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 park has an interesting and diverse history including: the Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used the park as a hunting ground prior to gazettement; 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. J.H.Patterson. During World War I, British forces built fortresses along Tsavoriver 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.

Climatic conditions

Hot and dry

Major attractions

• The park is a ‘catchment’ for visitors from coast resorts with large 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 falls but 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 this dam.
• Tsavo/Athi rivers confluence – when the two rivers join they form 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

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), Satao Camp, 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.

Tsavo west National Park

Tsavo West National Park covers approximately 30 per cent of Kenya’s park area, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from Mtito Andei, along the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The north-eastern boundary along the highway adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more

diverse array of habitats than its neighbour. The park’s habitats include open plains alternating with savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated

hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest. There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava

flows and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volcano. In the far south-western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from Mount Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains. At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.

Visitors have an opportunity to view animals under water through a glass house, man eaters – caves where 2 lions were shot in Tsavo West by Col. Patterson, railway bridge forms boundary.

Climatic conditions

Temperature ranges from 20-30°C and rainfall between 200 and 700mm. Two rain seasons: long rains in March and April and short rains – November and December.

Major attractions

Recent volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for geological and cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima Springs and underwater hippo and fish watching, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mount Kilimanjaro, elephant, diverse bird and plant species.

Wildlife

Leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, buffalo, rhino, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, plains game, crocodile, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik, lesser kudu and porcupine. Prolific birdlife features 600 recorded species

Access

Roads: The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi (240 km) and Mombasa. Visitors from Mombasa also use Tsavo Gate near Manyani. The park can also be reached via the Taveta-Voi road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe gates.

Air: Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hattons, Ziwani and Maktau airstrips are in good condition.

Accommodation

Lodges: Ngulia Lodge, Kilaguni Serena Lodge, Severin Safari Camp/Lodge, Finch Hattons

KWS self-catering accommodation: Kamboyo Guest House Best time to visit All year round

Activities

• Boat excursion at Lake Jipe;
• bird watching at Lake Jipe;
• annual bird ringing at Ngulia lodge;
• hill and rock climbing at Chaimu and Ngulia Hills;
• caving at Shetani Caves.

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