Tsavo East National Park

Description and Location of Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park is located about 260km south east of Nairobi, on the main Nairobi to Mombasa road and 140 Kilometers from Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa. Tsavo East is part of the Greater Tsavo National Park that includes Tsavo East and West National Parks and the Chyulu Hills and consists mostly of miles and miles of dry flat thorn-bush, semi-arid acacia scrub and narrow woodland dominated by acacia. The wonderful Baobab trees are also a common sight in the Park. Whilst Tsavo East is huge (over 4500sq miles), most of the park north of the Galana river is closed to the general public with only a few private safari operations permitted to enter.

Flat plains of Tsavo East National Park

Main Attractions in Tsavo East National Park

• Yatta Plateau – one the world’s largest and longest lava flow (300 km long).
• Lugard’s Falls and the Galana River – Easy access to the rapids and possibility to spot majestic landscapes along the river.
• Mudanda Rock is an outcrop rock of 1.6 km long with a large dam at its base. There is possibility to walk at the top of the rock, enjoy the cool breeze and watch wildlife drinking in the dam.
• Aruba Dam – built in 1952 across the Voi river, this dam attracts many bird species and migratory species.
• Wildlife: Tsavo East National Park is home to all of the Big 5 including large amounts of “red” elephants, black rhinoceros, buffalo and Lions.
• Camel safaris and river fishing
• Kandara swamp: With all the lush vegetation along the Voi river and in the swamp, there is plenty of game to see in this area and is a good area to visit within Tsavo East. Look out for the fantastic Voi safari lodge that sits up on a hill and makes a great place to stay if you are visiting Tsavo East National Park.
• The Sheldrick’s Orphaned Elephants: Between 1955 and 1976 Daphne & David Sheldrick were co-wardens of Tsavo (David was the founder Warden of Tsavo East National Park) and it was during this time that they rehabilitated back into the wild not only elephants, but also a whole host of other animals that had for one reason or another needed help. This foundation exist in Nairobi and Tsavo East National Park
• Galana River: The Tsavo and Athi rivers join together to form the Galana river, a permanent river which flows eastwards to the Indian Ocean and Malindi. Follow the road within the park that goes from the Voi gate to Sala gate and follows the Galana river as it must be one of the best drives within the park. Along the way you will also come across the Lugard’s falls and the Crocodile point.

Wildlife likely to be seen in Tsavo East National Park

You can see all of the Big 5 as well as a huge range of other species in Tsavo East National Park including Aardwolf, Caracal, African Wild Cat, Cheetah, African Wild Dog Bat eared fox, Spotted and Stripped Hyena, Black-backed, side-striped and common Jackal, Cape Buffalo, African Elephant, Giraffe Bushbuck, Guenther’s Dik-dik, Kirk’s Dik-dik, Blue Duiker, Common Duiker, Eland, Grant’s Gazelle, Coke’s Hartebeest, Hunter’s Hartebeest, Impala Klipspringer, Lesser Kudu Fringe-eared Oryx, Steinbok, Suni, Waterbuck, Hyrax (Eastern Tree), Hyrax (Rock), Hyrax (Southern Tree), Civet (African and Palm), Genet (Large-spotted), Genet (Small-spotted), Mongoose: Many species including the Nanded, Bushy-tailed, Dwarf, Grey, Marsh, Slender, White-tailed Otter (Clawless), Honey Badger (Ratel), Baboon (Savannah), Bushbaby (Lesser), Galago (Large-eared greater), Galago (Small-eared greater), Monkey (Blue/Sykes/Diademed), Monkey (Green Vervet).

Elephants at a water pan in Tsavo East National Park

How to Get to Tsavo East National Park

• From Nairobi: Take the main Nairobi to Mombasa road (A109) via Voi through the Voi gate or Manyani gate. Distance about 200km
• From Mombasa: Take the main Nairobi to Mombasa road (A109) and enter Tsavo East National Park through the Bachuma gate. Distance is about 150km
• From Malindi: Go to the Sala gate on the (C103) from Malindi, this road was recently graded and is the shortest way from North Coast.

There are six airstrips in the southern part of the park and thirteen in the Northern part. There are no scheduled flights to the Park but chartered light planes can be used.

A mane less lion with lionesses in Tsavo East National Park

Safari Accommodation in Tsavo East National Park

• Voi Safari Lodge
• Voi Wildlife Lodge
• Ndololo Safari Camp
• Ashnil Aruba Lodge
• Patterson’s Safari Camp
• Sentrim Tsavo Safari Camp
• Ashnil Aruba Lodge