Car Hire in Tsavo East National Park

Ultimate safari to the theatre of the wild

Introduction

Tsavo east national park is located in Kenya, covering an area of 13,747km2 covering a semi-arid area previously known as Taru desert. The national park forms an area of a bout 22,000km2 together with Tsavo west national park and the Tsavo river flows west to east through the national park, located in Taita Taveta county of the former coast province.

Tsavo national park is generally flat with dry plains which the galena river flows. The park also consists of other features which include the Yatta plateau and Lugard falls, the Athi, and Tsavo river which converge and form the Athi galena Sabaki river.

The Yatta plateau is the world’s largest lava flow running along the western boundary of the park above the Athi Galana Sabaki river with a length of 290km formed by ava from Ol Donyo Sabuk mountain. The national park is more mountainous and wetter with swamps, lake jipe and Mzima springs.

Tsavo national park is a home to the largest elephant herds in the country with large prides of lions. The park became famous due to the maneaters of Tsavo, the two lions that killed over 130 people during the construction of the railway line in 1898.

The national park is also commonly known for birds and also a home to black rhino sanctuary. The park was also a homeland to the Orma pastoralists and Watha hunter gatherers until 1948 when it was gazette as a national park.

The national park is considered to be one of the world’s biodiversity strongholds, providing undeveloped homes to various numbers of animals and the Tsavo lions are the famous ones. Among the animals in the national park include; bushbucks, caracal, African wildcat, Senegal bush baby, African buffalos, African civet and a lot more.

However, in 2001 and 2006, more than 100 lions, elephants and other wildlife were speared by young men in Amboseli Tsavo ecosystem.

TOURIST ATTRACTONS IN TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo east national park is covered with a variety of attractions that catch traveler’s attention in order to come to this park the national park consists of wildlife, bird species, rocks, plateau, river, dam, ecosystems among others which are unique that a tourist must explore.

  1. Wildlife

Tsavo national park is a home to a large herd of elephants, pride animals and various other wildlife species ranging from birds, mammals, butterflies among others which can easily be seen during game drives and nature walks. Some of the animals include; elephants, lions, buffalos, Senegal bush baby, wildcats, bushbucks and among others which can always be seen on the lake and river side drinking and bathing in big numbers in the national park.

  1. Mubanda rock

The rock is a fascinating attraction of the park which offers the best views of the park and the wildlife within the national park making it the best place to visit. This rock offers the best spot during the dry seasons for animals which are seen around water areas quenching their thirsts and bathing as a way of cooling from the hot temperature.

  1. River Galana

River Galana is also a top attraction in Tsavo east national park whose water originates from the eastern highlands of Kenya flowing across the park to drain into the ocean. River Galana is a beautiful spot for hippopotamus, crocodiles with other animals on the water areas. It was formed after the merging of 2 rivers namely; river Tsavo and Athi river. It runs through the heart of the park marking the northern most point in the park visitors are allowed to visit.

  1. Lugard falls

This is an attraction formed along the Galana river characterized by rock patterns of cooled lava which obtained their names after captain Fredrick Lugard crossing through the park on his mission as an explore. The falls are surrounded with vast of animals including buffalos and hippos which are the attractions for tourists to visit these falls in the park, giving a stunning view.

The falls were formed as a rapid Galana river expanding into a large pool below forming a roar sound disappearing in a narrow rocky gorge.

  1. Yatta plateau

This is an extra ordinary attraction consisting of a phonolite lava flow that is 300km and several kilometers wide. It sits near the northwestern border of the Tsavo east national park and Athi river, and several tented camps, campsite and lodges are located here. It also covers a dense bushland with stands of baobab, scattered seasonal pools, swamps and dams. Yatta plateau was formed from the water point called the Aruba dam, constructed in 1952 across river Voi.

  1. Aruba dam

The dam is suited on voi river on the southern end of the national park with a less than one-hour drive from Mombasa Nairobi highway and railway. The dam has a heavy concentration of diverse wildlife, one of the places to spot lion prides ranges on the dam.  This dam is an artificial constructed dam by Kenya wildlife service, as a water reserve, and a water catchment for animals during dry seasons, which is said to have been constructed in the colonial area, with a jetty which extends in the dam itself. This is the only attraction in the park where guests enjoy close range of wildlife viewing.

  1. Kanderi swamp

The Kanderi swamp is around 10km from voi gate, with a lovely green gate, a home to pride lions and elephants that congregate near there in the dry season. It has a backdrop of distant hills and a number of vehicles tracks also follow the contours of the voi river. This is a close spot close to sunset with elephants, giraffes with other wildlife streaming across the grasslands, with overhanging branches for leopards.

TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN TSAVO EAST NATONAL PARK.

Tsavo east national park has various tourism activities that you can do during your safari in Kenya for example; hiking game drives, nature walks, birding, Carmel riding and helicopter tours attracting tourists to visit the park.

Game drives

The national park is rich in wildlife although it is less visited making it one of the best protected areas one can visit, crowding with lad red wallowing elephants. The game drives in the park reward tourists with rich variety of wildlife most especially the big five including; red dusty elephants, lions, cape buffalos, leopards and rhino. The game drivees are done through following tracks which usually lead to the water holes where animals gather. The park’s afternoon game drives give you an experience to a variety of animals which come out to water areas for water drinking and temperature cooling.

