Observation Hill is the obvious high point in an otherwise flat park — a rocky volcanic outcrop rising above the surrounding lakebed with panoramic views in every direction. The climb takes ten minutes and the view is worth far more: the swamps spread out below, Kilimanjaro fills the southern skyline on clear mornings, and you can watch game moving across the lakebed from above, spotting the dark masses of elephant herds against the pale dust.
Dawn and dusk are the classic times. In the early morning before the haze builds, Kilimanjaro is often completely clear and the swamp is alive with birds. In the late afternoon the light goes golden and the mountain catches the last colour of the sun. A pair of binoculars is useful for scanning the distance from the summit.