Top Destinations Kenya

Tsavo West National Park

Swamps, natural springs, rocky peaks, extinct volcanic craters, rolling plains and sharp outcrops blanketed by greenery

Background
Gallery
Experience
Location
What to see & do

Background

Tsavo West National Park is located in southeastern Kenya and a little southeast of the sister tsavo west national park. The national park encompasses an area of 3,500 square miles (9,065 sq km) making it smaller than its sister park. Tsavo West National Park comprises a huge variety of landscapes including swamps, natural springs, rocky peaks, extinct volcanic craters, rolling plains and sharp outcrops blanketed by greenery. Close to Kenya's coast, Tsavo West is easily combined with a beach holiday.

Toward the Chyulu Hills, the landscape is of recent volcanic origin and includes some striking lava flows. The northern region of Tsavo West, close to the Chyulu Hills, is especially scenic. It is possible to drive up to some brilliant vantage points like Poachers Lookout, where you may see as far as Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Head to the clear waters of the Mzima Springs for a glimpse of crocodiles and hippos in an underground lookout, or to the Ngulia Rhinoceros Sanctuary, one of the few places in the country where it is possible to view the majestic black rhino.

Destination Highlights

Mzima Springs The park's most iconic feature, these are four natural springs gushing millions of liters of crystal-clear water daily from under the lava rock. A major attraction is the underground glass viewing chamber, which offers a unique, close-up perspective of the aquatic life beneath the water's surface.

Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary This is a fenced, heavily protected 90 sq km area at the base of the Ngulia Hills, dedicated to the conservation and breeding of the critically endangered Black Rhino.

Lake Jipe A beautiful, inter-territorial lake on the border with Tanzania, fed by the Lumi River from Mount Kilimanjaro. It is a haven for aquatic birds, hippos, and crocodiles, and is excellent for boat safaris and birdwatching.

Gallery

Experience the Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West has a variety of landscapes, from swamps and natural springs to rocky peaks, extinct volcanic cones, to rolling plains and sharp reddish outcrops. Wildlife can be difficult to spot because of the dense scrubs. In May 1948, a month after its conception Tsavo National Park was divided into East and West for administrative purposes. At 21 812 square km, Tsavo National Park is the largest park in Kenya. Named after the Tsavo River which flows from west to east, Tsavo West National Park is considered one of the world's biodiversity strongholds. It is the only Kenyan park that permits night drives and also allows off-road driving so one can see the wildlife close up.

Tsavo West’s prolific birdlife features over 400-recorded species. Ngulia Hills, one of the landmarks in the park, is situated along one of the world’s busiest avian migration routes. Bird ringers make an annual pilgrimage here between October and January. Ngulia is the site of Africa’s foremost bird-ringing (tagging to enable individual bird identification) project. More than 100 migrant and resident species have been ringed here – the most prolific being marsh warbler, river warbler, red-backed shrike, thrush nightingale and common whitethroat.

Where to Find Tsavo West National Park

What to see and do

Wildlife

Tsavo West is a real wilderness destination. All of the Big Five are present, but wildlife densities are lower than in some of the more popular parks in Kenya. However, there is a good variety of animals with many dry-country specials, including the shy lesser kudu and the rare fringe-eared oryx. Large elephant herds can be found gathering at the waterholes. The park is one of the best places to see the skittish lesser kudu. The rocky terrain is also a good habitat to look for klipspringers, often found in pairs. Antelope that thrive in arid conditions can also be found here, including the very localized fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk. The drive-through rhino sanctuary increases your chances of spotting the elusive black rhino.