Amboseli National Park

Amboseli is famous for its large herds of free-ranging elephants and the best views in Africa of Mount Kilimanjaro rising just across the border in Tanzania. The park's dried-up lake bed and permanent swamps, fed by underground rivers from Kilimanjaro's glaciers, draw huge concentrations of wildlife even in the driest months. Photographers travel from around the world for the iconic shot of elephant herds silhouetted against the snow-capped peak at sunrise. Smaller than the Mara but no less rewarding, Amboseli also supports healthy populations of buffalo, giraffe, zebra and over 400 bird species, and its Maasai community-run conservancies mean tourism directly supports local livelihoods.