Kenya Tsavo East National Park Attractions and Wildlife

The Tsavo East National park has an interesting and diverse history including: the Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used the park as a hunting ground prior to gazettement;

Tsavo National Park is the largest park in Kenya and was established on 1st April, 1948.

Tsavo National Park was split into East and West for administrative purposes. The two Parks are divided by Nairobi–Mombasa railway and road.

The first European to see Mount Kenya, Rev. Dr. L. Krapf, journeyed on foot through this area in 1848; during the construction of the railway bridge over the Tsavo River in 1898, lions (the famed maneaters of Tsavo) terrorised the workers, killing over 130 people before being killed by Col. .H.Patterson.

During World War I, British forces built fortresses along Tsavo river to counter threats from invading German soldiers from Tanganyika (now Tanzania); the European explorer Captain Lugards a European explorer passed through the area on his way to Uganda.

Tsavo East is an easily accessible and very popular Park as is indicated by the high number of tourists. Some of the attractive scenic features include large herds of elephant and other wildlife and striking natural landscapes and structures.

Contact details

PO Box 14, Voi Tel: +254 (0)43 30049Email: enp@africaonline.co.ke

Contact person

Senior Warden

LocationSouth-west Kenya, 2.5 hours from beach hotels to park

Distance from Nairobi

232 km (Mtito Andei Gate), and 250 km north of Mombasaon the main Nairobi-Mombasa road. Note: Nairobi-Voi Gate 325km. Mombasa-Voi Gate 157 km.

Size

21,812 square km

Park fees

Go to www.kws.go.ke or contacttour operator.

Climatic conditions

Hot and dry

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Major attractions of Tsavo East National Park

The park is a ‘catchment’ for visitors from coast resorts withlarge herds of elephants and other wildlife.

Yatta plateau is about 290 km long and is one of the world’s longest lava flows.Lugards Falls on the Galana river – this is not a true fallsbut a series of rapids.

Visitors can walk down to river to view rapids. Mudanda rock is a long rock outcrop that is about 1.6 km long. There is a dam at the base.

Animals can be seen drinking. Visitors can walk along the rock and enjoy a cool breeze as well as view wildlife at the base.Aruba Dam was built in 1952 across the Voi River. The dam attracts many animals and water birds can be seen at thisdam. Tsavo/Athi rivers confluence – when the two rivers join theyform the Galana river.

Wildlife:

Elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, crocodile, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk, zebra and Hunter’s hartebeest Birds: The prolific bird life features 500 recorded bird species.

Access to Tsavo East National Park

Roads: Mtito Andei Gate is located 232 km South of Nairobi and 250 Km north of Mombasa on the main Nairobi- Mombasa Road

.Air: There are several airstrips in the park

Accommodation

Lodge: Voi Safari Lodge Tented Camps: Galdessa camp, Epiya Chapeyu Camp, Tsavo Safari Camp (Cottar’s), SataoCamp, Sobo, Patterson Safari Camp, Aruba, Tarhi, Ndololo

Public Campsites: Kanderi,Visitors bring their own camping gear. 

Special Campsites (northern area): Wamata, Makalia, Ithuri; (southern area): Kanderi, Durusirikale,Mbuyu KWS accommodation: Education centre hostels

Best time to visit

All year round

Activities

Game viewing; walking Safaris along the Galana; bird watching.

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Safari Lodges and Hotels in this area

Sentrim Tsavo East › | Kuwinda Camp -Luxury Tented Camp › | Finch Hattons Tented Camp › | Ziwani Voyager Safari Camp › | Severin Safari Camp › | Ol Donyo Wuas in Kenya › | Tsavo Mashariki Camp › | Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge › | Voi Safari Lodge › | Ngutuni Lodge in Kenya› | Ashnil Aruba Lodge › | Galdessa Camp › | Kulalu camp › | Lions Bluff Lodge › | Manyatta Camp › | Ndololo Camp › | Rock Side Camp › | Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge › | Satao Camp › | Taita Hills and Saltlick Wildlife Resort › | Tarhi Safari Camp › | Voi Wildlife Lodge and Safari Spa › |

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Special Lodges in Tsavo East Park

Ashnil Aruba Lodge › | Galdessa Camp › | Ora Resort Mashariki Camp › | Satao Luxury Tented Camp › | Epiya Chapeyu › | Kulalu Camp › | Manyatta Camp › | Tsavo Safari Camp - Kitaani Kya Ndundu › | Voi Safari Lodge › | Patterson's Safari Camp › | Ndololo Camp › | Voi Wildlife Lodge › | Ithumba Camp › | Tsavo Buffalo Camp › | Kilalinda Camp › | Ngutuni Lodge › |