter flights in the park,
which has the added advantage
of securing you more intimate
views of the anima ls and
landscape. A helicopter ride
could take you closer to Mt.
Kilimanjaro magical peak than
you can expect from a regular
airplane.
You can also get closer and
relaxed views by taking a balloon
40
ride. A hot air balloon promises
to drift you along the gentle
morning and evening breezes
to capture exceptional views of
the African sunset and sunrise, as
well as close up views of game.
Coming back to earth, you
have the option between driving
yourself to the park or travelling
with a tour company.
The tour company will drive
you there in about four hours
from Nairobi.
Entry to the park is through
various gates, which include the
Meshanani Gate, the Kimana
Gate, or the Empusel Gate.
There are two lodges inside
the park, and these are Amboseli
Serena Lodge and Ol Tukai
Lodge. Also in the park is the
Tortillis Tented Lodge.
According to the Kenya
Wildlife Service, the decision
to allow only two lodges in the
park follows extensive research
on the ability of the park to
accommodate optimal numbers
of visitors at any given time, and
is known as park management
system.
Outside the park, one can
find numerous accommodation
options, each tailored to suit
different tastes and budgets. The
Kenya Wildlife Service operates
its own accommodation facilities
open to public use. These include
the Kilimanjaro Guest House,
with a capacity of seven people,
as well as Simba Cottages and
Chui Cottages, each of which
can accommodate two people.
For those who love camping,
September 2017