What’s so special about Tsavo?
One of Africa’s largest Wilderness Reserves, the park is split into 2 parts:
Tsavo West National Park
- The crystal clear waters of Mzima Springs, together with an underwater observatory, enabling you to view aquatic game.
- Large variety of water-birds found in the sprawling wetland paradise created by waters from the springs.
- The dramatic Shaitani lava flow
- Lake Jipe, fed by runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare Mountains
- Huge herds of elephants, often colored a luminous red due to dust-baths
- A birdwatcher’s paradise, with weavers, hornbills, sunbirds, rollers and raptors commonly seen.
- Close proximity to Amboseli National Park, allowing a combination of both parks in the safari programme
- Rhino sanctuary established here
Tsavo East National Park
- Vast spaces of land, ideal for game watching and solitude
- Fabulous light and fantastic views, ideal for photographers
- The Yatta Plateau which at 290 km, is the world’s longest lava flow
- White water rapids at Lugard Falls.
- Aruba Dam, attracting scores of wildlife and waterbirds
- Close proximity to the coast, making it ideal for day trips from the coast, or for a combination of beach & bush safari.
- Home of the legend of the ‘man-eating lions’ which came about during the construction of the historic Nairobi – Mombasa railroad.
- Mudanda rock, with a natural dam at its base, attracting hundreds of elephants who to come to drink and bathe, especially during the dry season
| Altitude: | 150 – 1800m above sea level |
| Area: | 21812 sq km |
| Location: | South Eastern Kenya, inland from Mombasa |
| Distance from Nairobi: | Tsavo East is 333 kms away & Tsavo West is 240 kms away |
| Climate: | The weather is hot & dry with 2 rainy seasons from March to May and October to December. |
| Vegetation: | Open plains alternating with savanna land & desert scrub, acacia woodlands, rocky ridges & outcrops, riverine vegetation belts & palm thickets. |
| Wildlife: | Elephant, Lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, giant crocodiles, ostrich, hippos, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk, zebra, Aruba hunter’s hartebeest, cheetah, and small mammal including mongoose, hyrax, dikdik & nocturnal porcupine. |
| Birdlife: | 500 bird species have been recorded including ostrich, and some migratory kestrels & buzzards. |
| Roads: | Tsavo West Park has well maintained, all-weather roads. In Tsavo East Park, the northern area above Galana River is inaccessible to the public. |
| Accessibility: | Accessible by road with from Nairobi (245 kms), from Mombasa (110 kms) and most game parks and reserves. Scheduled flights operated once daily from Nairobi by one airline, and from Mombasa once daily, by one airline. |
- Game drives
- Game & bird walks
- Sundowners
- Bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Night game drives outside the park
- Bird watching
- Massage, spa treatments and health club
- Swimming in the lodge pool
- Rock climbing and hiking
- Cave exploration
- River fishing
- Nature trails
- Visit the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
- Walking safari along the Galana River
- Luxury lodges in the park and luxury tented camps outside the park
Best time to visit
All year round