Amboseli Ecosystem

The Amboseli ecosystem is unique. No other place in Africa combines the special hydrology, topography, geological and cultural history of Amboseli. Despite modest rainfall, a system of swamps fed by the Kilimanjaro mountain forest catchment supports a spectacular array of birds and mammals, dominated in terms of biomass and visibility by a population of some 1,400 African elephants.

A unique ecosystem

Biosphere Reserve ► in recognition of Amboseli’s special combination of ecology and culture, UNESCO and the Government of Kenya designated the region a Man and the Biosphere reserve in 1991 to conserve its biodiversity, contribute to the development of the local human population and improve the local infrastructure in support of education and research.

Amboseli National Park ► the small but much-visited park at the heart of the ecosystem has been for decades a major attractor for wildlife and tourism. The particular tractability of the elephants arises largely from the long-term field presence of AERP. In this context, AERP works closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the custodian of Amboseli National Park.

Maasai ► overlaid on the transboundary (Kenya and Tanzania) landscape is a traditional system of nomadic pastoralism practiced by the Maasai people, whose faith and pride in their own culture is impressively steadfast in the midst of rapid social and economic development.