Just finished a three-day, two-night self-guided trip to Amboseli, which was very feasible and not difficult at all. I’m sharing the detailed itinerary for your reference.
[Day 1: Depart from Nairobi by matatu minibus → Kimana Town]
🚗 Transportation:
Nairobi departure location: NNUS Bus Service
We usually choose Uber or Bolt (which is cheaper) to get to the station. You can tell the driver you are going to Kimana, and he will help you find the right bus. There’s no need to buy tickets at a window for the minibuses in Nairobi; just get on the bus, and the conductor will come to you. The fare is 800 shillings (about 44 RMB) per person, and the journey takes less than 4 hours. If you leave in the morning, you can arrive in Kimana early in the afternoon.
🏨 Accommodation:
I won’t recommend any specific place, but you can check Booking.com in advance or use Google Maps to look for hotels near the town once you arrive. Choose one that suits you.
⚠️ Hotel Warning:
Do not stay at Digital Lounge recommended on Xiaohongshu! There is a bar downstairs, and it gets noisy until 2-3 AM, with the noise so loud that even earplugs can’t block it out. It might be okay if you don’t need to sleep at night, as the price is not high.
🏍 Safari outside the park (motorcycle version):
If you arrive early and have nothing to do, I recommend taking a rest in the afternoon and then finding a motorcycle taxi to take you around the park’s outer perimeter. The whole trip takes about 2-3 hours and costs 1000 shillings (about 53 RMB). The scenery along the way is beautiful, and riding a motorcycle in the wind is very pleasant.
You can see Mount Kilimanjaro and typical African animals like giraffes, elephants, and zebras (I even saw a rare white rhino). On a clear day, you can also see the golden mountain.
🚗 Finding a Safari vehicle:
After returning to the town, you can inquire about the Safari vehicles for entering the park the next day. You don’t even need to actively look for them—people often come up and ask if you want to go on a Safari. If the price and type of vehicle are suitable, you can book it.
Reference price: half-day 15,000 shillings, full day 20,000 shillings (without bargaining). If you don’t want to look in the town, you can also hire a car at the entrance of the park. Reference price: half-day 20,000 shillings, full day 25,000 shillings. However, I’m not sure if they will take you back to Kimana town, or if it’s easy to get a ride at the park entrance.
[Day 2: Park Safari]
There’s not much to say here. Generally, you depart at 6 AM (the chances of seeing a lot of animals are much higher before sunrise and after sunset). The ticket price is 60 USD, and what animals you see depends entirely on your luck.
[Day 3: Return to Nairobi]
The town is quaint and charming, with the boarding point located right on the bustling main street. If walking isn’t your thing, you can easily hail a motorcycle taxi to whisk you off to the bus headed for Nairobi. Be sure to purchase your ticket at the manual window next to the bus—it’s still 800 shillings.
[Summary]
This journey set me back over 1,000 RMB in total. However, if you’re traveling with a group, costs can be significantly reduced. While self-guided tours may not break the bank, the public transportation experience leaves much to be desired. The minibus is cramped, leaving little room for comfort, and there’s often an unavoidable body odor lingering in the air. By the end of the trip, my waist and legs were feeling the strain.
On a positive note, I visited Amboseli at the tail end of April during the rainy season. Despite the season’s name, it proved to be a photographer’s paradise. The grass in Amboseli flourishes, lush and green, while the skies remain surprisingly clear, offering stunning views of the snow-capped mountain peaks. Rain is rare during daylight hours, making this time of year perfect for capturing breathtaking landscapes. It’s absolutely worth the visit!
