Tsavo National Park

Tsavo National Park

Tsavo National Park is one of the main tourist destinations in Kenya and is located in the southeastern part of Kenya, east of Mount Kilimanjaro. The largest (8,036 sqm [20,812 sq km]) of Kenya’s national parks, it was established in 1948. Later that year, for administrative purposes, the park was divided into two; Tsavo East and Tsavo West which are separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and railway line. Tsavo East is relatively flat, while Tsavo West is volcanic and dotted with springs and water holes. Famous man-eating lions in Tsavo national park came to be known as above when two mane-less lions attacked construction workers during the construction of the railway passing through the national park. These lions are among the charms that tourists visiting this national park are concerned about seeing as they discover the destination.

The national park is managed by Kenya Wildlife Services which upholds different tourist facilities in Tsavo national park such as the roads leading to the national park, bridges among other facilities as well as endorsing conservation at the destination.

Kenya wildlife services are also responsible for safeguarding that the tourists follow the rules and regulations out in place in the national park and it also manages, protects, and conserves the wildlife in both the park and in Kenya as a country.

There are entrance fees that are paid by tourists visiting this national park that vary according to foreign residents, nonresidents, and East Africans. Not forgetting, children also do pay different fees from adults during trips to Tsavo national park.

The entrance fees are similar for Tsavo east and Tsavo west national park. Nonresidents pay 52 USD and 35 USD for adults and children respectively while East Africans pay entrance fees for Tsavo national park in Kenyan shillings (KSHS).

• Tsavo River: This runs through Tsavo east national park connecting with the river Athi to form the Galana River.
• Aruba dam: Located east of the Voi gate, Aruba dam is a drinking point for the various wildlife species providing them with water during the dry season of the year and was built by the park authorities.

• Kanderi swamp: This swamp is also a freshwater source for the wildlife species in the national park located near the Voi gate which is an entrance gate to the national park.

In Tsavo west national park

• Wildlife species: Tsavo west national park is among the wildlife viewing destinations in Kenya which attract tourists to go to the destination to see the various wildlife species which include rhinos, hippos, elephants, buffalos, hartebeests, impalas, leopards, fringe eyed oryx, giraffes, lions, elands, kudu among others.
• Mzima springs: Mzima springs which are known to have clear water and hippos and crocodiles consist of four springs in the western part of the national park. A variety of bird species can also be seen in the trees around the Mzima springs.
• Ngulia Rhino sanctuary:  It is home to a number of endangered rhinos which are kept and bred by the Kenya wildlife service and the African wildlife foundation. The black rhinos which are kept at the sanctuary are nocturnal species meaning that it’s rare to see them however not impossible to see these rhino species.
• Shetani lava flow: Tourists can also enjoy viewing the black folded lava which flows across the savannah as well as the amazing views in the surrounding. Shetani means devil which according to the locals describes the time when lava was flowing from the ground and the locals believed that it was the devil himself coming out from the ground.

Activities in Tsavo national park include

• Hiking: Tourists can also engross in hiking escapades during their safaris to Tsavo national park as they enjoy the gorgeous scenery at the destination from a higher viewpoint. The hilly and rugged nature of Tsavo west national park makes it possible to convey the activity.
• Game drives: During morning game drives, tourists can see different wildlife species which are active at this time of day. They are recommended for tourists to get an amazing wildlife viewing experience in Tsavo national park and to catch sight of wildlife species as they graze around the national park such as elephants, buffalos, baboons, warthogs, waterbucks, impalas, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, kudus, antelopes, leopards among others.
• Nature walks Another unique way of sightseeing the beauty is a nature walk which comprises moving around Tsavo national park on foot. This wildlife viewing activity gives the tourists a close interaction with nature around their environs.
• Birding: Bird watchers are also not left out during their safaris to Tsavo national park as they get to see numerous bird species such as ostriches, starlings, storks, pied kingfishers, vulturine guinea fowl, African finfoot, corncrakes, lesser kestrel, martial eagles, reed warbler, northern brown bull, and black-faced sand grouse, red-backed shrikes, among others.

How to get to Tsavo national park

There are different ways which tourists can use to access Tsavo national park to see its different attractions and participate in numerous wildlife viewing activities and these include road means and air or flight means of transport.

• By road: Tourists can drive along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway to reach Tsavo east national park.

• And by flight: There are different airfields that tourists can use to fly to the national park which include; Satao airstrip, Sala airstrip, Voi airstrip, Aruba airstrip, Bachuma airstrip, Ithumba airstrip among others.

For access to  Tsavo west national park, tourists can use booked and charter airlifts. By highway, tourists can drive from Nairobi.

Where to stay in Tsavo national park

During visits to Tsavo national park, there are different places where tourists can stay and these include luxury accommodations, midrange accommodation as well as budget accommodation. The verdict of where to stay depends on different aspects such as the budget of the tourists.

Luxury accommodations include

Sarova salt lick lodge, Satao Camp, Finch Hatton’s camp, Kiboko camp, Rhino valley lodge, Kiboko camp, and many others.

Midrange accommodations include

Asnil Aruba lodge, Severin safari camp, Red elephants safari lodge, Lions bluff lodge, Voi wildlife lodge.

Budget or basic accommodation includes

Lake Jipe safari camp, Manyatta camp, Voyager Ziwani safari camp, Leopard lodge among others.