The Amboseli Park was established as a nature reserve in 1968 and in 1974 was gazetted as a national park to protect a wide range of mammal species and bird species. It covers an area of 39,200 hactares with and altitude of 1,100 - 1,200 meters. Amboseli National Park lies immediately north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. It is surrounded by six communally - owned group ranches that are wet-season dispersal areas for wildlife, and whose management has direct influence on the ecological stability of the park. The park covers part of a Pleistocene lake basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, 'Lake' Amboseli, which floods during years of heavy rainfall. The Amboseli area is in the rain-shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and receives only 300 milimeters of rain/year on average.

However, water flowing underground from Mount Kilimanjaro wells up here in a series of lush papyrus Cyperus papyrus swamps that provide dry-season water and forage for wildlife. Tracts of attractive Acacia xanthophloea woodland flank these. Open Acacia tortilis woodland also occurs on drainage lines in the southern part of the park. Acacia - Commiphora bushland surrounds the basin, while the level floor, with alkaline soils, supports thickets of Salvadora persica and Suaeda monoica. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season. This, with the picturesque surroundings dominated by the imposing Mount Kilimanjaro, has made Amboseli a major tourist destination, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year.

The park has a rich bird fauna, with over 400 bird species recorded, including over 40 birds of prey. Many wetland birds use, and at times nest in, the swamps. Several species of global conservation concern occur, including Falco naumanni (on passage), small numbers of non-breeding Ardeola idae (mainly May - October) and Phoenicopterus minor (present in variable numbers, up to a few thousand). Balaeniceps rex has been recorded once. Regionally threatened species include Anhinga rufa (scarce non-breeding visitor), Casmerodius albus (usually present in small numbers); Thalassornis leuconotus (occasional visitor), Trigonoceps occipitalis (uncommon resident); and Polemaetus bellicosus (resident in small numbers)

Birdwatching in the park is done while in the car, but there are designated places, like the campsite and picnic sites where alighting from the car is allowed

Common Birds in Amboseli National Park include;

Common Ostrich, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, African Pygmy Goose, Southern Pochard, Helmeted Guineafowl, Knob-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Harlequin Quail, Coqui Francolin, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, African Water Rail, Hartlaub's Bustard, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Kittlizt's Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Spotted Thick-knee, Grey Crowned crane, Long-toed Plover, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck's Courser, Double-banded Courser, Dwarf Bittern, Saddle-billed Stork, Black-winged Kite, Brown Snake Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Ruppell's Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Blue-naped Mousebird, Bateleur, Shikra, Von der Decken's Hornbill, Green Woodhoopoe, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-and-yellow Lesser Kestrel, Barbet, Little Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Striped Kingfisher, African Pygmy Falcon, White-crested Helmetshrike, Brubru, Sulfur-breasted Bushshrike, Golden Pipit, Pygmy Batis and Temminck's Stint.