TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo West National Park “Land of Lava, springs, Man-Eaters & Magical Sunsets” is a beautiful, rugged wilderness located in the Coast Province of Kenya. It is part of the Tsavo Conservation Area which was divided by the A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway to form East and West Tsavo. The park covers an area of 9,065 square kilometers making under the management of Kenya Wildlife Service.

Tsavo West features a number of rocky outcrops, volcanic hills, more mountainous and wetter than Tsavo East. The park offers lovely views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its vegetation consists of giant baobabs, open grasslands, scrublands, acacia woodlands, and riverine vegetation.

The park is visited all year round however, the best time to visit it is usually from May to October when the humidity and temperatures are relatively low. This time is also the tourist peak season in Tsavo and is ideal for game viewing.

ATTRACTIONS

Tsavo West is a more popular destination on account of its attractions which pull tourists. Some of the attractions include:

WILDLIFE

Tsavo West National Park has a variety of wildlife species, such as eastern black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard and lion. There are also other smaller animals that can be spotted in the park, such as the bushbaby, hartebeest, lesser kudu, and Masai giraffe. Leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, buffalo, rhino, elephant, zebra, crocodile, mongoose, hyrax. Dik-dik, lesser kuddu, nocturnal porcupine.

Bird species: About 600 birds are recorded in this park some of the birds include:

MZIMA SPRINGS

These splendid springs with crystal clear water coming from the underground streams flowing from the nearby Chyulu Hills. They create the most welcoming and lovely scene in Africa. The word comes from a Swahili word meaning life.

VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE.

Tsavo West is made up of quite a number of volcanic features which make the park look like a volcanic arena. Some of the features include:

Shetani lava;  it is found near Chyulu Hills game, 8 km long, 1.6 km wide and 5 meters deep. It was named shetani by the locals a Swahili word which means “devil”. It was their first time to see ‘fire’ eruption and ‘flowing’ on the ground about 500 years ago, they believed that it was the devil himself emerging from the earth. Sighting this lava is quite special and spectacular.

Chaimu volcanic crater: It is a tall rising hill clad with the bright black color of the lava stones when you visit the crater, you will notice how the road color changes from red to black as you get closer to Chaimu crater. It is also known as “the devil’s crater”. It is one of those viewing points within Tsavo West National park.

Five sister’s hills: The scenery is stunning with a low ridge of black lava outcrop, long luscious grass and conical hills that make the Five Sisters. The five almost identical cone-shaped hills are located in one area and resemble one another.

ROARING ROCKS

The area is named after the buzz of cicadas that inhabit them and the howl of wind that hits the bare rocks by producing a roaring sound. The rock is now used now as a wonderful viewing plateau, you can enjoy 360-degree views of the Tsavo West. It gives magnificent views over Rhino valley as the Rhinos enjoy a sundowner.

POACHER’S LOOKOUT

The poacher’s lookout is a rush roofed hut found on a hill in Tsavo west which was used by the park rangers to fight against the poachers. It is now used as a viewing point for the Masai herds.

LAKE JIPE

It is a small, shallow lake found on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It is water by Kilimanjaro and Tanzania River and has a vast aquatic life. Waterbirds also harbor on the lake like a pygmy goose, black egrets, black coucal

ACTIVITIES DONE WHILE AT TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

GAME DRIVE

Since the park is endowed with vast wildlife as mention above, a game drive is among the no miss activity which takes you close to the wildlife-rich spots as they go about their daily routes. They take place in the morning, evening, whole day and night. The morning game drive gives you an opportunity to catch up with the early risers hunting their prey like the lions, birds leaving their nest to go look for food and water not forgetting watching the sunset set view in the wilderness. The evening game drives rewards with antelopes as they graze in the savannah plain, hippos and crocodiles sun basking along the shores, predators under shades of dry trees. Full day game drives give you more time with the animals as you observe their ways of life-like behaviors, feeding habits, and relationships. Finally, the night game drive gives you the opportunity to explore the nocturnal wildlife in Tsavo, which include leopards, civet cats, genet cats, and bush babies. Another exciting aspect of the night game drive is experiencing the night sounds and starlit sky.

