Visit Tsavo National Park Kenya
Tsavo National Park is one of Kenya’s main tourist destinations, located in the southwestern part of the country. It is divided into two sections: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. The park is famous for its large populations of lions, some of which were historically called the “Man-Eaters,” as well as for other animal species like herds of elephants.
Covering 13,747 square kilometers, Tsavo is among the oldest national parks in Kenya, situated in the southeastern part of the country. It consists of Tsavo West and Tsavo East, separated by a railway line. Known for its man-eating lions, Tsavo National Park also features rugged landscapes with mountains and wooded grasslands in Tsavo West.
In contrast, Tsavo East is characterized by semi-arid grasslands and Savannah, where various wildlife can be observed. The notorious man-eating lions gained fame when two maneless lions attacked construction workers during the railway’s construction through the park. These lions are among the attractions that draw tourists interested in seeing unique wildlife.
Discover Tsavo National Park
Managed by Kenya Wildlife Services, the park has various facilities, including roads, bridges, and conservation efforts. The agency also ensures visitors follow park rules and regulations while managing, protecting, and conserving wildlife across Tsavo and Kenya as a whole. Entrance fees vary depending on whether visitors are foreign residents, non-residents, or East Africans.
Children pay different fees from adults during safaris. Non-residents pay USD 52 for adults and USD 35 for children, while East Africans pay in Kenyan shillings (KSHS). The fees are similar for both Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Tourists can enter Tsavo West through several gates, such as Maktau, Mbuyuni, Jipe, Ziwani, Chyulu, and Kasigau.
The main entry routes include Mtito Andei from Nairobi and the Chyulu gate. Accessing Tsavo East is possible via Manyani, Voi, Buchuma, and Sala gates. Attractions during safaris to Tsavo include diverse wildlife: Tsavo West is home to rhinos, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, hartebeests, impalas, elands, fringe-eyed oryx, giraffes, and kudu.
Visitors can also visit Mzima Springs, known for its clear water, hippos, and crocodiles, fed by a natural reservoir under the Chyulu Hills. The springs support the surrounding wildlife and are surrounded by trees hosting vervet monkeys and numerous bird species.
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, located at the base of Ngulia Hill, protects endangered rhinos, mainly black rhinos, which are nocturnal and rarely seen. The sanctuary helps boost rhino populations along with other wildlife such as elephants.
The Shetani Lava Flow offers views of black lava flowing across the savannah, alongside various wildlife and volcanic formations like Shetani caves—formed through volcanic activity. The name “Shetani,” meaning “devil,” relates to local beliefs about the lava flow’s fiery origins. This site can be accessed via the Chyulu gate into Tsavo West.
In Tsavo East National Park;
The adjoining Tsavo East National Park also has various attractions which can be seen during a safari to the destination, and they include the following;
- River Galana: Different wildlife species gather around River Galana which is among the attractions in Tsavo East National Park. The source of this river is the highlands in the south eastern part of Kenya and it flows through the national park and into the Indian Ocean. During a visit to River Galana, tourists can also see crocodiles as they explore the beauty of Tsavo east national park.
- Yatta plateau: The Yatta plateau is among the relief features at this destination and is an attraction that lies between River Athi and River Tavi. The plateau is characterized by plain wide valleys as well as shallow, spaced valleys which were formed as a result of lava flows.
- Lugard Falls: Tourists can also visit the Lugard Falls during their safaris to Tsavo East National Park, and it is an attraction formed along the Galana River. This attraction is characterized by rock patterns of cooled lava. The falls were named after Lord Fredrick Lugard as he made his way through the region. The rapids were formed as a result of the interruption of the river flow by sculpted channels and rocks. At the bottom of the falls, tourists can see wildlife species buffalos and hippos as well as crocodiles in the pool formed at the bottom of the falls.
- Mubanda rock: This rock stands out from the rest of the national park and is located near the Manyani gate in Tsavo East National Park. During the dry season, wildlife species gather around the water catchment area near the stratified rock which makes it easy for tourists to see the various wildlife species during their safaris as they watch the wildlife drinking from the pool.
