Discover Tsavo West National Park one of the iconic Big 5 safari destinations in Kenya. Tsavo West is the second largest National Park in Kenya and forms part of the extensive Tsavo National Parks. Tsavo West National Park boasts of its natural beauty, unique history, and enriching game viewing experiences. This Park is popular for its exceptional Shetani Lava flows, Chaimu Crater, Mzima Springs, and the distinct history of the man-eating lions that killed hundreds of people when the railway was being constructed during the colonial era.

Geographical Location & the Size

The Tsavo West National Park lies in the Southeastern end of Kenya and was officially declared a National Park in 1948. This Protected Area derives its name from the Tsavo River and its boundaries stretch over 9,065 sq. km. The extensive Tsavo West National Park features a vast savanna ecosystem with diverse wildlife and unique volcanic landscapes.

The Main Attractions in Tsavo West National Park

Diverse Wildlife Species

Tsavo West National Park is known for its diverse wildlife which makes it a remarkable game viewing destination. The diverse wildlife in the Tsavo West Park includes the Big 5 –leopards, buffalo, elephants, lions, and rhinos. Other animals to see include impalas, Oryx, Warthogs, giraffes, bushbucks, zebras, hartebeest, waterbucks, hippos, caracals, Aardvark, dik-diks, hyraxes, Aardwolves, gerenuks, mongoose, wild dogs, cheetahs, and genets. Tsavo West National Park also shelters other wild animals including olive baboons, spotted hyenas, and gazelles.

The Bird Species to Spot

Tsavo West National Park has a checklist of about 600 bird species that make it an enriching bird-watching destination. The diverse birds to identify here include the Shelley’s starling, Somali bee-eaters, red-billed parrots, pangani long claws, Somali ostriches, common white-throat, Northern brownbul, lesser kestrel, rufous chatterer, basra reed-warblers, Somali bunting, Marsh warblers, Narina trogon, African darters, African spoonbill, Great cormorants, red-backed shrikes, African fin-foot, Taita fiscal, reed cormorants, Africa sacred ibis, glossy ibis, African swamphen, great white pelicans, common greenshank, gray crown crane, African woolly-necked storks, Somali courser, saddle-billed storks, swift birds, collared pratincole, plain nightjars, and small buttonquail.

Other bird species to find in the Tsavo West include curlew sandpiper, Hartlaub’s bustards, white-bellied bustards, square-tailed nightjars, guineafowl, coucals, sandgrouse, Donaldson-Smith’s nightjar, freckled nightjar, Kori bustards, buff-crested bustard, and more.

The Mzima Springs

Mzima Springs feature among the unique attractions in Tsavo West National Park. The Mzima Springs are popular for hippo and crocodiles. These are the common aquatic species to find here and in its surroundings. There exist fig trees – fruiting trees mostly enjoyed by the vervet monkeys and most bird species.

Visit the Shetani Lava Flow

The Shetani Lava derives its name from a Swahili word “shetani” meaning the devil. The Shetani lava is 8 km long, 1.6 km wide, and has a depth of 6 meters. It formed as a result of volcanic eruption activity. The volcanic eruption activity at Shetani occurred about 200 years ago, leaving behind some amazing features, including caves that are believed to host predators, such as hyenas.

Other unique features to expect to explore on a Kenya safari in the Tsavo West National Park include Chaimu Crater, roaring rocks, Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy, and Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

Top Activities to do in Tsavo West National Park

Game drives

A game drive in the Tsavo West National Park introduces you to the enriching game tracks where you can spot the Big 5 and other wildlife. On a guided game drive, expect to encounter wildlife species such as the Cape buffalo, spotted hyenas, lions, leopards, aardvarks, bushbucks, elands, duikers, Oryx, warthogs, Kudus, cheetahs, topis, and more. To experience Tsavo West National Park on a game drive, you need a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof.

Bird-watching tour

Tsavo West National Park is an amazing birding destination in Kenya. Diversity of birds can be identified during the birding tour in the Tsavo West including the Narina trogon, Eastern black-headed oriole, Somali ostriches, river warblers, purple-crested turacos, greater painted-snipe, martial eagle, blue-billed teal, spotted eagle-owl, Eurasian scops-owl, and white-faced whistling ducks. Birders also stand a chance to come across other birds such as southern ground-hornbill, Abyssinian scimitar bill, sand grouse, Southern pochard, African jacanas, flamingoes, and many others.

Rhino Tracking

Rhino watching is among the top things awaiting you on a Kenya tour in Tsavo West National Park. This is best done in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary where you can explore several of the black rhinos. The Ngulia Sanctuary covers a land area of about 90 sq. km.

Top Accommodation Options for Overnight Stays

The available lodging and camping options for visitor overnight stay in and around Tsavo West National Park range from budget, midrange, to luxury. Top lodges and camps in this Park include the Rhino Valley Lodge, Lions Bluff Lodge, Hunters Lodge, Ngulia Safari Lodge, Severini Kitani Bandas, Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp, and more.

The Best Time to Visit Tsavo West park

The ideal time to visit Tsavo West National Park for a holiday is during the dry season. The dry season occurs twice a year with the first phase often experienced from June to October and the last phase starts from January to February. It is during the peak dry months like these that Tsavo West experiences low rainfall and the park trails are generally accessible. Tsavo West National Park also has its doors open to visitors even during the wet or rainy season which starts from March to May and from October to November.

Getting to the Tsavo West National Park 

Tsavo West National Park is 240 km away from the heart of Nairobi and from Mombasa, it is about 250 km. Getting to Tsavo West can take about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and a 4×4 safari vehicle is most recommended for road trips. Visitors traveling from Mombasa can reach the Park through the Southern gate (Mtito gate) or Tsavo gate which is close to Manyani. The other access gates offering entry to Tsavo West National Park include Ziwani, Chyulu, Maktau, and Lake Jipe.

By air, it is possible to organize a flight and this means, you can depart from the Wilson Airport or Mombasa/Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and land at the Jipe Airstrip, Kamboyo Airstrip, Finch Hottoons, Kilaguni, Maktau Airstrip, and Kasigau, etc.