Tsavo National Park
Tsavo is made up of two separate parks, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. Located in Coast Province of Kenya in between Nairobi City and Mombasa. Tsavo is nearly 22,000km2, being the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. The park was split into two due to the railway going from Mombasa to the interior of Kenya.
Tsavo National Park, national park, southeastern Kenya, east of Mount Kilimanjaro. The largest (8,036 square miles [20,812 square km]) of Kenya’s national parks, it was established in 1948. Later that year, for administrative purposes, the park was divided into two smaller units: Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Drained by the Tsavo and Galana rivers, and the Tiva River in the north, the park comprises semiarid plains covered by dormant vegetation (which bursts into luxuriant bloom after a light rain) and acacia and baobab trees. Tsavo East is relatively flat, while Tsavo West is volcanic and dotted with springs and water holes. Wildlife includes elephants, as well as lions, rhinoceroses, buffalo, hippopotamuses, hartebeests and several other species of antelope, and hundreds of species of birds. Poaching, particularly for rhinoceroses and elephants, and brush fires are constant problems. Tsavo East and Tsavo West are separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and railway line..
Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest parks in Kenya, located South East of Kenya near the Town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta District of Coast Province, inland from the Coast, it is 13,747 sq.km.
While the Tsavo West National Park is also located in the Coast Province of Kenya covering an area of 9,065 sq.km. The park was opened in April 1948.
Tsavo East Features
The slightly larger Tsavo East is generally flat, with dry plains across which the Galana River flows. Other features include the Yatta Plateau and Lugard Falls.
Tsavo West Features
Tsavo West National Park is more mountainous and wetter than its counterpart, with swamps, Lake Jipe and the Mzima Springs. It is known for bird life and for its large mammal’s e.g. black rhino, Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, hippo and Masai lion. There are also other smaller animals that can be spotted in the park, such as the bush baby, hartebeest, lesser kudu and Maasai giraffe.
Tsavo has a tropical climate. In winter, there is much less rainfall than in summer. The climate here is classified as Aw by the Köppen-Geiger system. The temperature here averages 25.3 °C. About 1037 mm of precipitation falls annually
The driest month is July, with 19 mm of rainfall. Most precipitation falls in April, with an average of 218 mm.
The warmest month of the year is March, with an average temperature of 27.4 °C. In July, the average temperature is 22.9 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
Tsavo East National Park is the Tsavo lions, a population whose adult males often lack manes entirely. In total there are about 675 lions in the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem.
Wildlife in Tsavo East Park includes the aardwolf, yellow baboon, bat, Cape buffalo, bushbaby, bushbuck, caracal, African wildcat, cheetah, civet, dik-dik, African hunting dog, African dormouse, blue duiker, bush duiker, red duiker, eland, African bush elephant, bat-eared fox, greater galago, gazelle, large-spotted genet, small-spotted genet, gerenuk, giraffe, African hare, springhare, Coke's hartebeest, East African hedgehog, spotted hyena, striped hyena, rock hyrax, tree hyrax, impala, black-backed jackal, side-striped jackal, klipspringer, lesser kudu, leopard, lion, banded mongoose, dwarf mongoose, Egyptian mongoose, marsh mongoose, slender mongoose, white-tailed mongoose, vervet monkey, Sykes' monkey, fringe-eared oryx, clawless otter, ground pangolin, crested porcupine, cane rat, giant rat, naked mole rat, ratel, bohor reedbuck, black rhinoceros, serval, spectacled elephant shrew, bush squirrel, East African red squirrel, striped ground squirrel, unstriped ground squirrel, suni, warthog, waterbuck, plains zebra and Grevy's zebra.
Roads: The park Mtito Andei Gates is 233 km South of Nairobi and 250 km North of Mombasa on the main Nairobi- Mombasa Road. Distance Nairobi-Mtito Andei: 233 km - Mtito Andei-Voi: 96 km - Voi-Mombasa: 153 km. From Malindi, take the western road (C103) and enter in the park via Sala gate.
Airstrips: Voi, Aruba, Satao, Sala, Ithumba, Sangayaya, Mopeo, Bachuma, Cottars,
The parks can be accessed through several gates. Tsavo East can be accessed trough Manyani Gate, Voi Gate, Buchuma Gate and Sala Gate.Tsavo West can be aaccessed through Mtito Gate, Man Eaters Gate, Chyulu Gate and one other near Maktau
Best Time to Visit- Peak season is between July and October, during the migration. Early November and February can also offer excellent game viewing.