- Aruba dam: Located east of the Voi gate, Aruba dam is a drinking point for the various wildlife species which can be seen, such as waterbucks, zebras, warthogs, elephants, duikers, hartebeest, dik dik, leopards, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, among others. it provides water for the wildlife species during the dry season of the year and was built by the park authorities.
- Kanderi swamp: Another attraction which tourists can enjoy seeing during their visits to is the Kanderi swamp. This swamp is also a freshwater source for the wildlife species in the national park. The swamp is also located near the Voi gate which is an entry gate to the national park.
- Tsavo River: Tsavo River is another attraction that can be seen at this destination and it runs through the park. The river connects with Athi River to form the Galana River.
Activities which tourists engage in during their safaris in Tsavo national park include the following;
Game drives: Tourists can engage in game drives as they explore Tsavo national park to see its different wildlife species and other attractions around the national park. These game drives take place at different times of day and they include morning game drives, afternoon or evening game drives as well as full day game drives.
During morning game drives, tourists can see different wildlife species which are active at this time of day. They are recommended for tourists to get an amazing wildlife viewing experience in Tsavo national park and to catch sight of wildlife species as they graze around the national park such as elephants, buffalos, baboons, warthogs, waterbucks, impalas, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, kudus, antelopes, leopards among others.
Full day game drives are also among the game drives which tourists can engage in during their safaris to Tsavo east national park. This form of game drive enables tourists to see wildlife species and observe their way of life at different times of day.
Night game drives can also take place in the national park to see the nocturnal wildlife species. Ranger guides accompany tourists during the night game drives during which photography and filming can be carried out.
Birding: Bird watchers are also not left out during their safaris to Tsavo national park as they get to see various bird species such as ostriches, starlings, storks, pied kingfishers, vulturine guinea fowl, African fin foot, reed warbler, corncrakes, lesser kestrel, martial eagles, northern brownbul, and red backed shrikes, black faced sand grouse among others.
Mzima springs are a good birding location in Tsavo West National Park where tourists can also enjoy amazing views and see monkeys in the trees near the springs, as well as hippos and crocodiles.
Nature walks: Another unique way of exploring the beauty is a nature walk, which involves moving around Tsavo National Park on foot. This wildlife viewing activity gives the tourists a close interaction with nature in their surroundings.
These nature walks take place in the company of a ranger guide who shares information about the different attractions that can be seen at the destination as they follow different routes in the park.
Hiking: Tourists can also engage in hiking adventures during their safaris to Tsavo, as they enjoy the beautiful scenery at the destination from a higher viewpoint. The hilly and rugged nature of Tsavo West National Park makes it possible to carry out the activity.
During hiking, the climbers can also enjoy seeing wildlife species such as elephants roaming in the plains. The different rocks which are climbed give the tourists a unique climbing experience due to the nature of the climbs that can sometimes be difficult and strenuous and at times requiring less effort.
How to get to Tsavo National Park
There are different ways which tourists can use to access Tsavo national park to see its different attractions and engage in various wildlife viewing activities and these include road means and air or flight means of transport.
By road, tourists can drive along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway to reach Tsavo east national park. And by flight, there are different airstrips which tourists can use to fly to the national park and these include Voi airstrip, Aruba airstrip, Satao airstrip, Sala airstrip, Ithumba airstrip, Bachuma airstrip among others.
To access Tsavo West, visitors can use scheduled and charter flights. By road, tourists can drive from Nairobi.
Where to stay
During visits to Tsavo National Park, there are different places where tourists can stay and these include luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations as well as budget accommodations. The choice of where to stay depends on different factors, such as the budget of the tourists.
Luxury accommodations include Finch Hattons camp, Sarova Salt Lick Lodge, Rhino Valley Lodge, Kiboko camp, Satao camp, Kiboko camp and many others.
Midrange accommodations in Tsavo National Park include Voi Wildlife Lodge, Asnil Aruba lodge, Red Elephants Safari Lodge, Severin Safari Camp, and Lions Bluff Lodge.
Budget or basic accommodation includes Lake Jipe safari camp, Manyatta camp, Voyager Ziwani safari camp, Leopard lodge among others.
Experience the wilderness of Tsavo National Park as you relax and explore the home of the man-eating lions while engaging in different wildlife viewing adventures by planning your safari with Focus East Africa tours.
