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Amboseli
National Park, at the foot of Africa's highest mountain,
Kilimanjaro, is one of Kenya's most popular national
parks. It lies 150 miles south-east of Nairobi, very
close to the Tanzania border. The snow-capped peak of
Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds dominates
every aspect of Amboseli.
Established
as a national park in 1974 it covers 150sq miles and
supports a wide range of mammals (well over 50 of the
larger species) and birds (over 400 species). Years
ago this was the locale around which such famous writers
as Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark spun their stories
of big game hunting in the wilds of Africa.
The
park encompasses dry lake beds, savannah woodland and
extensive swamps constantly fed by springs emanating
from the mountain. The water and seasonal lakes attract
a wide variety of bird and animal life, in particular
herds of elephant. Amboseli is one of the best parks
in Africa to observe family groups of elephants and
large bull elephants at close quarters.
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