Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East’s decidedly desert landscape supports a surprising selection of wildlife.

Watch the elephants of Tsavo frolicking in the waters of River Galana. See them covered in red dust. Explore the Yatta plateau. Walk on the Shetani lava flow. It is the longest in the world.

Look at herds of rhino, waterbuck, elephant, zebra, giraffe, warthog, gazelle, eland, and kudu graze. Watch lions on the prowl.

Tsavo East also plays host to more than 500 birds. Get some bird watching done.

How to get to Tsavo East

The Mtito Andei entrance to Tsavo East is just a three-hour drive from Mombasa.

A train (SGR) passes right through Tsavo East. You can take the train to Tsavo East from either Nairobi or Mombasa.

The other options are driving from Nairobi or taking a charter flight to a private airstrip in Tsavo East.

Tsavo East is near Voi town in Taita-Taveta County.

When to Visit Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East is open all year round. January, February, March, May, June, July, and September are best. Weather conditions are cool and dry.

What to wear in Tsavo East

Tsavo is a hot and dry, desert-like climate. You want to dress in loose-fitting, casual, and lightweight clothing. It will keep you as cool and dry as possible.

Wear neutral colors. Bright colors are not ideal. Forest green, brown, and beige are okay. But avoid clothes that look like military camouflage. They are illegal in some countries.

Evenings and early mornings can be cold. Pack a light jacket or jumper.

Closed, lightweight walking shoes will do for excursions. You can wear sandals or open shoes within your lodge.

Carry a swimsuit if you like to swim.

Use insect repellent, a good sunscreen, and a hat.

Tsavo East National Park Attractions

• Tsavo East is a varied landscape comprising grasslands, open plains, bush, woodlands, and scrub.
• Rivers Athi and Tsavo both feed the Galana River. River Galana then pours into a dam. Animals gather at the water hole to drink.
• The Yatta plateau is the most extensive lava flow in the world.
• Madunda is an outcrop forming the base of the waterhole. Visit Madunda for fantastic views of landscapes and a water hole.
• Animals huddle close to the Aruba Dam when it is dry.
• The Lugard falls
• Kanderi Swamps
• Tsavo East hosts several World War 1 historical locations
• Prehistoric archeological sites
• The hunting grounds of the Man-Eating lions of the 1890s

Tsavo East Safari Tour Packages

Where to Stay