Nature walks

This activity gives tourists a chance to explore the park on foot, giving a close view to the animals in the park. Tourists get a chance to interact with nature and the environment, with a chance to see different bird species in the park. This activity is done in the morning when the animals are active and the nature is breathtaking with fresh air. The nature walks also include visiting different water areas which include animals making it more enjoyable for the game viewing activity.

Birdwatching

The national park is surrounded with numerous bird species for example; ostriches, starlings, storks, pied kingfishers, vulturine guinea fowl, African fin foot, corncrakes, lesser kestrel, martial eagles, reed warbler, northern brown bull and a lot more, and it can be done throughout the year and majority are permanent residents and the few are migratory  and seasonal are the European with coastal species, making the park also suitable for birding. The best time for birdwatching in this park is wet or rainy season which is the best period for birdwatching due to the breeding season of birds which makes spotting of abundant birds easy.

Camping activity

The camping activity in Tsavo national park is budget safari organized in the park offering the best wildlife experience with your small tent that can be erected anytime of the day. The camping safari is extra ordinary with tents and sleeping bags accompanied, with a mobile chef providing food for the travelers and warm water.

The camping activity is based on permanent safari tents which are located in good areas for animal views which offers enjoyment on their comfort tent balcony and some are placed on the wildlife track or routes.

Camel riding

In Tsavo east national park, you can also do a camel riding safari if you wish to experience the wild side of the park where you will explore the park while on top of the majestic camel with all the natures it will offer. This is an unforgettable experience all years giving you a view of exotic wildlife up close to crossing rivers on the trusty steed.

WHEN CAN YOU VISIT THE PARK

Tsavo east national park is open all months on a calendar. However, the best time to visit the park is in dry seasons in the months of June to October, and January to February due to their milder temperatures, with less rainfall making it easier in spotting wildlife since they move close to water areas for thirsty quenching and bathing to cool their bodies. In wet seasons, animals tend to spread-out due to abundance of water which spread in the park.

Tourists who wish to visit Tsavo east national park should consider these months to have the best safari experience of the common variety of elephant herds, lions and other variety of wildlife.

HOW TO ACCESS THE PARK

Like other national parks, the national parks can always be reached by roads for example driving along Nairobi Mombasa highway, and by air using different airstrips which include; voi airstrip, Aruba airstrip, Satao airstrip, Ithumba airstrip among others. However, the national park has different gates that tourists use for entrance which include; manyani gate, sala gate, buchuma gate and voi gate.

BY ROADS

Sala gate

This is one of the most developed gates of the park travelers use to access tsavo east park, and also enjoy various activities upon entering it. The gate is located in the north eastern part, wit facilities like toilets, restaurants which tourists can make use of although it is located in the remote southern part of galana river which offer a scenic beauty of the gate, and it is only 1 to 2-hour drive from Malindi town and can also be accessed through tsavo Malindi road.

Voi gate

This gate is located in the southern part of tsavo east national park which is near to Kenya wildlife services offices and travelers who use this gate can easily use credit cards to make purchases and payments. The gate can also be used by tourists who want to fly in the park using ikanga airstrip.

Buchuma gate

This is the quick gate travelers from Mombasa can use and it has a security check point, and located in the south eastern part of tsavo east national park.

Manyani gate.

The gate is located in the south western part of the park and it is one of the well-developed gates of Tsavo east park with toilets, information center among others that tourists can use. The gate is near voi town and it can be accessed by air, road and also railway to access the park.

BY AIR.

The national park can be accessed by airline industry in Kenya using charter flights, and there are numerous airlines that operate flights to various airstrips in the park which can bee booked with the help of your tour operator or online. Wilson airport and Jomo Kenyatta international air ports can be used to any available airstrips in Tsavo national park which include; voi airstrip, sala airstrip, Batumi airstrip among others.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE PARK

Tsavo east national park has various accommodation of camps and lodges which offer a dream come true experience. These accommodations include; premium safari tier one, deluxe safari tier 2 and economical Value tier three which offer quality rooms, service, location, guides among others.

Tier one

Galdessa camp which is an excusive and luxurious accommodation placed along the banks of the Galana river amidst Doum palm trees and flora with natural elements like stones, branches, reclaimed trees which bring the beauty of the wilderness indoors. The cam is open and wildlife roams freely serving you a front row seat to game viewing.

The area consists of eleven tents maximizing wilderness experience and privacy.

Satao camp, which is located with in a stand of tamarind trees with structures strategically arranged in a semi-circle around a watering hole. Many animals come to the water and move around the area in search for food. Animals include; gazelles, elephants, zebras, baboons, impalas and lions have been spotted too many times at the waterhole. The camp has sixteen standard tents and four suites offering tourists with comfort.

Tier two

Ashnil Aruba lodge, which is located next to Aruba dam on voi river doubling the number of guests compared to Satao camp. The lodge has forty guest rooms including eight interconnected rooms that fit the needs of large groups and families although those wanting a canvas experience with tiled roofing have sit tents only.

Tier three

Ngutuni lodge is surrounded by private game sanctuary on 10,000 acres suited next to a watering hole for accessibility to wildlife viewing on your doorstep. It gives simple facilities and amenities which allow you to have a comfortable relaxing environment in the bush. The lodge contains 48 guest rooms fit for solo travelers, couples, big groups and families.