GUIDE ON AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA

Driving along a wild road in a 4x4 safari vehicle with an experienced Maasai guide who eloquently and expertly describes the flora and fauna of Kenya's southern bush country – this is exactly how you imagine your authentic AfricanMecca safari in Amboseli National Park. Savannah plains stretch to the horizon interrupted only by the iconic shape of Mount Kilimanjaro and the distinct flat-topped shape of acacia trees. A graceful giraffe wraps a long, tough tongue around the thorny leaves while her youngster suckles for a warm morning meal. The trumpet of an elephant draws your eye just beyond this delightful scene where you see a bull chase away a frisky and playful calf.

Your guide stops the vehicle and points to a cloud of dust in the distance, describing the hunt that has begun. A herd of impalas and wildebeest grows restless, and you notice the stalking form of the fastest land animal on the planet – the cheetah. You are mesmerized by the action and await the heart-pounding chase that will ensue. Your anticipation grows as you see the graceful cat edge ever closer to a vulnerable impala. Suddenly, the cheetah sprints, and the fast herbivore runs away, quickly changing direction in a futile effort to escape the prowess of a female predator that has venerable cubs to feed and hide away from other opportunistic predators like the hyenas.

The Amboseli outback is a majestic landscape where events such as these unfolds every day across the 392 square kilometers (151 square miles) of protected wilderness. The park borders Tanzania and is situated at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, and the melting snow flows into underground springs that feed the swamps and wetlands that dot the plains. These water sources attract animals of all sizes, the most sought-after being– the free-roaming elephants, but you may also see elands, waterbucks, grant's gazelles, warthogs, coke's hartebeests, zebras and other grazing herbivores. The abundance of large prey supports lions, leopards, civets, wildcats and other elusive hunters, as well as jackals, hyenas and other scavengers. Your guide will also help you locate and identify yellow and olive baboons and black-face vervet monkeys.

A bird watching vacation in Amboseli Park gives you the chance to record your observations of commonly sighted grey-crowned cranes, superb starlings, beautiful sunbird, secretarybird and several more of the 425 feathered resident and migratory species. One of the best vantage points that will give you a true appreciation of the immense natural beauty of Amboseli is the Observation Hill, a perfect location for sundowners, and the stunning sunsets are not to missed by photographers. The proud Maasai people continue to live outside the park borders, following their ancient traditions and tending to their cherished cattle. AfricanMecca Safaris highly recommends that you visit an authentic village during your exploratory cultural tour in this expanse of East Africa.