Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park, One of the most well-known animal parks in Kenya is Tsavo West National Park, which is in the Province of the East African Republic and close to the Chyulu Hills. The park is spread out over 9,065 square kilometers, and the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa road separates it from Tsavo East National Park, which is its sister park. The Tsavo Conservation Area is Kenya’s biggest wildlife refuge. It is made up of the two parks. Kenya Wildlife Reserve runs Tsavo West, which is the more famous of the two sister parks. It has a wide range of wildlife, beautiful springs, rocks, birds, and a breathtaking view that make it a great place to visit.

Tsavo West National Park is one of Kenya’s oldest parks. It was created in 1948 and is named after the Tsavo River, which flows through it and supports the park’s amazing environment. For many years, Tsavo West was known as the “land of lava, man-eaters, springs, and thrilling sunsets.”

Its fame grew because it was home to man-eating lions that killed several people while they were building the railway line and roads that go through the park in colonial times. Tsavo West is known for its beautiful scenery. It is mostly open grassland with rocky ridges, acacia woodlands, riverine shrubbery, and scrublands. African elephants, black rhinoceroses, lions, and leopards live in the park. This is where the “Big Five” animals live.

There are also many kinds of cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, gerenuks, wildebeests, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, Lesser Kudus, waterbucks, bushbucks, gazelles, and more in Tsavo West National Park.Just as beautiful is the bird life in Tsavo West National Park. Birdwatchers will be happy to see species like hornbills, warblers, secretary birds, and kori bustards, to name a few. People who are planning a safari in Kenya to Tsavo West National Park can do a lot of different things, such as safari game drives, rock climbing, safari walks, bird watching, and more.

HOW TO GET TO TSAVO WEST

It takes about 4 to 6 hours to drive from Nairobi, which is 232 km (144 mi) away, to Tsavo West National Park, which is in the southeast of Kenya. You could get to the reserve from Nairobi, Mombasa, or another park, depending on your plan. There are a lot of people who come from Nairobi and stop at Lake Nakuru National Park for a short game drive and a picnic lunch. It takes about 8 hours to drive from Lake Nakuru National Park to Tsavo West.

But flights from Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park happen all the time. Planned planes can also land at the Park’s many airstrips from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), which is 15 km/9 mi southeast of Nairobi. Kenya’s second international airport, Moi International Airport (MBA), is about 9 km (6 mi) west of Mombasa.

WHAT TO DO IN TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
The Mzima Springs

One of the most famous places to visit in Tsavo West is the Mzima Springs. The springs are a group of lakes with clear, clean water that is cleaned by the volcanic rocks in the nearby Chyulu Hills. Huge fig and acacia trees provide shade for the lakes, which are full of different kinds of fish, turtles, and huge groups of hippos. The best way to see Mzima Springs is on an organized safari walk. However, keep an eye out for big animals, and go early in the morning or late at night. And while you’re there, the underwater viewing room, which you can get to from a pier, can be a great place to take pictures of Tsavo West National Park.

Wildlife

Another famous thing about Tsavo West National Park that brings a lot of people on Kenya game viewing trips is the wildlife that lives there. Big animals like rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes live in the park, as well as big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. There are also many other animals that live in Tsavo West National Park, such as zebras, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wild dogs, gazelles, wildebeests, antelopes, gerenuks, and smaller kudus. In Tsavo West National Park, you can go on tours to see all of these amazing wild animals.

Tsavo West National Park also has a lot of birds—over 400 kinds have been recorded—which is great for birdwatchers. One of these is the well-known white-headed buffalo weaver, which has a bright red rump that makes it stand out. You can go on a Kenya birding tour to see at least eight species of hornbills and many species that come and go during the year.

Rhino Sanctuary in Ngulia
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary was made to protect and preserve Tsavo West National Park’s black rhinos. The refuge was set up in 1986 as a guarded area within the park so that black rhinos could have babies and be protected. It started out with just nine animals. With an area of 90 square kilometers, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is home to about 120 rhinos right now.

The number of rhinos in Tsavo has grown a lot over the years, making it one of the most successful and good conservation stories of the past few years. Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), on the other hand, was built around the refuge in 2008 as an open, highly protected, free-roaming area where 19 founder rhinos were put in. The “African big five” animals can all be found in Tsavo West National Park. Rhinos can be seen in the Ngulia refuge.

Lava Flow in Shetani

There are many lava flows in Tsavo West National Park, but the Shetani Lava Flow is the biggest one. The lava flow is about 4 km west of the park. It has a series of lava tunnels below the surface that were once known for trapping animals that went inside in search of water while being chased by predators. Shetani, which means “devil” in Kiswahili, was formed only a few hundred years ago.

People in the area thought it was the devil himself coming out of the ground. At one point, there were even signs on the cave floor that named the bones. Over 50 square kilometers, this wide area of folded black lava covers the grassland near the Chylus Hills. It looks like Vesuvius dropped its safety blanket here. The Shetani Lava Flow is named after the Shetani River, though.

The Lookout for Poachers

The poacher’s lookout is an interesting place in Tsavo West National Park. It’s on a hill in the middle of the park that gives you a view of the whole area. The viewpoint got its name from the thieves who used it to look at the animals in the park.

Lake Jipe

Tsavo West National Park has many great places to visit that you should not miss on your Kenya tour. One of them is Lake Jipe. Lake Turkana is on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. It provides water for the many animals in Tsavo West National Park and is home to many watery animals, such as crocodiles, hippos, and many types of birds.

