Amboseli National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya

🐘 Elephant Kingdom of Amboseli
🌍 #15 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #11 in Africa #11 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Kenya 1272 spp. recorded

Amboseli National Park is a tropical savanna reserve situated in southern Kenya, featuring open grasslands, sparse acacia woodlands, and seasonal marshlands beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. This low-relief landscape lacks dense forests, offering wide horizons where volcanic dust flats stretch between muddy swamps and dry acacia tracks.

-2.623° S   37.204° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
East African Giraffe ★

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

50–60% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest ★
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

70–80% · Very likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Crowned Crane
EN

Grey Crowned Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Balearica regulorum

70–80% · Very likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

60–70% · Likely
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

60–70% · Likely
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

60–70% · Likely
Thomson's Gazelle
LC

Thomson's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eudorcas thomsonii

60–70% · Likely
Common Ostrich
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

50–60% · Likely
Grant's Gazelle
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

50–60% · Likely
Black-winged Stilt
LC

Black-winged Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus himantopus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
East African Giraffe ★

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

50–60% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest ★
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
Thomson's Gazelle
LC

Thomson's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eudorcas thomsonii

60–70% · Likely
Grant's Gazelle
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

50–60% · Likely
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

50–60% · Likely
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

50–60% · Likely
Bohor Reedbuck
LC

Bohor Reedbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Redunca redunca

50–60% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

40–50% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

40–50% · Likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

70–80% · Very likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Crowned Crane
EN

Grey Crowned Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Balearica regulorum

70–80% · Very likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

60–70% · Likely
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

60–70% · Likely
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

60–70% · Likely
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

60–70% · Likely
Common Ostrich
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

50–60% · Likely
Black-winged Stilt
LC

Black-winged Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus himantopus

50–60% · Likely
Greater Flamingo
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

50–60% · Likely
Glossy Ibis
LC

Glossy Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plegadis falcinellus

50–60% · Likely
Long-toed Lapwing
LC

Long-toed Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus crassirostris

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Kenyan Rock Agama
LC

Kenyan Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama lionotus

20–30% · Possible
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

20–30% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

Insufficient data
Graceful Chameleon
LC

Graceful Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo gracilis

Insufficient data
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data
Common Long-tailed Lizard
LC

Common Long-tailed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Latastia longicaudata

Insufficient data
Southern African Python
LC

Southern African Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python natalensis

Insufficient data
Rock Monitor
LC

Rock Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus albigularis

Insufficient data
Painted Dwarf Gecko
LC

Painted Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus picturatus

Insufficient data
Red Spitting Cobra
LC

Red Spitting Cobra

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Naja pallida

Insufficient data
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Ridged Frog
LC

Nile Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena nilotica

Insufficient data
Subdesert Toad
LC

Subdesert Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Sclerophrys xeros

Insufficient data
African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data
Müller's Platanna
LC

Müller's Platanna

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Xenopus muelleri

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elephant Peak Activity

Mar

Elephants congregate in large numbers around the permanent swamps and marshes to feed on lush papyrus and green flush during early seasonal transitions.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
🐦

Flamigreen Wetland Rains

MarSep

Seasonal rains fill the vast, dry Amboseli lake bed, attracting massive flocks of lesser and greater flamingos to the shallow alkaline waters.

Lesser Flamingo
NT

Lesser Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoeniconaias minor

40–50% · Likely
🦌

Predator Activity Peak

MayJunOct

Lions and hyenas take advantage of congregating plains game as water sources fluctuate, creating dramatic wildlife interactions.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
African Bush Elephant
50–60
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
Lion
30–40
30–40
50–60
30–40
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
East African Giraffe
50–60
40–50
50–60
20–30
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
Blue Wildebeest
50–60
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Blacksmith Lapwing
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Egyptian Goose
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Grey Crowned Crane
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
Superb Starling
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
African Jacana
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
Crowned Lapwing
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
Plains Zebra
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Cattle Egret
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
30–40
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
Thomson's Gazelle
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
70–80
Common Ostrich
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Grant's Gazelle
40–50
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
Black-winged Stilt
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Elephant Peak Activity
🐦 Flamigreen Wetland Rains
🦌 Predator Activity Peak

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐘 Elephant Kingdom of Amboseli

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
864
🐒 Mammals
240
🦎 Reptiles
137
🐸 Amphibians
31
1272 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
44 Threatened 9 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
67%
📊
Coverage (255 species at ≥5% of 1272 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
20%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 4 mammal)
46% Global avg
59%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
194
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
33
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
50

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Amboseli National Park?

The most likely sightings are African Bush Elephant (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Blacksmith Lapwing (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Egyptian Goose (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Blue Wildebeest (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Grey Crowned Crane (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1272 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Amboseli National Park for wildlife?

March has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Amboseli National Park?

Yes — about 75% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Amboseli National Park, based on 199 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Amboseli National Park?

Yes — about 54% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Amboseli National Park, based on 87 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see East African Giraffe in Amboseli National Park?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a East African Giraffe sighting in Amboseli National Park, based on 78 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Blue Wildebeest in Amboseli National Park?

Yes — about 73% of wildlife watchers report a Blue Wildebeest sighting in Amboseli National Park, based on 179 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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