Luxury : Finch Hatton's Camp - Tented camps- Tsavo West, Severin Safari Camp - Tented camps , Kilalinda Safari Camp - Lodges East
Mid-Range: Satao Camp - Tented camps- Tsavo East, Ithumba Camp - Tented camps, Kilaguni Serena Lodge - Lodges -Tsavo West, Bluff Lodge - Lodges-Tsavo west,Impala Safari Lodge - Lodges East
Budget: Ngutuni Lodge - Lodges-Tsavo East, Severin Kitani Bandas -Tsavo West, Tsavo Safari Camp - Tented camps West,Voi Wildlife Lodge - Lodges East, Man-Eaters Safari Camp - Tented camps East
Activities –Game viewing, camping, night game drives, visits to Masai cultural villages, ballooning, bush dinner, lunch and breakfast.
Best time to Visit Kenya
One of the best times to visit Kenya is from July to September, during the country’s dry season, which also coincides with the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.
The rainy seasons are also good times to travel, as there are fewer visitors and you can admire the striking emerald vegetation. December in particular is a great time to travel to Kenya, since the rains are short and you have the chance to see newborn animals and migratory bird species. Only the peak of the ‘long rains’ in March, April and May are very wet.
Feature Tour Packages
Kenya Safari Packages
Choice of Safari holidays in Kenya & tours from specialist, expert ... Small group travel: Departs most Sundays and selected Wednesdays throughout the year.
3 Days Masai Mara Fly in Safari
The spectacular Masai Mara Reserve. Aerial views of Kenya's varied landscapes including the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular wildlife throughout the Mara on game drives. 4 x 4 safari vehicles for your comfort and safety.
4 Days Masai Mara Luxury Safari
A fantastic 4-day Budget Safari to Kenya's premier game reserve - the Masai Mara. This Masai Mara Safari departs from Nairobi, Kenya where you will proceed via the Great Rift Valley with its spectacular views and onwards to the beautiful Masai Mara Reserve.
6 Days Kenya Semi Luxury Safari
Book an African safari to Kenya s major National Parks for 5 nights and 6 days to Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara National Reserve ..
6 Days Amboseli Masai Mara Fly in Safari
The spectacular Amboseli Reserve & Masai Mara Reserve. Aerial views of Kenya's varied landscapes including the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular wildlife throughout the Mara on game drives. 4 x 4 safari vehicles for your comfort and safety.
7 Days Kenya Wildlife Viewing Luxury Safari
Book an African safari to Kenya s major National Parks for 6 nights and 7 days to Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara National Reserve ....
8 Days Kenya Annual Migration Luxury Safari
Plan and book your Great Migration safari to Kenya and see the annual Great Wildebeest Masai Mara Migration. The herds arrive in Kenya in late July / August, where they stay for the remainder of the dry season.
4 Days Masai Wilderbeest Migration Safari
The annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya takes place between July and October. The migration generally begins in early April, May and June, when the calves are strong enough and the journey north begins while at Serengeti.
7 Days Best of kenya Tented Camp Safari
7 days 5 National parks Kenya beach areas to Nairobi safari tour across Amboseli National Park, rift valley Lakes Naivasha & Nakuru and including the Masai Mara.
7 Days Kenya Wilderbeest Migration GRP Safari
The Annual Great Migration in Africa is an event like no other wildlife experience. The migration generally begins in early April, May and June, when the calves are strong enough and the journey north begins while at Serengeti..
7 Days Kenya Private Lodge Safari
This Tour takes you to the North of Kenya and Samburu National Reserve. The tour tour offers unique vistas of rounded, rugged hills and undulating plains. Lake Naivasha has a mix of wood and grassland with forest and swamp home to a wide variety of animal and bird-life, Buffalo Springs records
7 Days Kenya Wildlife Viewing Luxury Safari
7 Days/ 6 Nights Kenya Kenya Wildlife Safari offers you the joys of observing prolific wildlife on game drives most stunning parks and reserves, and learn the ways of the Maasai by visiting them in their village.
8 Days Kenya Annual Migration Tented Camp Safari
Plan and book your Great Migration safari to Kenya and see the annual Great Wildebeest Masai Mara Migration. The herds arrive in Kenya in late July / August, where they stay for the remainder of the dry season.