Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo-East is one of Kenya’s oldest and largest National Parks: covering approximately 40% of the total area of all Kenya’s National Parks. Its beautiful landscape and proximity to the coast make it a popular safari destination. It is accredited as one of the world’s leading biodiversity strongholds; bushy grassland and open plains alternate with semi-arid acacia scrub and woodlands. Green swathes cross the park where the riverbanks give raise to lush vegetation. North of Galana is a true wilderness.

Tsavo-East is recommended for photographers with its fabulous light and unbelievable views, in particular the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the world’s largest lava flow. Lugard Fall on the Galana River are remarkable for the shaped water-worn rocks.

Game includes: elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, crocodile, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk and zebra and Hunter’s Hartebeest can be seen with its lyre-shaped horns. It is home to some of the largest herds in Kenya, the elephants glow red after dust baths, blowing the vivid red dust through their trunks over their bodies. Some 500 bird species have been recorded in the area, including ostrich and some migratory kestrels, while buzzards stop at Tsavo-East during their long flight south.

Accommodation ranges from lodges, tented camps, campsites and self-help banda sites. A number of leading tour guides offer private safaris across this area. Camel safaris are a feature.

Tsavo West National Park

The park is easy to reach, located off the main Nairobi-Mombasa road, its plains border with Tanzania. It offers tremendous views with diverse habitats ranging from mountains, river forest, plains, lakes and wooded grassland.

In 1900 the notorious “Man Eaters of Tsavo” man-eating lions preyed on the railway linesman building the great Uganda Railway in 1900. The carriage from which they pulled a traveller is on display in Nairobi Railway Museum. Tsavo-West has important historic connections as a major battleground in World War I where British and Germany troops battled for supremacy.

Game includes: leopard, cheetah, buffalo, black rhino, elephant, giraffe, lesser kudu, waterbuck, eland, gerenuk, impala, zebra, lion, plains game, crocodile and small mammals including mongoose, hyrax, dik dik and the nocturnal porcupine. Birdlife is legion and the visitor is constantly meeting with new species.

It is an excellent park for visitors who enjoy walking, offering a number of nature trails and the opportunity to explore the Chaimu volcanic crater and guides are available. Mzima Springs is a star attraction, a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos.

Accommodation: lodges inside the park, tented lodges, public and special campsite and self-help banda sites