Tsavo East and West National Parks

Both Tsavo East and West National Parks present some of the most evocative images of a typical Kenya safari. Though distinct from each other and separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and railway line, they remain complementary and make up the wider Tsavo Conservation Area. In this guide, learn how to make the most of your Kenya safari adventure in one of Kenya’s most iconic and dramatic safari parks.

Tsavo National Park, at a Glance

Tsavo National Park is located in southwest Kenya, near the town of Voi in Taita-Taveta County. This enormous wilderness area sprawls over 22,812 square kilometres, making it the largest and one of the oldest national parks in Kenya, having been officially established and gazetted a wildlife refuge in 1946.

The name Tsavo derives from the Tsavo River, which flows through the park from west to east. The park is bordered by Chyulu Hills National Park to the northwest and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania to the south. It also features the 300-kilometer-long Yatta Plateau—the longest lava flow in the world, which is worth exploring during your trip.   

Tsavo National Park is most famous for;

• Massive herds of dust-red elephants: Tsavo elephants are best known for their distinct reddish appearance. They typically achieve this color by wallowing and rolling in the iron-rich, red volcanic soil, and spraying each other with the midnight blue waters of the palm-shaded Galana River to protect against the sun and insects.
• When a pair of man-eating (maneless) lions terrorized workers during the construction of the infamous Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1898, giving the park international notoriety.
• Dramatic volcanic landscapes: Tsavo is a big, wild, rugged country featuring red earth, lava flows, ancient hills, flat, open plains, river systems, the sprawling Yatta Plateau, baobabs and some of the most beautiful safari landscapes in Africa.
• Pristine wilderness: Unlike Masai Mara which offers easy, concentrated wildlife viewing, Tsavo National Park is more remote, feels raw, real and wonderfully untamed, and offers quick road access to Kenya’s coastal beaches.

Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park spans approximately 13,747 km2 (5,308 sq mi), featuring the Galana River, which receives water from the Athi and Tsavo rivers, the impressive Yatta Plateau (the longest lava flow in the world at 300 kilometers), and the Lugard Falls. The park is virtually flat, with semi-arid grasslands and savannah. Read more

Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park spans approximately 9,065 km2. It is more mountainous and wetter, dotted with swamps, Lake Jipe, Shetani Lava Flow, the Mzima Springs and is home to Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. Read more

Wildlife in Tsavo National Parks

Tsavo National Park is home to most of the larger mammals, including the Big Five, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, lesser kudu, and gerenuk, making for great wildlife viewing in pristine wilderness.

Avid birders have over 500 species to look out for, including kingfishers, buzzards, ostriches, secretary birds, weaverbirds, kestrels, herons, hornbills, and starlings.

Best time to visit Tsavo National Park

The best time to visit Tsavo National Parks is in the dry months of June to October and January to February when wildlife is easier to spot due to sparse vegetation, and animals gather around permanent waterholes.

The wet season (green) from November to December and again from March to May offers excellent bird-watching opportunities when both migratory and endemic birds are present. It is also their breeding season. However, the park can be visited any time of the year.

Getting to Tsavo National Park

Tsavo East is in southeast Kenya, 325 km (201 mi) from Nairobi and 250 km (155 mi) from Mombasa. You can drive to the reserve from Nairobi, Mombasa, or seamlessly connect from other parks, depending on your itinerary. If you’re driving from Lake Nakuru National Park, the distance is roughly 450 km (280 mi) and the driving time is about 7½ hours.

There are no scheduled flights to Tsavo, but there are several airstrips available for charter flights. Airstrips in the East include Voi, Satao, Aruba, Sala, Mopo, and Bachuma, while in the west they include Tsavo Gate, Kamboyo, Jipe, and Kasigau. The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Nairobi, and the smaller Moi International Airport (MBA) is 9 km (6 mi) west of Mombasa.

Accommodation in Tsavo National Park

There’s a wide variety of safari accommodation ranging from classic safari lodges and tented camps to remote wilderness camps spread across both Tsavo East and Tsavo West, commanding spectacular views. Here are our top picks.

• Satao Camp: Tucked away amongst trees overlooking a watering hole, Satao Camp offers rustic safari luxury in the heart of Tsavo East National Park.
• Finch Hattons Luxury Tented Camp is a unique safari retreat in the wilderness of Tsavo West National Park commanding breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Chyulu Hills.

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