BIRDING WATCHING

Tsavo West is a known birder’s paradise, over 600 different birds species are recorded these including the

threatened corncrake and near threatened Basra Reed Warbler. Birdwatching is done on Lake Epije, in the savannah plains, in the swamps and Ngulia. Some of the birds include:  river warbler, red-backed shrike, thrush nightingale, marsh warbler, and the common whitethroat, Tsavo Sunbird, Common Greenshank, Crab Plover, White-fronted Plover, Grey Plover, Sooty Gull, Greater Crested Tern, Sokoke Scops Owl, African Barred Owlet, Sombre Nightjar, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Nubian Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Striped Pipit, Malindi Pipit, Sokoke Pipit, Mangrove Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Brown-headed Parrot, Somali Sparrow, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, Magpie Starling, Migratory birds from Europe are usually seen from  Nov-April. It is an all-year-round activity.

VISIT THE NGULIA SANCTUARY

This is where the growing population of highly endangered black rhino is being kept from extinction which was brought by the excess poaching in the 1960s

VISIT THE WORLD WAR 1 BATTLEFIELDS

Tsavo was also in the news during World War I when British forces built forts along the Tsavo River.  Several battles were waged here between the British and the German army‚ who were based in what was then Tanganyika‚ now Tanzania.  The film Shout at the Devil features an eccentric campaign using fleets of Rolls Royces.  The troops in Tsavo surrendered three months after the rest of the world had signed an armistice.  Tours of the battlefields and war cemeteries make a fascinating addition to any safari.

VISIT THE LUMO COMMUNITY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

It is located near Mwatate in Taita-Taveta County in the former Coast Province, approximately 220km from Mombasa, Kenya adjacent to the park and Taita Hills. It is owned by the community covering an area of 48,000 acres. The sanctuary is formed by the Lualenyi, Mramba Communal Grazing Area, and Oza Group Ranch, hence the acronym “LUMO”. It is home to cape buffalo, zebra, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, Thomson’s gazelle, lesser kudu, dik-dik, elephant, leopard, Masai lion, Masai giraffe, and other smaller animals, numerous bird species.

VISIT TO MZIMA SPRINGS

A visit to these scenic springs is worthy a while, they attract rich wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles, zebras and giraffes wandering around the banks through the thick acacias and raffia palms together with a large number of monkeys and birds. There are well-marked nature trails, an observation platform, and an underwater glass tank. A guided walk by a professional ranger is highly advised for safety. Mzima is also the main source of Mombasa’s city water supply.

The nearby Chyulu Hills‚ called the Green Hills of Africa by the famous author Ernest Hemingway‚ are strikingly attractive extinct volcanoes with a wealth of wildlife; hiking‚ horse riding‚ bird watching‚ game viewing and camping are all available here.

COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL TOUR

Explore unique Masai lands and enjoy their rich culture by visiting the Masai communities/ villages. This visit is ideal for anyone who wishes to understand the history, lifestyle of the local Maasai and traditions such as food, dance, and others. They are pastoralist who

ACCESSIBILITY

By road: The main access routes from Nairobi are Mtito Andei (Kamboyo HQ), Man-Eaters Gate, Tsavo, Lake Jipe,), Chyulu, and Ziwani. From Mombasa also use Tsavo Gate near Manyani and via Taveta – Voi road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe Gates. 240 km from Nairobi, 250km from Mombasa (Mtito Andei Gate).

By air: Daily chartered flights to Tsavo West‚ landing at Kilaguni and Finch Hattons airstrips in Tsavo West‚ and at Ol Donyo Lodge airstrip in the Chyulu.

ACCOMMODATION

Ngulia Safari Lodge, Kilaguni Safari Serena Lodge, Kitani Severin Safari Camp/Lodge, Finch Hatton’s Tented Lodge, Voyager Safari Camp

Simba Campsite, Royal Little Kudu Campsite, Kenge Campsite, Palm Tree Campsite, Professional Campsite