TSAVO NATIONAL PARK, MOMBASA COASTAL AREA, KENYA

At almost 22,000km2, Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest on Earth. Due to its size the park was split into two - Tsavo West and Tsavo East. Tsavo is the ideal destination for people who seek solitude and privacy as well as the chance to explore the wilderness on safari.

With its proximity to Mombasa (less than 100 km away) it is also a great safari tour option for those staying on the coast or those planning to relax on Kenya's beaches. Tsavo tour  also combines well with the nearby Amboseli National Park.


Tsavo West


Tall vegetation makes game spotting here a little trickier than in some of the other Kenyan game reserves. The Big Five can be found in the park along with a wide range of antelope species. The main attractions of the park are the few waterholes, built by the lodges to more or less guarantee that their guests will see plenty of wild animals.

Places worth visiting include the Chaimu Crater and the Roaring Rocks viewpoint. These are located just southeast of Kilaguni Safari Lodge; they can be climbed in roughly 15 minutes and offer amazing views over the vast African plains.

The Tsavo West National Park is covered in volcanic cones, rocky outcrops and lava flows. The northern part is the most developed in terms of lodges and infrastructure and has spectacular scenery with a  volcanic landscape carpeted in long grass and dense African bush.


Tsavo East


Across the highway from Tsavo West is Tsavo East. Famous for its large numbers of elephant and spectacular herds of over 1000 buffalo, Tsavo East has more open savannah than its western sibling.


For a number of years only the southern third of the park was open to the public because of the danger posed by poachers. In the past the park was hard hit by poachers who slaughtered horrifying numbers of rhinos, elephant and other game.


Places of interest

There are some interesting geographical features in Tsavo, including the Lugard Falls (this is actually a misnomer as the 'falls' are in fact a series of rapids on the Galana River), and the renowned Mzima Springs (the source of much of Mombasa's fresh water).

At Mzima you can get down to a large pool, a favourite hang out for hippos and crocodiles. There is an underwater viewing chamber where you can observe thousands of primordial strange looking fish. Sadly, you are not going to spot crocodiles or hippos in the game viewing chamber.

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