Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya and it is located near Voi town  just 2 hours hours drive from Mombasa. The park  lies equidistant between Nairobi and Mombasa.

'Red Elephants' of Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Tsavo East National Park's elephants get their distinctive color from wallowing in and dusting themselves with the park’s red soil.

Tsavo East is generally flat, with dry plains, hills and scattered acacia scrubland.

The park is a must for professional photographers for its landscapes, its lighting and is famous for its large herds of big mammals (such as elephants, buffalos and lions).

Red Earth Road - Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Tsavo East National Park Attractions

  • Mudanda Rock - a 1.6 km inselberg of stratified rock that acts as a water catchment that supplies a natural dam below. It offers an excellent vantage point for the hundreds of elephants and other wildlife that come to drink during the dry season.
     
  • Yatta Plateau - the world's longest lava flow, runs along the western boundary of the park above the Athi River. Its 290 km length was formed by lava from Ol Doinyo Sabuk Mountain.
     
  • Aruba Dam - was built in 1952 across the Voi River. The reservoir created by the dam attracts many animals and water birds
     
  • Wildlife - Tsavo East National Park is one of the world's largest game reserves, providing undeveloped wilderness homes to vast numbers of animals some of which include four of 'Africa's Big Five' - Elephant, Buffalo, lion and leopard, zebras, giraffes a wide variety of antelopes and bird species

Lionesses at rest - Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Tsavo East National Park was made famous by a pair of mane-less male lions who terrorized the area killing over 135 workers during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway in the 1898. These man-eaters dragged men out of their tents despite the thorn fences (bomas) built to keep them away till they were shot dead by the Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson. This story inspired the famous 1996 film “The Ghost and the Darkness”. 

Other Facts 

  • One of the oldest and the largest of Kenya's parks, Tsavo East covers 13,747 sq.km.
  • Access Points: Tsavo East can be accessed through Manyani Gate, Voi Gate (approximately 170 Kilometers from Mombasa - 3.5 hours drive), Buchuma Gate (approximately 120 Kilometers from Mombasa - 2.5 hours drive) and Sala Gate (approximately 110 Kilometers from Mombasa - 2 hours drive).

    The parks closeness to the Kenya Coastal beach resort towns of Mombasa, Diani, Malindi and Watamy  make it an ideal one day wildlife safari destination for those who do not want to stay overnight.

  • Best Time for Wildlife Safari: Tsavo East can be visited throughout the year, but the best time for wildlife viewing is from June to October – in the Dry season. During this season, the vegetation is thinner, and animals congregate around predictable sources of water.

African Hunting Dogs - Tsavo East National Park, Kenya 

Safari Tours to Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, Kenya

Safaris to Tsavo East National Park are most commonly combined with tours to Tsavo West National Park, Taita Hills Game Sanctuary or Amboseli National Park - or what is commonly referred to as the Southern Kenya Safari Circuit.

Sample Safaris to Tsavo East National Park and the nearby parks include

Safaris to the park (or any of the other parks in the Southern Kenya Safari Circuit) can begin from;