Tsavo E & West National Parks

The Tsavo E & West National Parks
Tsavo East and Tsavo West together form one of the world's largest national parks, covering 4% of Kenya.

Tsavo East

Tsavo East National Park feels wild and undiscovered; its vast open spaces are mesmerizing. The huge, semi-arid wilderness is home to most safari animals, and although wildlife densities aren’t large, spotting animals is always possible here due to the lack of foliage.

Wildlife

Tsavo East is home to all of the Big Five. The park is a stronghold for elephants, and you’ll commonly find them with a reddish appearance from the distinctive red soil of the area. Tsavo is also famous for its maneless lions. The most localized of the many dry country specials that can be found here is the fringe-eared oryx.

Tsavo East has a good range of unusual antelope. This is one of the few places to see the fringed-eared oryx. The lesser kudu is very shy, but can sometimes be seen darting off into the bushes. The long-necked gerenuk can be found standing on its hind-legs to reach the sparse foliage of trees and bushes. With some luck, you might spot the critically endangered hirola or Hunter’s hartebeest.

Scenery

Tsavo East offers miles of open plains, bushy grassland and semi-arid shrub. The Galana river is a major feature in the park and is fringed by riverine forests. Another scenic highlight is Mudanda rock, a towering, quartzite (hard, metamorphic rock) formation.

Wildlife & Climate

Conditions stay hot and dry throughout the year at Tsavo, with the exception of the park’s higher altitudes where it gets progressively cooler as you head up the hills. The Wet season gets particularly hot, especially the interlude between the so-called ‘short rains’ at year’s end and those of the later ‘long rains’. The Dry season (June to September) brings a little relief from the heat.

Tsavo West

Tsavo West together with its expansive Tsavo East neighbor form one of the largest national parks in the world. The park is home to the Big Five, but wildlife viewing can be a bit slow at times. There are, however, several landmarks worth visiting including recent lava flows and Mzima Springs with its underwater observation chamber for close-up views of hippos.

Wildlife

Tsavo West is a real wilderness destination. All of the Big Five are present, but wildlife densities are lower than in some of the more popular parks in Kenya. However, there is a good variety of animals with many dry-country specials, including the shy lesser kudu and the rare fringe-eared oryx. Large elephant herds can be found gathering at the waterholes.

Wildlife Highlights

The park is one of the best places to see the skittish lesser kudu. The rocky terrain is also a good habitat to look for klipspringers, often found in pairs. Antelope that thrive in arid conditions can also be found here, including the very localized fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk. The drive-through rhino sanctuary increases your chances of spotting the elusive black rhino.

Best Time for Viewing

The best wildlife viewing in Tsavo West National Park is in the Dry season (June to October), although the park is worth a visit any time of the year. During the Dry season, the vegetation is minimal, and animals tend to hang around the few available water sources.

Scenery

Tsavo West has a rugged, arid landscape. In contrast with the flat plains of Tsavo East, Tsavo West is marked by a number of rocky outcrops and volcanic hills. Shetani lava flows, just outside the park, make for a great excursion. On a fine day, the park offers lovely views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Wildlife & Climate

Like its sister park to the east, Tsavo West is a hot and dry place, even if temperatures drop significantly at night. The best place to escape the heat is the higher altitudes of the park, where it cools by 6.5 Deg Celcius /3.5 Deg Fahrenheit for every 1000m/1000ft you climb. The Dry season (June to September) is characterized by bright, sunny days, and the Wet season (October to May) by afternoon showers.

Animal Footprint

What to expect at the Tsavo National Park:

  • Kudu
  • Klipspringer
  • Elephant
  • Lion
  • Leopard
  • Gerenuk
  • Black Rhino
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