Tsavo East National Park Kenya

Tsavo East National Park, being established in 1948, is the largest national park in Kenya which covers around 11,750 KM². Long before its formation, mane-less male lions attacked and killed more than a hundred railway workers who were building the Kenya Uganda railway from Mombasa.

“Theatre of the Wild” The sight of dust-red elephant wallowing, rolling, and spraying each other with the midnight blue waters of palm-shaded Galana River is one of the most evocative images in Africa This, along with the 300 kilometre long Yatta Plateau, the longest lava flow in the world, make for an adventure unlike any other in the Tsavo East. The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust –red elephant, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk, and the prolific birdlife features 500 recorded species.

With over 300 plus bird species, and African wildlife and scenery that will make your jaw drop, we couldn’t recommend visiting Tsavo East National Park enough for a birding tour. It’s a truly incredible and unique birding experience some of the common birds seen are Two-banded Courser, Somali Courser, Somali Crombec, Somali Sparrow, Red-winged Lark, Three-streaked Tchagra, Black-headed Plover, Spotted Thick-knee, Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, Fischer’s Starling, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Eastern Paradise Whydah. Taita White-eye, Taita Thrush and Taita Apalis, Other birds will be likely too including Stripe- cheeked Greenbul, African Paradise Flycatcher, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Crowned Eagle and Great Sparrow hawk.

Size of Tsavo east national park

Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya at 13,747 square kilometers. Situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert it opened in April 1948 and is located near the town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County of the former Coast Province.

Location of Tsavo east national park

Tsavo East National Park · Tsavo East National Park located in south-eastern Kenya near Voi in Taita Taveta County

How to get to Tsavo East national park

By Roads

Note: Distance from Nairobi to Tsavo East National Park is 330km and 170km from Mombasa.

The park Mtito Andei Gates is 233 km South of Nairobi and 250 km North of Mombasa on the main Nairobi- Mombasa Road. Distance Nairobi-Mtito Andei: 233 km – Mtito Andei-Voi: 96 km – Voi-Mombasa: 153 km. From Malindi, take the western road (C103) and enter the park via Sala gate.

Airstrips: Voi, Aruba, Satao, Sala, Ithumba, Sangayaya, Mopeo, Bachuma, Cottars,

Things to do in Tsavo east national park

Rhino Valley game drive

The Rhino Valley is a great spot for wildlife watching, and also one of the most appealing

Tsavo East National Park is inhabited by huge families of Gazelles, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, and Zebras among other wild cats and bird-life. The area is dry covered with thorny bushes and swamps that sustain the life of the wildlife found there.

Shatani Lava flow

The Shetani Lava Flow exposes the landscape to a bleak lava stream, which dried up around 200 years ago.

Mzima springs

The Mzima Springs is a freshwater pool with an underwater viewpoint, where you if you are lucky, can spot swimming hippos. It’s one of the only spots in Tsavo where you can walk around unguided.

Climbing the roaring rocks

When to Visit Tsavo East national park

Tsavo West is best visited in the dry months from June to October and January to February. Although the park can be visited any time of year, wildlife viewing during the height of the Wet season (November, April, and May) is not recommended.

Where to stay in Tsavo East national park

The Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge

This lodge is only a short distance from the Mtito Adei Gate. The lodge has its own watering hole, which is visited by plains game every day. The lodge’s cool, quiet atmosphere makes it perfect for observing wildlife.

The Ashnil Aruba Lodge

The Ashnil Aruba Lodge lies at the heart of Tsavo East and is located on the banks of the Aruba Dam. The dam was constructed to add sport fishing to the park’s list of attractions. Several nearby watering holes make it easy to spot local fauna.

Voyager Ziwani Camp

Here you will get a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro as well as opportunities to view the many different wildlife species that Tsavo West offers. Its location on the Sante River is also home to turtles and hippopotamuses.

The Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge

One of Kenya’s most famous lodges, this lodge is renowned for the hospitality of its staff as well as for its location. It overlooks a watering hole and the Tsavo plains. Because the lodge is constructed on stilts, guests are able to view the game in all directions 24 hours per day.

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge

Located in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, this lodge offers guests luxury as well as excellent game-viewing opportunities. The lodge consists of more than 28,000 acres and is unfenced so elephants and other animals can roam with relative freedom.