Tsavo National Parks, Kenya, Africa

Basic Facts - Tsavo National Park

Tsavo East and Tsavo West measures approximately 20,812 sq kms (Combined). Both are located in Coast region of Kenya and cover Kitui, Machakos and Taita-Taveta Counties at an altitude of between 229m to 2,438m above sea level. Larger mammals include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, black rhino, hippo, giraffe, lesser kudu, child, oryx, Cape buffalo, zebra, yellow baboon, waterbuck, gemsbok, Coke's hartebeest, gerenuk, and gazelle. Crocodile can be found in pools while various fish live in the Park's rivers and springs. Visitor Facilities in Tsavo National Park include Several Safari lodges and campsites. There are plenty of places to stay in the two parks. These range greatly and most of them have a water hole close to the property making game viewing easier.

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More About Tsavo National Park

Tsavo is made up of two separate parks, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. Located in Coast Province of Kenya in between Nairobi City and Mombasa. Tsavo is nearly 22,000km2, being the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. The park was split into two due to the railway going from Mombasa to the interior of Kenya. Today, poaching has all but ended. With the park's great diversity of plants and animals coupled with its well maintained all weather roads,it has become a model national park. The superb signposting leads visitors from one natural wonder to the other. One of these marvels is Mzima Springs which is replenished with over 220 million litres of crystal-clear water everyday from the underground streams originating from the Chyulu Hills, 40-50kms away. Mzima acts as an attraction to many animals and especially elephants that love spending their time here soaking half emersed in the water.

Each year from late September to November, Ngulia has become the base of a unique phenomena. Attracted by the lights of Ngulia Lodge, thousand of migrant birds descend through the mist, which are prevalent at this time of year, only to be netted, ringed and then released.This phenomena has become one of the bird wonders of the world. Reports about ringed birds have been received from as far off places as Oman, Malawi, Iran and Germany. Besides the gigantic elephants, other animals such as lions, some undoubtedly direct descendants of the maneaters of Tsavo, can be seen roaming around in this national park. Among the not so common animals to be found here are fringed-eared oryx, the gerenuk and the lesser kudu. The carnivores found here include serval, hyena, leopard, cheetah and caracal. The landscape is filled with giant baobab tree and which are reputed to live a thousand years. Kilaguni, which was the first lodge to be opened in any park in Kenya, stands at the centre of Tsavo West and was opened by the Duke of Gloucester in 1962. The lodge and its waterhole have an almost permanent population of animals. This feast of flora and fauna combines to make Tsavo of special interest.

To access Tsavo West National Park, there are two main gates to Tsavo are Mtito Gate and Tsavo Gate about 230 and 280kms south east of nairobi on the main A109 Nairobi - Mombasa road. Chyulu Gate in the north west corner of the park is used by vehicles coming into Tsavo West from Amboseli National Park. 4WD and high clearance vehicles are required for this route and especially in wet weather. Other entries are at Ziwani Gate, Jipe Gate and Kasigau Gate. Buses from Nairobi to Mombasa pass near Mtito Andei Gate and Tsavo River Gate. Hitching to these gates is fairly easy,but since walking inside the park is not allowed, visitors without vehicles may have a very long wait here. Buses also run between Voi and and Taveta on the Tanzania border or even to Moshi in Tanzania through the park via Maktau and Mbuyuni Gates.

The main entrance gate into Tsavo East National Park is Voi Gate, about 320 kms south-east of Nairobi, about 5 kms north of Voi town on the A109 Nairobi - Mombasa road. Other gateeds on the main Nairobi - Mombasa road are at Manyani gate, 25kms north of Voi, and at Buchuma gate, 45 kms to the south-east. It is also possible to enter the park on the road from malindi via Sala Gate on the eastern boundary of the park. This route and that alongside river Galana between Manyani gate and Sala Gate, may be impassable during the rains. Its is better to use the less direct route via Aruba dam. Buses ran between Nairobi and Mombasa via Voi. Hitching along this road is fine though people travelling without cars may find access a little difficult at any one of the gates. For more information regarding this topic, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.

Lodging within Tsavo East National Reserve include the Voi Lodge with 100 beds and the Tsavo Safari Camp with 68 beds. Lodges and accommodation outside the Reserve include: the Crocodile Tented Camp, near the Sala Gate, with 26 beds; Ziwani Tented Camp with 32 beds; and the Tsavo Inn with 92 beds. There are many campsite options in this reserve. Voi Gate Public Campsites which are about 0.5 kms inside the park gate, are superb, but unfortunately some are somewhat rundown. Mukwaju Special Campsite is ideal for adventurers. It is 15 kms to the east of Aruba and has no facilities. Due to its isolated nature, it is best for reclusive campers. Other camping sites are Kimunyu campsite, Ndolo Campsite and Sala Gate camping site. Some other sites like Masalini and Crocodile Tented Campsites are not open to the public.

There are three lodges within the boundaries of Tsavo West National Reserve. Lake Jipe Lodge has 74 beds, Ngulia Safari Lodge has 100 beds and Kilaguni Lodge has 106 beds. Located just outside of the Reserve are Finch Hattons with 70 beds, the Ziwani Tented Camp with 32 beds, and the Tsavo Inn with 92 beds. Kitani Safari Camp, which is a special camp, is best suited to experienced campers who must be completely self sufficient. This area can be full of game. As for Jipe Public Campsite located on the lower eastern shore of Lake Jipe, excellent views of the Pare mountains and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania can be obtained at the lakeside site. Other camping sites are Kasigau Gate, Tsavo Gate and Kangechwa..

AfriChoice operates a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to Tsavo National Park by providing transport and booking a hotel for you. Our safari consultants will always be at your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding Tsavo National Park, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.