29/11/2025
Big elephant bull walking down the dry Amboseli lake.
Elephants in Amboseli National Park face significant challenges during the dry season, which typically runs from June to October. Here’s what’s happening:
Water and Food Scarcity: During the dry season, water sources become scarce, and the landscape turns dusty and arid. Elephants, which rely heavily on water and lush vegetation, are forced to congregate around the park’s remaining swamps and wetlands—critical lifelines fed by underground rivers from Mount Kilimanjaro. These areas become overcrowded, increasing competition for resources and stress among the herds.
Population Stress: The Amboseli elephant population, currently estimated at around 1,870 individuals, is highly sensitive to climate variability. Dry years, such as 2022–2023, have led to spikes in calf and elderly elephant deaths, as well as reduced conception rates. Older matriarchs, who act as memory-keepers and leaders, are crucial for guiding herds to water and food, and their loss can destabilize entire family groups. (amboseli.org)
