Tsavo West National Park
Famously known as the “Land of Lava, springs, Man-Eaters & Magical Sunsets,” Tsavo West National Park situated in Kenya’s Southeast just near the Tanzanian Boarder with Kenya. Tsavo West National Park the largest National Park in Kenya covering an area of about 9,025sqkm and established as a National Park in 1948. Named after the magnificent Tsavo River which is the main river that drains the park.
Tsavo West National Park a home to over fifty million gallons of crystal clear water which gushes out of from the under parched lava rock that is the Mzima Springs to the Shetani lava flows. Its landscape also includes Mzima springs, Shetani lava flow, Chaimu Volcano and Lake Jipe. Its spectacular scenery and a variety of wildlife make Tsavo West a popular safari destination in Kenya.
The Park’s savannah ecosystem comprises of open grasslands, Acacia woodlands, scrublands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges including the Poacher’s Lookout where visitors see the teeming herds in the plains below. Tsavo West National Park offers some of the most magnificent game viewing in the world and its attractions include elephants, Hippos, hartebeest, lesser kudu, bush baby, Maasai giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, leopards, Buffalos, abundant plant and bird species including the near threatened Basra Reed Warbler and the threatened corncrake.
Activities in Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West just like Tsavo East also has a variety of activities to offer to its visitors and they include;
Game Drives
Game drives in Tsavo West national park offers thrilling experiences and it is the best way to explore this beautiful and diverse park. Done in three sessions which are; morning, afternoon and evening game drives. Some of the mammal species such as lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, gerenuk, klipspringers, mongoose, Oryx, cape buffaloes, black rhinos, hyenas, antelopes, giraffe, hippos and crocodiles among others.
Birding
Tsavo West National Park is one of the most important birding areas in Kenya and a birder’s paradise that everyone should visit on a Kenya bird-watching safari. The park home to over 400 recorded bird species seen and the Notable bird species for instance the African fin foot, Golden pipit, Corncrake, Fischer’s starling, Basra reed warbler, Common whitethroat, Black-faced sand grouse, Golden-breasted starling and the lesser kestrel.
Other species in the park for example the Marsh warbler, Somali Ostrich, Northern brownbul, Narina trogon, Pangani long claw, River warbler, Red-backed shrike, Red-bellied parrot, Rufous chatterer, Shelley’s starling, Taita falcon, Somali bee-eater, Somali bunting, Somali ostrich, Taita fiscal and the Thrush nightingale among others.
Nature walk Safaris
Tsavo West National Park comprised of a picturesque landscape with numerous attractions worth seeing, including Shetani flow, Mzima springs, and Lake Jipe. Meanwhile, walking safaris in Tsavo West National Park are made possible by multiple paths that run through the park. The activity done on foot, and the walk led by an armed safari guide for safety in the event of an attack from wild animals. During your safari walk in the park, you will have the opportunity to see various species, including Maasai giraffes, lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, hartebeests, lesser kudu, and bush babies, among others. During a Kenya walking safari in Tsavo West, a variety of lovely and colorful birds also sighted, including secretary birds, Somali Ostrich, Taita falcon, Shelly’s starling, and river warbler, among others.
Exploring Mzima Springs
Mzima Springs is a great site in Tsavo West for viewing hippos and Nile crocodiles. Mzima springs also home to a significant number of hippos and crocodiles that live in the pool’s crystal-clear waters and can as well be seen during your visit. Primate species such as Vervet monkeys can also be spotted gathering fruits from trees.
Hiking
Some areas of Tsavo West National Park are mountainous hence providing a good volcanic trekking opportunity. A Hiking Safari on Tsavo West’s Chaimu volcano is an adventurous and breathtaking activity that has not to be missed during your visit to Tsavo West National Park. Chaimu Volcano a beautiful feature with a Crater Lake on its peak that can be reached during your hiking Experience and it takes about 20 Kilometers to reach.
When to Visit
Visited all year round however, the best time to visit the park is during the dry season which runs from July to September and also from December to February. These months are ideal for wildlife viewing since the grasses are shorter and the wildlife are driven to water sources, especially at the river banks and water holes in near the lodges. However, for the bird lovers, the rainy season is the best time for bird watching since it is the time when birds are nesting and breeding, more so, it is also the best time to see migratory birds from November to April.
How to Get to there
This park reached both by Road and Air Transport.
By Road, accessed via Nairobi-Mombasa highway and it is about 240hm from Nairobi, approximately 5 hours’ drive.
By Air, you can catch a Chartered flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Airstrips serving Tsavo West National Park which are; Kilaguni, Kamboyo, Tsavo, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hottons, Ziwani, and Maktau airstrips.
Tsavo West Entry Gates
It has a number of Entry gates and they include;
Tsavo gate
Mtito Andei gate
Lake Jipe gate
Chyulu gate
Ziwani gate
Maktau gate
Accommodations in Tsavo West National Park
The Park offers a variety of beautiful and Comfortable Accommodations categorized as Luxury, Mid-Range as well as Budget Accommodations and they include;
Luxury Accommodations
Taita Hill safari Resort and Lodge
Kilaguni Serena safari lodge
Ngulia Safari Lodge
Hunter’s Lodge
Finch Hattons Luxury Camp
Satao Elerai Camp
Mid-Range Accommodations
Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Voyager Safari camp
River Lumi Resort
Paran Resort
Severin Safari Camp
Lake Jipe Cottage
Satao Elerai Camp
Leopards Lair Cottages