This huge park is split into two by the main Nairobi to Mombasa highway and covers a total area of around 770 sq mi. The park is quite arid with only two permanent rivers but its flat landscape is dotted with hills and baobab trees, making it extremely attractive. Tsavo is still famous for the legends of man-eating lion and its ‘red’ elephants, so called because of the red murrum earth with which they spray themselves. Most game congregates among the acacia and raphia palms, which line the riverine areas. Common spots include elephant, buffalo, ostrich, gazelle, giraffe, zebra and the accompanying predatory cats. Less frequent sightings are gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx and Hunters hartebeest. Popular attractions in the park are the Lugard Falls, Yatta Plateau (which is the world’s longest lava flow) and Mzima Springs. Here there is an underground viewing platform to observe crocodile, hippo and the various fish under water.

Highlights

Tsavo East – Galana River, most larger mammals and predators. Tsavo West – Mzima Springs, buffalo and elephant, most predators including the rarer wild dogs. Both parks have Lesser Kudu, rhino and 500 – 600 species of bird.