Tsavo East National Park Location, Size | Best Safari Park in Kenya
Most popular for its captivating wildlife safari experiences, huge profusion of mammals (elephants); Tsavo East National Park is 13747sq.km Park in the Magical Kenya.
Located in the Southeastern side of Kenya, at proximity to Voi in Taita Taveta County lies a splendid Tsavo East National Park. Taking its name from Tsavo River, the Tsavo East National Park is most popular for its huge concentration of elephants and the legend of the Man-eaters of Tsavo.
Tsavo East National Park is part of the extensive Tsavo National Park/Conservation Area and what divides it from Tsavo West, is just a railway line. It is set mid-way between Nairobi capital and Mombasa, Kenya’s famous coastal town. The Galana River also flows through the Tsavo East NP, making it one of the sources of water for the park’s wildlife.
Established in 1948, Tsavo East Park Kenya safaris destination is a home to diverse wildlife species. These roam freely in the park’s vast 13,747sq.kms land area, consisting of many habitats.
- Location: Southeastern Kenya close to Taita-Taveta District of Coast Province
- Size: 13,747 sq.km
Tourist Attraction to explore at Tsavo East Game Park
Mudanda Rock
Located in Tsavo East Park is Mudanda Rock, an inselberg of stratified rock measuring about 1.6kms. This is one of the significant water catchment areas found in the park with natural dam located right below it. It is a major draw of the park’s wildlife including elephants, buffaloes, wildebeest, etc.
Animals
Tsavo East National Park is a complete wildlife safari destination in Kenya, East Africa protecting a huge concentration of wild animals. These include leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, hartebeest, elands, blue duikers, cheetahs, yellow baboons, aardwolf, rhinos, lions, jackals, dik-dik, plain zebras, wild cats, African hunt dog, spotted hyenas, caracal, slender mongoose, Egyptian mongoose, waterbucks, African dormouse and more.
Birds
About 500 bird species make Tsavo East National Park an outstanding birding destination. The birds to expect to encounter: lesser kestrel, black-faced sandgrouse, slender-tailed nightjars, Taita falcon, Somali ostrich, golden pipit, martial eagle, Northern brown bull, Rufous chatterer, vulturine guineafowl, fisher’s starling, African finfoot, Pangani longclaw, golden breasted starling, to mention but a few.
Best time to visit for birding in Tsavo East National Park is around March, May, November when you get great sight of migratory birds as well. This is when majority of coastal species of birds also concentrate around the park thus guaranteeing you amazing bird sightings.
Yatta Plateau
This is one of the unique attractions awaiting exploration while you are on Kenya safaris in Tsavo East National Park. It is at Yatta Plateau where the world’s longest lava flor measuring up to 290kms lies, creating Ol Doinyo Sabuj Mountain following eruption effect. The plateau runs its water on the Western border above Athi River.
Lugard Waterfalls
Lugard Waterfalls is another treasure in Tsavo East Park and it is best explored on guided walking safaris. It comes with remarkable white-water rapids and its formation originates from Galana River.
Other Rivers that flow in the Tsavo East Park include Galana & Tsavo River. While at Tsavo East N/P, other key places to visit include Aruba Dam and Kanderi Swamp (at this swamp, a range of wildlife can be spotted on a guided game drive including hartebeest, elephants, buffaloes, and more.
Safaris Activities done at Tsavo East National Game Park
Tsavo East Park is one of the best wildlife safari destinations in Kenya, offering the most memorable wilderness African safaris experiences. Check out some of the exceptional safari activities to enjoy in Tsavo East Park in Kenya.
Guided game drives
Game drive in Tsavo East Park offers a remarkable treat of African wilderness, a lifetime opportunity to encounter the big game and other wildlife. The expected animal sightings on game safaris at Tsavo East; a huge concentration of elephants, zebras, hyenas, leopards, lions, giraffes, birds and more. A full day game viewing or half day wildlife safari in Tsavo East can be arranged or night game drive is possible for you to see nocturnal species.
Birding
Birding in Tsavo East Park allows you identify birds such as starlings, ostriches, slender-tailed nightjars, Taita falcon, Somali ostrich, golden pipit, martial eagle, Northern brown bull, Rufous chatterer, vulturine guineafowl, fisher’s starling, African finfoot, Pangani longclaw.
Other birds to identify at the park: saddled billed stork, black stork, yellow billed stork, African openbill, African darter, woolly-necked stork, Abdim’s stork, double banded coursers, Somali courser, bronze winged courser, Madagascar pratincole, collared pratincole, temminck’s coursers, black headed gull, whiskered tern, cattle egrets;
Squacco herons, purple heron, palm nut vulture, black winged kite, Egyptian vulture, European honey buzzard, scissor-tailed kite, African harrier hawk, brown snake eagle, short-toed snake eagle, Ruppell’s griffon, booted eagle, verreaux’s eagle, pearl spotted owlet, blue-napped mousebird, white headed mousebird, Narina trogon, and more.
If you are interested in nocturnal birds, Tsavo East Park also has you sorted. The check-list of nightjars to sight: slender-tailed nightjars, Nubian nightjars, Eurasian nightjars, square-tailed nightjar, Donaldson-smith’s nightjars, freckled nightjars, fiery-necked nightjar and more.
What to carry for birding Tsavo East NP: waterproof daypack, pair of binoculars, camera with extra batteries, memory card, safari clothes, bottled water, safari hat, bird guide book, etc.
Camping
Visit Tsavo East Park and enjoy ultimate camping experience. This is possible from the various designated campgrounds. Spend a night in the wild while enjoying great sounds from wildlife.
When to visit Tsavo East National Game Park, Kenya Safari
The Tsavo East National Park experiences the best weather and climatic conditions during the dry season considering its strategic location close to the Equator. The temperatures range from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius with 2 wet seasons running from March to April, November to December. The most ideal months to visit Tsavo East NP for game viewing fall in the dry season; June to October/January to February.
Where to stay
Luxury accommodation to stay at Tsavo East Park: Kiboko Camp, Kilalinda Safari Camp and Satao Camp. Midrange/Classic accommodation at Tsavo East NP: Impala Safari Lodge, Ndololo Camp, Voi Safari Lodge, Ithumba Camp, Kulalu Camp and others.
How to get there – Tsavo East National Game Park destination Kenya
Accessing Tsavo East National Park is possible from Nairobi along Mombasa route 233kms and you get there via Mtito Andrei gate. By air, fly from Nairobi to Sala, Satao, Aruba, Mopeo, Ithumba or Bachuma airstrips.