Amboseli: frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter Amboseli in 2026?

A non-resident adult pays $90 and a child aged 5 to 17 pays $45, for a single entry of up to 24 hours, under the KWS card in force since 1 October 2025. The rate is the same all year. African citizens from outside the East African Community pay $50, Kenya residents KSh 2,025 and East African citizens KSh 1,500. A car with fewer than six seats adds KSh 600 a day, about $4.60, and children aged 5 and under enter free.

Is the Amboseli fee $100 or $90?

$90. The $100 figure, often quoted with $80 for April to June, comes from a 2023 regulation (Legal Notice 215 of 2023) that the High Court quashed on 23 August 2024, and KWS's own 2024 card still showed $60. The fee rose from $60 to $90 on 1 October 2025. A tour-industry petition against that roll-out was filed on 2 October 2025 and has no published final ruling, but KWS's card and park page still showed $90 on 4 October 2026.

Can I pay cash at the Amboseli gate?

Plan on no. KWS has printed 'mode of payment: cashless' on its fee cards since 2022-23 and sends visitors to KWSPay at kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke, which takes M-Pesa, a Visa card or bank transfer. Enter your vehicle registration and exact entry date, and carry the e-ticket and the passport it was issued against. KWS does not say whether a gate can sell you a ticket on the spot, and tour operators have reported a processing charge of 5 to 8.5 per cent on the portal, so prepay and expect a small extra.

Can I drive myself to Amboseli, and which gate do I use?

Yes, self-drive is allowed. From Nairobi take the Mombasa Road to Emali and enter at Iremito Gate (204 km by KWS's figure, the last 21 km on gravel), or take the A2 to Namanga and enter at Meshanani Gate (220 km by KWS, about 50 km of gravel from Namanga). Allow four to five hours. Kimana Gate, on the east side, serves Kimana town, the camps on the eastern edge and the link road from Tsavo West.

There is no 'Namanga Gate' and no 'Kulunyiet Gate': from Namanga you enter at Meshanani. A high-clearance vehicle copes in the dry season; take a 4x4 in the rains, when floods can close viewing roads. Inside, the speed limit is 40 km/h and off-road driving is prohibited.

What is the best month to visit Amboseli?

July to October, with September the pick: the dry season packs the animals onto the two spring-fed swamps, and Kilimanjaro is most often clear in the first hours after dawn from August to October. January and February are a good second window. April is the wettest month, though Amboseli gets only about 350 mm of rain in a whole year, and April and May are the cheapest months at every lodge that publishes its seasons.

Do I need malaria tablets for Amboseli?

Yes. The UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre classes Kenya as high risk for malaria and recommends antimalarial tablets everywhere except Nairobi city and land above 2,500 m. Amboseli lies at about 1,150 m, so it is in the high-risk area despite its dry look. The same guidance recommends yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged 9 months and over, and Kajiado County, where the park lies, is not among the low-exposure exceptions.

How many days do you need in Amboseli?

Two full days cover the park well. It is 392 km² with about 214 km of roads, and the action is concentrated on the Enkongo Narok and Longinye swamps and around Observation Hill, so a morning and an afternoon on each side of the park shows you most of it. Add a third night if you want a day on a conservancy, where walking and night drives are allowed. Each extra 24 hours inside costs $90 per adult in park fees.

Is Amboseli good for children?

It is one of the easier parks for families: close to Nairobi, compact, and guaranteed elephants. Children aged 5 and under enter free and those aged 5 to 17 pay $45. Lodge rules differ widely. Ol Tukai Lodge lets children under 3 stay free and charges 50 per cent for ages 3 to 11 sharing with parents; Porini Amboseli takes children over 8; Tortilis fits an extra bed for children under 16; Angama Amboseli welcomes all ages. Check the policy before you book, because several camps publish none.

Do I need to book the campsite in Amboseli?

Not the public one: KWS's brochure says public campsites need no prior booking. It costs $30 per non-resident adult per night plus the $90 entry fee, and has water, toilets and a kitchen area. The KWS self-catering cottages and houses, from $110 a night for two, must be booked through reservations@kws.go.ke, reservations.kws.go.ke or WhatsApp +254 113 434 304.

Can I combine Amboseli with Tsavo?

Yes, through Kimana Gate. The routed distance from Kimana Gate to Tsavo West's Chyulu Gate is 74 km, about two to two and a half hours on a road that is partly tarmac and partly corrugated gravel. KWS sells combination tickets: Tsavo West plus Amboseli costs $150 per non-resident adult against $170 bought separately, and Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli $215 against $250. You must buy them in one go, for a continuous stay, and show them at the gate.

Can I get out of the car or walk in Amboseli?

Only at designated places, and in practice that means Observation Hill, where you may leave the vehicle, climb the steps to the top and picnic. Everywhere else KWS requires you to stay in your vehicle with the doors closed. The KWS walking-safari fee applies only in Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Meru and Kora, and bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted in Amboseli. Walks and night drives run in the conservancies around the park, such as Kitirua, Selenkay and Tawi.

Who runs Amboseli, KWS or Kajiado County?

The Kenya Wildlife Service, as of 4 October 2026. A deed transferring management to Kajiado County was signed on 14 October 2025, but the High Court suspended it on 30 December 2025 while a constitutional petition is heard, and KWS still runs the gates and collects the fees. The Ol Tukai enclave in the centre of the park, where the lodges stand, has always belonged to the county. The case may have moved after 4 October 2026.