By David Western

ACP has studied the frequency and impact of drought in Amboseli over the past 47 years. Western began writing about the deepening threat of drought in the national press in 2000, in what he dubbed the millennial drought. By then wildlife and livestock numbers in Amboseli and across Kenya were in decline due to shrinking range and degrading pastures, leading to a large scale collapse populations in 2009. The Worst Drought published in Swara detailed the collapse in Amboseli  http://www.amboseliconservation.org/storage/Amboseli%20Drought%202009%20Swara.pdf . A further article in Scidev.net based on the long-term studies of ACP in Amboseli looked at the wider implications in the Horn of Africa.

http://www.scidev.net/global/desert-science/opinion/better-grazing-practices-hold-key-to-kenyan-droughts.html. ACP has continued to track the aftermath of the drought in Amboseli (here refer to last update). The NASA Goddard Centre in Washington DC expressed interest in collaborating with ACP to calibrate satellite imagery against the Amboseli monitoring data through the drought period.

The preliminary finding show the prospects of coupling high tech satellite imagery with the low tech ground measurements of pasture and grazing David Maitumo conducts in Amboseli each month.

http://www.earthzine.org/2013/07/22/tracking-vegetation-changes-in-kenyas-amboseli-national-park/

By David Western, Victor N. Mose* , David Maitumo, Winfridah Kemunto, Sakimba Kimiti, Immaculate Ombongi, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

May 20, 2026

As a result of the unseasonal rains in January to April, conditions in Amboseli have changed from a severe drought

By Victor N. Mose

May 12, 2026

Staff at the Embassy of Kenya in Vienna were treated to an “elephant show” following Angela Mumbi’s presentation

By Victor N. Mose

April 4, 2026

The MOSAIC meeting in Montpellier focused on practical solutions for shared environmental and health challenges

Drought in the Amboseli Ecosystem

Authored by : David Western
Posted on July 11, 2013

ACP has studied the frequency and impact of drought in Amboseli over the past 47 years. Western began writing about the deepening threat of drought in the national press in 2000, in what he dubbed the millennial drought. By then wildlife and livestock numbers in Amboseli and across Kenya were in decline due to shrinking range and degrading pastures, leading to a large scale collapse populations in 2009. The Worst Drought published in Swara detailed the collapse in Amboseli  http://www.amboseliconservation.org/storage/Amboseli%20Drought%202009%20Swara.pdf . A further article in Scidev.net based on the long-term studies of ACP in Amboseli looked at the wider implications in the Horn of Africa.

http://www.scidev.net/global/desert-science/opinion/better-grazing-practices-hold-key-to-kenyan-droughts.html. ACP has continued to track the aftermath of the drought in Amboseli (here refer to last update). The NASA Goddard Centre in Washington DC expressed interest in collaborating with ACP to calibrate satellite imagery against the Amboseli monitoring data through the drought period.

The preliminary finding show the prospects of coupling high tech satellite imagery with the low tech ground measurements of pasture and grazing David Maitumo conducts in Amboseli each month.

http://www.earthzine.org/2013/07/22/tracking-vegetation-changes-in-kenyas-amboseli-national-park/

By David Western

ACP has studied the frequency and impact of drought in Amboseli over the past 47 years. Western began writing about the deepening threat of drought in the national press in 2000, in what he dubbed the millennial drought. By then wildlife and livestock numbers in Amboseli and across Kenya were in decline due to shrinking range and degrading pastures, leading to a large scale collapse populations in 2009. The Worst Drought published in Swara detailed the collapse in Amboseli  http://www.amboseliconservation.org/storage/Amboseli%20Drought%202009%20Swara.pdf . A further article in Scidev.net based on the long-term studies of ACP in Amboseli looked at the wider implications in the Horn of Africa.

http://www.scidev.net/global/desert-science/opinion/better-grazing-practices-hold-key-to-kenyan-droughts.html. ACP has continued to track the aftermath of the drought in Amboseli (here refer to last update). The NASA Goddard Centre in Washington DC expressed interest in collaborating with ACP to calibrate satellite imagery against the Amboseli monitoring data through the drought period.

The preliminary finding show the prospects of coupling high tech satellite imagery with the low tech ground measurements of pasture and grazing David Maitumo conducts in Amboseli each month.

http://www.earthzine.org/2013/07/22/tracking-vegetation-changes-in-kenyas-amboseli-national-park/

By David Western, Victor N. Mose* , David Maitumo, Winfridah Kemunto, Sakimba Kimiti, Immaculate Ombongi, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

May 20, 2026

As a result of the unseasonal rains in January to April, conditions in Amboseli have changed from a severe drought

By Victor N. Mose

May 12, 2026

Staff at the Embassy of Kenya in Vienna were treated to an “elephant show” following Angela Mumbi’s presentation

By Victor N. Mose

April 4, 2026

The MOSAIC meeting in Montpellier focused on practical solutions for shared environmental and health challenges

Posted on July 11, 2013

By David Western

ACP has studied the frequency and impact of drought in Amboseli over the past 47 years. Western began writing about the deepening threat of drought in the national press in 2000, in what he dubbed the millennial drought. By then wildlife and livestock numbers in Amboseli and across Kenya were in decline due to shrinking range and degrading pastures, leading to a large scale collapse populations in 2009. The Worst Drought published in Swara detailed the collapse in Amboseli  http://www.amboseliconservation.org/storage/Amboseli%20Drought%202009%20Swara.pdf . A further article in Scidev.net based on the long-term studies of ACP in Amboseli looked at the wider implications in the Horn of Africa.

http://www.scidev.net/global/desert-science/opinion/better-grazing-practices-hold-key-to-kenyan-droughts.html. ACP has continued to track the aftermath of the drought in Amboseli (here refer to last update). The NASA Goddard Centre in Washington DC expressed interest in collaborating with ACP to calibrate satellite imagery against the Amboseli monitoring data through the drought period.

The preliminary finding show the prospects of coupling high tech satellite imagery with the low tech ground measurements of pasture and grazing David Maitumo conducts in Amboseli each month.

http://www.earthzine.org/2013/07/22/tracking-vegetation-changes-in-kenyas-amboseli-national-park/

Recent Posts

By Victor N. Mose

May 22, 2026

Herders in Amboseli gathered under the shade of an acacia tree for a parliamentary style debate on co-production.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose* , David Maitumo, Winfridah Kemunto, Sakimba Kimiti, Immaculate Ombongi, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

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As a result of the unseasonal rains in January to April, conditions in Amboseli have changed from a severe drought

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May 12, 2026

Staff at the Embassy of Kenya in Vienna were treated to an “elephant show” following Angela Mumbi’s presentation

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The MOSAIC meeting in Montpellier focused on practical solutions for shared environmental and health challenges

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Project MOSAIC has launched community-driven One Health Clubs in Amboseli to strengthen local action on resources.

By David Western

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The greatest wildlife spectacles on earth are the migrations of large mammals and birds.

By David Western

December 5, 2025

Short rains failed in Oct to Nov 2025 and heavy post-drought stocking pushed pastures from green to red.

By David Western

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The handing back of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County management on 8th November 2025

By ACP Team

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Our Amboseli Conservation Program Outlook Report gives the state of pastures, livestock, and wildlife health.

By Victor Mose

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Horizontal learning, where local communities and scientists co-design research, remains a central pillar of Mosaic

Contact Us

Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke