Where to go

Tsavo East and West

A park making up 40% of Kenya's protected land

Tsavo East and West
Tsavo East and West

Making up approximately 40% of Kenya's protected land, Tsavo East and Tsavo West together span a vast area of wilderness that offers something for everyone. The area that they cover (and heading west into the Chyulu Hills) is a series of laval flows and chimneys flanked by the Yatta Plateau to the west.

Slightly larger and less accessed, Tsavo East is a marginally better choice than the western side, but both offer great scenery and, as the dense bush dries back in the winter months, very good game viewing and birding that is second only to Naivasha.

The only real drawback to the parks is that the main road that connects Mombasa with Nairobi cuts clean through the centre. This makes both parks far more accessible to day trippers out of Mombasa and those on their way through from Nairobi. On the whole, combined with reduced game numbers, there are other parks in Kenya that we prefer.

Best time to visit Tsavo East and West:

  • YJan
  • YFeb
  • YMar
  • MApr
  • MMay
  • YJun
  • YJul
  • YAug
  • YSep
  • YOct
  • YNov
  • YDec
  •   = Yes   = No   = Maybe

    At a glance...Tsavo East and West

    • Size Tsavo East: 13,747 square kilometres. Tsavo West: 9,065 square kilometres
    • Location Southeast of Kenya
    • Recommended time 3-4 nights
    • Time to visit All year round
    • Safari Activities Walking, driving
    • Topography Vast flat plain of sandy soil, split by the the Galana River
    • Main species Most famous for its dust-red herds of elephant, great birding

    Further reading...

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