Travel Blog Pt1: Amboseli National Park

8/18/2025

With great pleasure and expectation, I went to Kenya to observe wildlife up close.

Departing from Nairobi, we spent 4 hours traveling on an off-roader vehicle. I was captivated by the vast grasslands extending to the horizon, where local residents’ cows and sheep wandered around, grazing leisurely.

Fig.1 A picture I took when driving out from Nairobi

What impressed me the most was how well-preserved the natural scenery is here in Kenya. It took me only about 5 minutes to transition from the city area to regions that are covered by wild plants. The close connection of Kenya to nature is absolutely remarkable.

Along the way to Amboseli, we stopped at a service area designed specifically for safari visitors. This area features a shop that offers a variety of arts and crafts. Many of these items are themed around the iconic animals known as the “big five” and “big nine,” as well as traditional Kenyan culture. The craftsmanship on display reflects a deep sense of national pride among the Kenyan people in their natural resources, culture, and traditions. These artworks are not only beautifully made but also hold significant cultural meaning.

When we were just about to reach Amboseli, we crossed the Maasai people’s villages. To my surprise, their villages were quite different from what I had envisioned based on my online research before the trip. I had expected to see primitive tribes living in huts made of grass and wooden sticks. Instead, I found well-constructed buildings serving various purposes, including a school that featured both a football and a basketball court.

What amazed me even more was that a giraffe, taking a baby giraffe, suddenly appeared when we passed by the Masai villages. We had not even entered the national park. This moment highlighted just how integrated the Maasai people are with nature. They truly achieved coexistence with wild animals.

We then officially entered Amboseli National Park. Amboseli National Park is known for the large herds of elephants that inhabit its boundaries. We started a journey to spot elephant herds. In the distance, we noticed small black dots moving slowly. These black spots gather to form clusters and move as a unity. Our guide suggested it may be a large elephant herd. Excitedly, We rushed to the nearest location the off-roader can reach to better observe the elephants.

To my surprise, the elephants started to make their way toward us, crossing the off-road pathway. This provides us with a fantastic opportunity to observe them up close. Adult African elephants surrounded the calfs, providing protection and care. Young elephants stumbled along, trying to keep up with the pace.

We also found a hippopotamus, many zebras, wildebeasts, Thomson’s gazelles, and ostriches. The process of finding animals provided me with a great sense of satisfaction.

One thing I noticed is that the number of tourists entering the park may be too much. When we encountered the elephant herd, other guides all received the animal signal and rushed to the scene, causing a ” traffic jam” on the savannah. Approximately 20 cars surrounded the herd at once, creating a sandstorm that blocked our view.

I began to wonder whether the heavy traffic and human activities inside the park could affect the normal behaviors of wildlife, such as elephants. Are safari trips truly sustainable and environmentally friendly? What can we do to compensate the damage human activities bring to the nature? These are important questions that deserve further research and investigation.