Amboseli Safari Kenya: $125 Private Elephant Watching Tour Experience

For elephant enthusiasts, a safari in Amboseli National Park is an absolute must. Imagine stepping into the majestic realm of elephants, where herds roam more freely and abundantly than cattle—a truly awe-inspiring sight!

The park also offers a breathtaking view of Mount Kilimanjaro, framed perfectly with the wildlife, lakes, mountains, and grasslands, providing a treasure trove of photographic opportunities. Trust me, it’s worth every penny of the ticket price!

💡Seasons and Wildlife:
👉🏻 Peak season: June-October & January-February
👉🏻 Animals: Commonly seen are elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, and many giraffes (outside the park). You can also spot hippos, spotted hyenas, and occasionally lions and cheetahs. However, leopards and rhinos are not present in this area.

🚗 Ways to find a car for solo travelers:
A vehicle is essential for entering the park, and a 4×4 is highly recommended to navigate the rugged dirt roads. During the off-season, Kimana town sees very few tourists, making it challenging to join a group on the spot. Tourists usually stay at camp hotels outside the town. For solo travelers looking to enter the park, here are some options:

1️⃣ Stay at a camp hotel near the park and try to hitch a ride with other tourists’ 4×4; ❌ Accommodation can be quite pricey.
2️⃣ Wait at the ticket office and attempt to hitch a ride with a passing car; ❌ This requires taking a taxi for 1k to the entrance, and it’s a bit hit or miss.
3️⃣ Ask online travel agencies if you can join a group.

I found Bienvenido tour, which offers a shared ride for $55 per person; ❌ You still need to take a taxi to the park entrance, and the entry time from 9 am to 5 pm might not meet your expectations.
4️⃣ Rent a 4×4 for $120, from 6 am to 6 pm. ✅ I was lucky enough to find a partner, and we split the cost as in option 3️⃣, but with much more flexibility and freedom!

Our driver, Collins, was incredibly reliable and showed us a plethora of wildlife, including 🐘, 🦁, 🐆, 🦛, 🦬, and 🦓, along with wildebeests and various birds. He actively sought out animals, fulfilling my dream of capturing the snow-capped mountain and wildlife in one frame. As both a driver and a guide, he offered exceptional value for money.

💰 Safari Costs:
👉🏻 Ticket: $62 (including $2 handling fee) / ¥455, credit card accepted, and Mastercard does not require a verification code.
👉🏻 Car rental: Per person ¥455 / $62, 5-seater open-top 4×4 costs 14,000 / ¥795 + driver and car entry fees 1,998 / ¥113, total car rental 16,000 / $125 / ¥910 (most cost-effective when five people share, less than 200 per person).

👉🏻 Lunch: Per person 800 / ¥50, only buffet lunch available at Ol Tukai Lodge for $30 per person, à la carte only drinks and snacks. We ended up ordering fries, samosas, and coffee, and I recommend bringing your own food for convenience.

Total cost for one day safari: 💥¥960 / $132

⏰ Duration:
The ticket is valid for only 24 hours. If not staying in the park, you can only enter by car from 6 am to 6 pm, and there will be a fine for exceeding the time.

In reality, a half-day safari from 6 am to 1 pm is often sufficient, as you can see all the key animals, and before noon, Mount Kilimanjaro is clear without any cloud cover, making for the perfect photo opportunity.

After 2 PM, the scorching heat drives the animals into hiding, and a blanket of clouds envelops the mountains, leaving visitors feeling drained. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to catch the sunset from within the park. Adding to the disappointment, renting a car for just half a day still costs 10,000, which hardly seems worth it.

📷 Photography Equipment:
Make sure to bring a lens with at least 300mm! My 300mm lens was barely sufficient, and capturing high-definition images of the elusive carnivores was a real challenge [crying emoji].