TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK | “Land of Lava, Springs, Man-Eaters & Magical Sunsets”
From the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the beneath parched lava rock that is the Mzima Springs to the Shetani lava flows, Tsavo West lays.
Tsavo West is a beautiful, rugged wilderness. The savannah ecosystem involves of open grasslands, scrublands, and Acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges consisting of the Poacher’s Lookout the place site visitors can see the teeming herds in the plains below.
Tsavo West affords some of the most staggering recreation viewing in the world and sights encompass elephant, rhino, Hippos, lions, cheetah, leopards, Buffalos, numerous plant and chicken species which includes the threatened corncrake and close to threatened Basra Reed Warbler.
Key features
Wildlife
- Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion,Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- dik, Lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupine. Prolific birdlife features 600 species.
Park Size
- 7,065 sq. Km
Climate
- Temperature ranges from 20-300 c and rainfall from 200mm – 700 mm,Two rain seasons: Long rains – March & April & short rains – Nov/ December.
When to go
- All year round
What to take with you
- Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight.
- Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and guidebooks
Park Activities
- Cave exploration
- Game viewing
- Underwater Hippo and Fish watching
How to get there
- Distance: 240 km from Nairobi, 250km from Mombasa (Mtito Andei Gate).
- By air: There are 3 airstrips in the park
- Gates: Tsavo, Lake Jipe, Mtito Andei (Kamboyo HQ), Chyulu, Maktau and Ziwani.
- Roads: The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi.
Visitors from Mombasa also use Tsavo Gate near Manyani.
The Park can also be reached via Taveta – Voi road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe Gates.
- Airstrips: Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau,Finch Hottons, Ziwani, and Maktau airstrips are in good.
Attractions
- The spectacle Mzima Springs is the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the under parched lava rocks, forming the most welcoming and lovely scene in Africa
- Ancient lands of Lions, in 1898 the Uganda railway construction was abruptly halted by the two of the most voracious and insatiable man-eating lions appeared upon the scene, and for over nine month waged intermittent warfare against the railway and all those connected with it in the vicinity of Tsavo.
- A vibrant volcanic arena; molten lava that form Shetani lava spewed from the earth just about 200 years ago and its fiery fury was thought by locals to be work of the Devil.
- Poacher’s Lookout and roaring rocks; the Park abound the panoramic vintage point from which to view the movement of the herds.
- Glorious game drives; Tsavo west offers some of the most magnificent game viewing in the world
- Ngulia Sanctuary; this is where the growing population of highly endangered black rhino are inching from chasm of extinction forced upon them by rampant poaching in the 1960s.
- Lake Jipe, lies astride Kenya and Tanzania boarder and is teeming with aquatic life, Bird watching I also major activity around the lake.
- First World War Site-East African Campaign, Perhaps the most bizarre campaign of the world war was fought in the “Bundu” (Bush) – the barely explored wilderness of thorny scrub and dense forest of Tsavo west. This last ‘gentleman war’ was waged under the code of honor-sometimes; or under guerilla tactics adopted from African tribal fighters. The Guided tours of the Crater, Kichwa Tembo and Mzima fort will enable you trail the real footsteps of the world war veterans.
Accomodation
KWS Self Catering
Campsites
Privately Owned Campsites & Lodges
Kitani Severin Safari Camp/Lodge
Park Entry Fee
| Tsavo West National Park | Citizen | Resident | Non-Resident | ||
| Adults KSH | Child KSH | Adults KSH | Child KSH | Adults USD | Child USD |
| 515 | 215 | 515 | 215 | 52 | 35 |
* Kindly refer to the Conservation Fees document below for other services and charges
* Modes of Payment; MPESA, VISA Card, Direct Deposits to KWS Bank Accounts at any gate
Park Resources
Contacts
Landline: 0202384417
Mobile: 0720968527
Email:tsavowestnp@kws.go.ke
KWS Reservations:
Tel: +254-20-2379407
E-mail: reservations@kws.go.ke
Postal Address:
The Senior Warden,
Tsavo West National Park,
P.O. Box 71-90128,
Mtito Andei,
Kenya.
TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK | “Land of Lava, Springs, Man-Eaters & Magical Sunsets”
