Tsavo West National Park

Pros & Cons

• Great wilderness destination
• Wide variety of animals, including all the Big Five
• Excellent birding with some dry-country specials
• A chance of seeing the rare black rhino in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
• Short walking trail, resident hippos and underwater hide at Mzima Springs
• Wildlife densities are rather low
• Seeing wildlife can be unpredictable due to dense vegetation

Wildlife

Tsavo West is a real wilderness destination. All of the Big Five are present in the park. Sightings of lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant are possible in the main area, and there is a good chance of seeing black rhino in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. Elephant herds can be found gathered at the waterholes. However, wildlife densities are lower than in some of Kenya’s more popular parks. There is a good variety of animals though, including many dry-country specials such as the shy lesser kudu and the rare fringe-eared oryx.

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Scenery

Tsavo West has a rugged, arid beauty with varied landscapes that include dense woodlands, rocky outcrops, volcanic hills, the Shetani lava flows and Chaimu Crater. The jagged Ngulia Hills run like a spine through the park. Underpinning everything is black volcanic soil and Tsavo’s famous red dust. A small number of rivers (most seasonal, some year-round) meander through the park, but Mzima Springs is like a verdant oasis. Lake Jipe, south of the Taveta Road, has a very different feel to the rest of the park.

Activities

Like most Kenyan parks, the main activities in Tsavo West are guided game drives, where you can look for wildlife and enjoy bird watching. Apart from within the grounds of your accommodations, the only places where you’re allowed outside your vehicle are Mzima Springs (where there is a short, pretty walking track through the fever tree forest) and Chaimu Crater.

Weather & Climate

Like its sister park to the east, Tsavo West is a hot and dry place, even if temperatures drop significantly at night. The best place to escape the heat is the higher altitudes of the park, where it cools by 6.5°C/3.5°F for every 1,000m/1,000ft you climb. The Dry season (June to October) is characterized by bright, sunny days, and the Wet season (November to May) by afternoon showers.

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Best Time To Visit

If you prefer lush green vegetation and want a clear view of Mt Kilimanjaro, you should visit in the Wet season (November to May). Migratory birds also offer a great spectacle at this time. But for wildlife viewing in general, you should visit in the drier months (June to October and January to February), when a lack of water sees animals gather at local rivers and waterholes.

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Want To Visit Tsavo West NP?

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