Tsavo West National Park, Kenya

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This fine national park covers a huge variety of landscapes, from swamps and natural springs to rocky peaks, extinct volcanic cones and rolling plains. It’s easily the more beautiful of the two parks, but wildlife can be hard to spot. Birds are very common and there are large populations of elephants, zebras, hippos and leopards. Lions are present, but they tend to stay hidden.

The focus is Mzima Springs, the source of most of Mombasa’s fresh water, where you can walk down to a large pool that is a favorite haunt of hippos and crocodiles. There’s an underwater viewing chamber which unfortunately just gives a view of thousands of primeval-looking fish. Be careful-both hippos and crocs are dangerous.

Chaimu crater and the Roaring rocks view point are other highlights, just southeast of Kilaguni Serena Lodge, and can be climbed in about 15 minutes. The views from both are stunning, with falcons, eagles and buzzards whirling over the plains. While there is little danger walking these trails, be aware that the wildlife is out there.

Another attraction is the Ngulia Rhino Sactuary at the base of Ngulia Hills, part of the Rhino Ark Programme. The 70km² area is surrounded by a metre-high electric fence and provides a measure of security for the park’s last 49 black rhinos. There are driving tracks and waterholes within the enclosure and there’s a good chance of seeing one of these elusive creaturs.

Some of the more unusual species include the naked mole rat and the enigmatically named white-bellied go-away bird, which is often seen perched in dead trees. Red-beaked hornbills and bateleur eagles are also common. Look out for dung beetles rolling huge balls of elephant dung along the tracks.

It’s possible to go rock-climbing at Tembo Peak and and the Ngulia Hills, but you’ll need to arrange this with wardens. This area is also fantastic for bird life and there’s a very reliable hippo pool on the Mukui River.
Lake Jipe (Pronounced ji-pay), at the southwest end of the park, is reached y a desperately dusty track from near Taveta. You can hire boats here for hippo and crocodile spotting (US$5). Huge herds of elephants come to the lake to drink and large flocks of migratory birds stop here from February to May.

Photos of Tsavo West National Park

Landscape of Tsavo West

(photo by kozicka)

Tours and Safaris to Tsavo West National Park

Below are some of the safari holidays we offer which include a visit to Tsavo West National Park. To find out more about each tour, just click one of the links below. We can also arrange custom tours and safaris which go to Tsavo West National Park so feel free to e-mail us or visit our custom tours page.