Tsavo National Park

The basics

Tsavo East National Park is best known for its herd of elephants dusted red from wallowing and playing in the Galana River mud. Elephant herds, along with the other Big Five (lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, and rhinos), are often spotted on the great plains. You can also view the Yatta Plateau—a 186-mile (300-kilometer) lava flow—on this side of the park.

On the other side of the Nairobi-Mombasa Road, Tsavo West National Park extends south toward the Tanzania border and makes for a rugged change of scenery. Adventurers can see the gush of crystal-clear water from the volcanic Mzima Springs, observe the Shetani lava flows, or spot hippos and Nile crocodiles floating lazily in pools. You can also partake in rock climbing, hiking, and caving.

Things to know before you go

• Most tours offer full-day or multi-day guided excursions into the park.
• Don’t forget to bring binoculars, a camera, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Do not approach, pet, or feed the wildlife.
• Bring plenty of drinking water and a picnic with you.
• A selection of lodges and campsites are available for reservation.

How to get there

Depending on the part of the park you want to explore first, you can access Tsavo National Park by car from the Chyulu Gate from Amboseli, the Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi, or the Tsavo Gate near Manyani if you are headed from Mombasa. There are also three airstrips inside the park.

When to get there

The best time to visit is during Kenya’s dry seasons of July through October and January through February. The park is open all year round.

Things to do in Tsavo West National Park

Though Tsavo East may be the better-known section of the national park, Tsavo West has plenty of sites such as Poacher’s Lookout and Roaring Rocks—incredible vantage points to observe moving herds. And separated by the Tanzania-Kenya border is Lake Jipe, which teems with life and is a good spot for bird-watching.