National Park · Southeastern Kenya
Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Parks
Together one of the largest protected areas in the world, and the setting of the famous 19th-century "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" lion story.
How to get there
By road from Nairobi or Mombasa, roughly midway between the two along the main highway.
What to find
Red-dusted elephants, the Mzima Springs' underwater hippo-viewing chamber, and vast, genuinely wild bush country.
Overview
Tsavo East and Tsavo West together cover about 22,000 km², one of the largest wildlife areas in the world, split by the Nairobi–Mombasa road and railway. The Tsavo lions became world-famous in 1898, when two man-eating lions killed railway workers building the line.
Tsavo East is flatter and more open, known for the Yatta Plateau and Lugard Falls. Tsavo West is hillier and volcanic, with Mzima Springs, the Shetani lava flows and a rhino sanctuary. Both are known for red-dusted elephants, coloured by the local soil.
Highlights
- Red elephants rolling in the dust
- Mzima Springs in Tsavo West, with an underwater viewing chamber for hippos and fish
- The Shetani lava flows and Chaimu crater
- Lugard Falls and the Galana River in Tsavo East
- Huge, wild spaces with far fewer vehicles than the Mara
Things to do
Game drives
Look for elephant, lion, buffalo, lesser kudu and gerenuk.
Mzima Springs walk
A short trail to the springs and the viewing chamber.
Rhino sanctuary
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West.
Best time to visit
The dry seasons (June to October and January to February) are best. It can be very hot, so game drives are best early and late in the day.
Getting there
By road from Nairobi or Mombasa (4 to 5 hours from Nairobi to Tsavo West, less from Mombasa), or by the Madaraka Express train to Voi or Mtito Andei stations.
Where to stay
Lodges and camps across both parks, from classic safari lodges to tented camps along the rivers.
Tsavo East & West
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Kenya →
Good to know
- An easy add-on to a beach holiday in Mombasa or Diani.
- Tsavo is huge, so plan your route to avoid long drives.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.