Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo west national park is located in the coastal province in Kenya in the southeastern region. Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West national park are separated by a railway line and together they form Tsavo national park. Tsavo west national park is smaller compared to Tsavo east national park and consists of a rugged mountainous landscape with wooded grassland which is a habitat for much of the wildlife and bird species found in this national park. Tsavo River runs from east to west in the national park and is the reason behind the name of the national park.
Tsavo west national park is managed by Kenya Wildlife Services which is responsible for maintaining the roads, vehicles, and bridges in the national park.
Entry gates into the national park include; Maktau gate, Mbuyuni gate, Jipe gate, Ziwani gate, Chyulu gate, Kasigau gate. The main access routes to the national park are Chyulu gate and Mtito Andei route from Nairobi.
Lions without manes/maneless lions can be seen in Tsavo west national park and they are famously known as the man-eaters describing the incident during the railway construction in 1898 when two lions attacked the railway construction workers. “The man-eating lions” can be seen during a visit to this national park and they are less likely to attack the tourists as the lions are viewed from the safety of the car and in the company of a ranger who ensures the safety of the tourists.
Tsavo west national park offers plenty of opportunities to explore the different attractions on foot such as the hippo observatory which is done in the company of a ranger who also acts as a guide. These tours on foot are done along wooden trails in the national park which lead to the observation point.
Tourists looking for an additional safari experience before heading to the coast usually visit Tsavo west national park for an experience in the wilderness and to get a chance to view the wildlife species in the national park.
Different seasons offer different experiences in Tsavo west national park. For a satisfying birding experience in the national park, the months from October to April are recommended. During the dry seasons, the national park is more frequented for rewarding game drive experiences compared to the wet seasons when the roads are slippery and muddy and the vegetation becomes thicker making it difficult to view the animals. The choice of the time to visit the national park depends on the preferences of the tourist and the activities he/she would like to participate in.
The water points for the different wildlife species offer the best opportunity to view the animals as they drink and bathe. Different vantage points within Tsavo west national park also offer a wider view of the attractions within the national park and its beautiful scenery.
Access to Tsavo east national park can be through different means of transport which include;
- By road; 200km drive to southeastern parts of Nairobi
- By Air; Charter and scheduled flights are available from Nairobi to Tsavo west national park.
Attractions in Tsavo West National Park
- Wildlife species can be seen at different spots in the national park and they include elephants, zebras, giraffes, lesser kudu, lions, African eland antelopes, dik-diks, warthogs, black rhino, buffalo, hartebeest, and leopards.
- Bird species sighted within Tsavo west national park include eastern black-headed oriole, golden palm weaver, pied kingfisher, Vulturine guinea fowl, African finfoot, reed warbler, corncrake, lesser kestrel, martial eagle, northern brownbul, Pangani longclaw, river warbler, red-backed shrike, red-bellied parrot, slender tailed nightjar, black-faced sand grouse. Ngulia is a famous spot for birding in the national park.
- Mzima springs; is a clear pool of water in Tsavo west national park which flows from underground and generates into a stream on the surface. It is also a water point for many animals such as hippos and is a habitat for crocodiles. Fish can also be seen at these springs which have a viewing point inform of a submerged hut with glass windows where tourists can see the hippos, crocodiles and fish as they swim. The source of water at Mzima springs is Chyulu hills and the springs are said to supply Mombasa with fresh water.
- Ngulia Rhino sanctuary located at the base of Ngulia hill is home to the endangered black rhino species which are bred with help and support from Kenya wildlife services and African wildlife foundation. The rhinos are protected from the threats of poachers who are the main reason behind their limited number. The black rhinos are nocturnal which makes them rare but not impossible to sight.
- Shetani lava flow can be accessed from Chyulu gate offering a view of folded black lava and wildlife species can also be viewed from this area. The word “shetani” is a Swahili word meaning devil which is a reference to the time when lava was flowing from the ground which the locals believed was the devil himself emerging from the ground.
- Chaimu volcanic crater is a viewpoint in Tsavo west national park which is characterized by black lava stones. During a drive to the hill, the soil color turns darker and creates beautiful scenery in contrast with the green vegetation along the road and also offers stunning views of Chyulu hills.
Attractions in the Park
The attractions within the national park entice tourists to visit this destination and participate in different activities. Activities that tourists can engage in at Tsavo west national park include the following;
- Game drives take you to the wilderness from the comfort and safety of the tour vehicle as you view different wildlife and bird species in the national park which include elephants, lions, hippos, buffalos, lesser kudu, elands, gazelles, zebras, fringe-eyed Oryx, monkeys, impalas, and dik-diks. Game drives take place at different times of the day such as morning game drives, evening game drives, full-day game drives, and night game drives. Morning game drives are more rewarding as they offer a chance to see the wildlife species as they graze around and bask in the early morning sun while the predators begin to hunt for their prey. Full day game drives increase the chances of game viewing as it offers an opportunity to see the wildlife species at different times of the day and a tourist can also study the way of life of the animals at different times of day in terms of their feeding habits, survival and many other characteristics of the animals. Night game drives offer a chance to see the nocturnal animals and also predators as they hunt.
- Birding in Tsavo west national park can be done at different birding spots such as Mzima springs which offers great opportunity to sight the birds in their nests. Bird species viewed during game drives include; pied kingfisher, Vulturine guinea fowl, African finfoot, reed warbler, corncrake, lesser kestrel, martial eagle, northern brownbul, Pangani longclaw, river warbler, red-backed shrike, red-bellied parrot, slender tailed nightjar, black-faced sand grouse.
- Nature walks offer a closer view of the attractions as well as providing a deeper understanding of even the smallest scrubs and animals within the national park. Rangers accompany the tourists during these nature walks and also provide information to tourists about different attractions or sites of interest.
- Hiking which is an excellent way to reach the heights of the national park and enjoy the breathtaking scenery and view the different attractions within Tsavo west national park due to its hilly nature.
- Lake Jipe is an attraction located in the southern end of Tsavo west national park straddling the Kenya- Tanzania border.
For a place to sit back, relax and rest Tsavo west national park has a variety of accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury, midrange, and budget accommodation offering quality services and true Kenyan hospitality with an added bonus of mouthwatering Kenyan cuisine. Meal preferences are discussed during the time for making reservations and organizing itineraries with the tour operators. Accommodation facilities include the following;
- Luxury accommodation; Finch Hatton’s camp, Sarova salt lick lodge, Rhino valley lodge, Taita luxury hotels.
- Midrange accommodation; Severin safari camp, Lions Bluff lodge.
- Budget accommodation; Voyager Ziwani safari camp, Sarova Taita hills lodge, Lake Jipe safari camp, Kilaguni Serena safari lodge, Ngulia safari lodge.
Watch the greatest wildlife spectacles such as the endangered black rhino and herds of elephants during a safari in Tsavo west national park and catch a glimpse of the famous man-eating lions and other wildlife and bird species in this hilly savannah paradise.
