It is referred to as the theatre of the wild because of The sight of dust-red elephant wallowing, rolling and spraying each other. is one of the oldest, and is the largest national park in Kenya, and together with Tsavo West covers just over 20,000 square kilometres, or 4% of Kenya.
Tsavo East National Park is the Kenya's oldest and largest national park. Its characterized with rugged volcanic landscape, along with the 290km (180 miles) long Yatta Plateau, the longest lava flow in the world, (also the oldest fossilized lava flow on Earth) make for an adventure unlike any other in the Tsavo East.
Named after the river that flows through the parks, Tsavo is split into two national parks, Tsavo East and Tsavo West, and is divided by the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
The park has more biodiversity than any other park globally, as it marks the meeting point between northern and southern wildlife.
The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya Spanning 13,747 square kilometres of pristine wilderness and is home to most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust –red elephant, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
It is 9 times bigger than the Maasai Mara and is well known for its mane-less lions, big herds of red dust-covered elephants, and cheetah.
It is ideal for those who wish to combine their Safari with a beach Holiday because of its location which is halfway between Nairobi and Mombasa.
The vegetation here is sparse, whereas the topography is flatter and drier making wildlife spotting generally easier than its more dramatic counterpart Tsavo West National Park.
The Tsavo, Galana and Athi rivers form part of the vital Tsavo ecosystem due to its dense vegetation along its way as well as major great spots to watch wildlife.
How does Tsavo East National Park Feature in Your Tour Plan.
Tsavo East National Park is perfectly situated halfway between Nairobi and the Kenyan coastal resorts. This means Tsavo is perfect match to combine with a beach holiday because it is located halfway between Nairobi and the Kenyan Coast.
Diani Beach, located just 30km south of Mombasa and approximately a four-hour drive from Tsavo East, is a stunning tropical paradise and has been awarded the best beach destination in Africa for five years running.
Tsavo is also often visited together with Amboseli National Park, Tsavo East & West National Park which contrasts with the semi-arid landscapes of Tsavo, and is instead made up of swamps, woodland and areas of open plains.
Amboseli National park lies in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the south of Kenya and is adjacent to Tsavo. It is roughly a six-hour drive from Tsavo, with game viewing opportunities on the way and four hours from Nairobi if you plan on starting with Amboseli.
The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi. Visitors from Mombasa will make use of Tsavo Gate near Manyani.
Things to Do.
1. Game Drives.
Tsavo National park is home to numerous animals, including The Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo.
The peripherals along the rivers are home to most of birds, primate wildlife and crocodiles.
To make best use of the game drives, the best times are in the early morning or evening before it gets too hot. Most often the game drive will include a stop at the Laggard Falls, which is a series of white rapids on the Galana River and the Yatta Plateau, for a picnic lunch.
2. Bush Breakfasts, Picnics and Sundowners
At Tsavo East, there are many optional setups for meals besides the lodging dining hall. For a memorable visit options such as a breakfast set up overlooking the Yatta Plateau or a picnic under the shade of a tamarind tree is just but ways of heightening the fun.
Hot and freshly prepared food and drinks are preserved in the back of the safari vehicle, ready for the meal time
As the day comes to an end, watch the coral sun sink behind the hills from a scenic rocky escarpment, ice-cold drink in hand. In Africa, we call this sundowner.
3. Bird Watching.
Tsavo East National Park has a record number of over 500 bird species.Most of which are dry-country specials which are easy to spot, including the majestic Golden-breasted starling, golden pipit and vulturine guinea fowl. The park is also the southernmost stronghold for the Somali ostrich and is a significant wintering ground for migrant species from Europe. Migrant birds are present from November to April.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Tsavo East is in the dry season from July to September and December to March..
These months provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities as the grass is short and the animals are drawn to water sources, especially to the river banks..
It is generally advised to avoid March to May, the long rainy season and October to November, the short rains..
Access becomes more difficult due to muddy roads; wildlife viewing is more challenging and planned excursions might be affected by torrential rains during these months.
Getting There
Tsavo East is in southeast Kenya, 325km/201mi from Nairobi and 250km/ 155mi from Mombasa and roughly a five-hour drive.
The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi. Visitors from Mombasa will make use of Tsavo Gate near Manyani.
There are no scheduled flights to Tsavo East, but there are several airstrips available for chartered flights.
The distance from Lake Nakuru National Park is 450km/280mi, and the driving time is about 5-7 hours,dependent on road conditions and traffic.
Many choose to stop here for a picnic lunch/short game drive if travelling from Nairobi.
