Tsavo East National Park

Pros & Cons

• Good wildlife viewing with four of the Big Five present
• Excellent birding with many dry-country specials
• Great wilderness appeal with off-the-beaten-track options
• Beautiful landscape with scenic landmarks such as the Galana River and Taita Hills
• Wildlife densities can be low
• Temperatures can be very hot for much of the year

Wildlife

Tsavo East is home to four of the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo). Although the park officially has rhino, the species hasn’t been seen here in years. The park is a stronghold for elephants, and you’ll commonly find them with a reddish appearance from the distinctive red soil of the area. Tsavo is also famous for its maneless lions.

• More about Tsavo East’s wildlife

Scenery

If you stay close to the park’s main thoroughfare, you’ll experience barren plains, grasslands and semi-arid shrub. The plains either side of Aruba Dam can be good for cheetahs. A slight detour brings the Kanderi Swamp (popular with elephants) and Voi River (with lush riverine forests) into play. Nearby, Mudanda Rock, a towering rock formation, offers sweeping views from the summit. The wild, croc-filled Galana River runs through the north.

Activities

The only two activities permitted in Tsavo East National Park are wildlife viewing and birding, both of which you’ll most likely enjoy on a guided game drive. Self-guided game drives are possible in theory, although they’re not very common in Kenya.

Weather & Climate

Conditions stay hot and dry throughout the year at Tsavo East, with the exception of the park’s higher altitudes where it gets progressively cooler as you head up the hills. The Wet season (November to May) gets particularly hot, especially during the break between the rains at year’s end and during the later long rains. The Dry season (June to October) brings a little relief from the heat.

• More about the weather and climate

Best Time To Visit

Tsavo East doesn’t always look its best in the Dry season (June to October), when the sky can be hazy from the dust, but this is the best time to spot animals. The dry, hot months of January and February are also good. The grass is much shorter than in the Wet season (November to May), so the wildlife is less easily concealed behind the vegetation. And, of course, getting wet is not an issue.

• More about the best time to visit

Want To Visit Tsavo East NP?

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