Seeing wildlife

One of the most famous places for wildlife safaris in Kenya is Tsavo West National Park, which has amazing views of wildlife. In Tsavo West, you can go on game drives in the morning, afternoon, and evening to see wildlife. During these safari game drives, you’ll be in 4×4 open-roof safari vehicles. From the window of your car, you can see lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, cape buffaloes, wild dogs, klipspringers, oryx, gerenuk, black rhinos, mongooses, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and more. You can see wildlife in Tsavo West at any time of the year, but the best times to go on a tour in Kenya to see wildlife are during the dry season, when many animals gather around water holes to drink. On safaris in Tsavo West, you can see wildlife and also track rhinos at the park’s Ngulia Sanctuary and visit the beautiful Mzima springs.

Watching birds

Birders should go on a Kenya bird-watching tour to see Tsavo West National Park, which is one of the best places in the country to see birds. You can see more than 400 different kinds of birds in the park if you like to watch birds. Its Ngulia Hills are on one of the biggest bird migration routes in the world. From October to January, you can see the most amazing bird sights there.

On birding tours in Tsavo West, you might see the African fin-foot, the Pied kingfisher, the Vulturine Guinea fowl, the Pangani Longclaw, the Somali ostrich, the Fischer’s Starling, the Shelley’s Starling, the Martial Eagle, the Narina Trogon, the Taita Falcon, the Taita Fiscal, the Golden Pipit, the Thrush Nightingale, the Northern Brownbul, and more.

Kenya birding trips in Tsavo West National Park are great any time of the year, but the best times to see birds are from October to November and from November to April, when the birds are migrating.

Safaris on foot

One of the best ways to see Tsavo West’s beautiful scenery is on a walking tour. The park has many interesting things to see, such as the Shetani Lava Flow, Lake Jipe, and Mzima Springs. Walking tours in Tsavo West are done on foot with the help of a trained, armed safari guide who keeps you safe from wild animals.

Tourists can walk along the many marked trails and see many animal species, such as giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, lions, buffalo, rhinos, hartebeests, lesser kudu, and bush babies. You might also see many different kinds of colorful birds on a Kenya walking tour in Tsavo West.

A trip to the Mzima Springs

These beautiful springs are well worth the trip; they are home to many animals, such as hippos, crocodiles, elephants, gazelles, giraffes, impalas, zebras, and a lot of different kinds of birds and monkeys. There are well-marked nature trails, an observation platform, and an underwater glass tank. However, you must be accompanied by a trained armed ranger when you visit the springs.

A Cultural Tour

On Kenya wildlife safaris to Tsavo West National Park, take the time to visit the Maasai villages and learn about their way of life. It is amazing to see the Maasai people’s native homes and the way they dress, which is very satisfying. The Maasai are herders who live in Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya wildlife tours often stop to see them. It’s most enjoyable to watch the Maasai dance because you can experience their unique dance as they jump around and tell stories.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO TO TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK?

Tourists can enjoy Tsavo West National Park all year, but the best times to go are still from June to October and from December to February, when it is dry. Now is the best time to see wildlife because animals gather around the Tsavo River and other water sources in the park, making them easier to see. Also, the roads that lead into and through the park are dry and can be used right now.

Kenya trips to Tsavo West should not be taken between March and May or November, when it rains a lot, because it makes seeing animals hard. Kenya treks and hotels are cheaper during the wet season, though.

HOW TO STAY IN TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

There are a lot of different safari hotels and camps in Tsavo West National Park that offer both cheap and fancy safari lodging for people going on Kenya wildlife safaris to the park. There are a variety of places to stay in Tsavo West, ranging from cheap to high-end. Some examples are:

Lodge at Salt Lick for Safari

This lodge has 96 well-furnished rooms with private bathrooms that are made in a circle. It is in the Taita Wildlife Sanctuary, at the base of the Taita Hills. These rooms all have nice touches like king-size beds, thick white towels, good linens, a running shower, a toilet that flushes, and a wash sink. There are also mosquito nets on the beds, a ceiling fan, and a safe in the rooms. The lodge is famous for being the most photographed building in the park. It has a view of several watering holes that animals in the park like to visit, making for stunning views.

Serena Safari Lodge in Kilaguni

The Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge is in Tsavo West National Park. It is on a hill where Mount Kilimanjaro casts a shadow. The stone house looks out over a watering hole that huge groups of elephants, buffalo, and plains game often visit. There are 56 guest rooms at the lodge, including five suites spread out over the traditional volcanic stone lodge and several lovely cabins.

All of the cabins have beautiful views of either the water hole or the Chyulu Hills. The rooms are tastefully furnished with natural stone walls, furniture, and art that are all inspired by the area. Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge has rooms that are perfect for families, big groups, couples, and single tourists. The rooms have a lot of great features, like private balconies, internet access, room service 24 hours a day, and more.

Camp for Man-Eaters

camp is near the Tsavo River in Tsavo West National Park. It has 31 tents that are fully equipped and have bathrooms with views of the river. Eight of these tents are family tents that come with balconies, lounge chairs, a separate bathroom, mosquito netting, and four poster beds. It is also taken into account that guests with special needs can stay in the camp’s wheelchair-friendly tent. The Man-eaters bar, the Tsavo River Restaurant, the Simba Mbili Bar, and the Rock Pool are all available at Man-eaters’ camp.