Located about a four-hour drive (240 km or 150 miles) southeast of Nairobi, Amboseli National Park is especially famous for its herds of big-tusked elephants. Kenya’s second most popular park after the Masai Mara, it was given Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO in 1991.
Chyulu Hills – “The green hills of Africa”
The Chyulu Hills is a mountain range in Makueni County, South Eastern Kenya. It forms a 100-kilometre long volcanic field in an elongated NW-SE direction. Its highest peak is 2188 metres high. The Chyulu Hills stood in for Ngong Hills for the filming of Out of Africa.
Kibwezi Forest
Gazetted in 1936, The Kibwezi Forest Reserve, is one of Kenya’s last remaining groundwater woodlands and is part of Tsavo Conservation Area.
Landscape
Amboseli
Very scenic in its own right, Amboseli is synonymous with two things in particular – majestic herds of elephants and glorious views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, over in neighbouring Tanzania. The basin at the centre of the park reliably floods during heavy rains, attracting hordes of wildlife like a magnet.
Chyulu Hills
Verdant rolling hills of endless green, great blue skies and spectacular landscape views are what the Chyulu Hills provide to nature lovers.
Kibwezi Forest
A luscious oasis of an ancient 18,000-acre groundwater forest that now forms part of the Chyulu Hills National Park.
Wildlife
Amboseli
The reserve is an excellent place to view the Big Five, as well as some lesser-known and rarer wildlife species such as the pangolin and Taita falcon.
Chyulu Hills
Large mammals include buffalo, bushbucks, elands, elephants, leopards, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, reedbucks and giraffes along with various reptiles and insects.
Kibwezi Forest
The Kibwezi Forest is a birdwatcher, botanist and entomologist’s delight and is perfectly situated to make the most of all the sites and sojourns on offer within the greater Tsavo Conservation Area.
Impact
Amboseli and the Chyulus are being negatively affected by increasing human and livestock populations.
Key Impact Facts
- 95 species of mammals and 500 bird species, of which 10 are listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable
- The best way to conserve species is through the protection of their critical habitats
IUCN Red List & Status
White-headed vulture – Critically Endangered
White-backed vulture – Critically Endangered
Hooded vulture – Critically Endangered
Black rhino – Critically Endangered
African wild dog – Endangered
Lion – Vulnerable
Elephant – Vulnerable
Giraffe – Vulnerable
Cheetah – Vulnerable
African golden cat – Vulnerable
African buffalo – Near Threatened
Caracal – Least Concern
Key Threats
Population growth
Changes of land use
Tourism exploitation
Human-wildlife conflict
Keystone species decline
Climate change
Invasive species
Culture change
How can you help?
- Stay in accommodation that supports the 4Cs
- Get involved; visit and learn about different organisations ‘doing good’ in the area
Selected Conservation and Community Support Impact Activities
Our list of impactful experiences and organisations in the area
- Lion Guardians
- Big Life Foundation
- Chyulu Hills REDD+ Carbon Project
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
