Tsavo West & Tsavo East

 

Tsavo National Park is a staggering 8,000 miles2 in size (which is bigger than Wales) making it Kenya's largest national park.  It lies half way between Nairobi and the coast with the Nairobi to Mombasa road and railway dividing the area into Tsavo West and Tsavo East.  The area is generally fairly arid with a rugged topography - although Tsavo West boasts a more varied landscape incorporating natural springs, swamps, extinct volcanic cones, rolling plains  and dense scrub - whilst Tsavo East remains flatter and drier (making game viewing easier).  Two permanent rivers carry water into the park (the Tsavo River which flows through the western section and the Athi in the East) later joining to form the Galana. 

Over 500 miles of roadways in the Park bring visitors into proximity of a wide variety of game including black rhino, buffalo, giraffe, a number of big cats and an interesting array of antelope. Birdlife here is also prolific with bustards, hornbills, sunbirds, weavers, herons, egrets, vultures, fish eagles, kites, ostrich and many more all regularly seen.

 

Tsavo West

One of the main attractions of Tsavo West is Mzima Springs, the point at which subterranean channels from beneath the Chyulu Hills emerge, producing almost 100 million gallons of crystal clear, fresh water each day.  Here, visitors can go below ground to an underwater viewing chamber to see hippos and large shoals of fish through glass windows.  Other highlights of Tsavo West include Chaimu Crater and the nearby Roaring Rocks viewpoint, both offering sensational views. 

 

Tsavo East

Meanwhile, in Tsavo East visitors are drawn to the lovely Lugards Falls and its fascinating, water-sculpted channels and gullies along with Crodocile Point, where hippos and crocodiles abound.  Another attraction here is Mudanda Rock, a mile-long outcrop and water catchment area, which attracts hundreds of thirsty elephants during the dry season.