Tsavo West National park and Tsavo East National Parks were once a single park, but are now separated. Tsavo West National Park is situated west of its sister, Tsavo East National Park, and is approximately 188 km west of Mombasa. This park is considered the best for topography fans who also want to view Kenya’s animals and birds.

The Tsavo West National Park is “Full of wild beasts, such as rhinoceros, buffaloes and elephants” from a missionary’s diary written in 1848.

Later in 1900 the notorious “Man Eaters of Tsavo“, man-eating lions preyed on linesmen building the great Uganda Railway in 1900. The carriage from which they pulled a traveler is on display at the Nairobi Railway Museum.

Tsavo-West National Park has important historic connections as a major battleground in World War I where British and German troops battled for supremacy.

The park, located off the main Nairobi-Mombasa road is easily accessible. It offers tremendous views with diverse habitats ranging from mountains, river forests, plains, lakes and wooded grassland. It borders the southern Serengeti plains in Tanzania.

Game include: leopard, buffalo, rhino, elephant, Lion, giraffe, zebra, cheetah plains game, crocodile and small mammals including mongoose, hyrax, dik dik and the nocturnal porcupine.

Tsavo West history and overview

Tsavo West National Park is operated by the Kenya Wildlife Service. It encompasses mountains and hills for climbing, savanna bush and semi-arid desert scrub, acacia woodland, palm thickets, rivers and the tranquil Lake Jipe .

There are many tourist attractions at Tsavo West National Park, from safari tours to see the red-skinned elephants, to birdwatching and hill hiking, to caving and boating. There are many Kenyan animals in the park, including elephants, African lions, hippos, cheetahs, hartebeest and buffalo.

Tsavo West National Park covers 7065km² but the terrain is much more varied than that of Tsavo East. It ranges from 200-1000 m in altitude. The northern sector is bush land with scattered native baobab trees.

The railway runs along the border separating Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park. In 1898, as many as 135 railway workers were attacked and killed by man-eating lions. The pair of male, maneless lions that, unusually, hunted humans rather than livestock, evaded traps and capture for many months. The man-eaters were eventually shot by Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson, but the legend lives on.

A wildlife safari is the best way to see Kenya’s wildlife close-up in its natural environment. Tsavo West is home to the largest population of red-skinned elephants as well as to members of the rest of the “Big 5” African animals (buffalo, African lions, leopards and rhinos). There is also a host of Kenyan birds and other animals, both large and small, to see.

From Lake Jipe, on the Tanzanian border, to the mountain forests of the Chyulu Hills, the wide range of landscape offers protection to many endangered African wildlife including the black rhinoceros, Cosen’s gerbil, Hunter’s hartebeest, several species of shrew and rat, Grevy’s zebra and wild dogs.

Upon entering Tsavo West National Park, the park warden will give you several commonsense rules. For example: do not get out of your vehicle, except at designated spots; do not harass the animals in any way; keep to the tracks; no off-road driving; and remember that the animals always have the right of way.

When driving along the red-earth tracks, keep your eyes open for movement and signs of African wildlife. The more you look, the more you will see, and it increases the camaraderie and excitement of the trip as you point out the wildlife, and pull to a halt. Don’t forget to enjoy the sights in real-life, not just through the lens of your camera or video recorder!

It is amazing to see Kenyan wildlife living in close proximity to one another. A bird may sit within a snap of being eaten, yet, unless it is hungry, the predator will ignore it completely. See the huge anthills, the sparse shrubs, and the tortoises plodding along the edge of the track. Keep your eyes open for giraffes – they are surprisingly well camouflaged as they nibble the tops of the trees. Look under the shady trees to find lions sleeping after lunch, and be ready to stop as gazelles or cheetahs stroll across the road in front of you.

It is a long, hot day on a safari to Tsavo West, so wear cool, comfortable clothing, and a sunhat. Remember to bring your camera and binoculars, sunglasses and water to drink.

Tsavo West National Park Facts

  • Altitude 500 – 6000ft.
  • Area 9,065 sq. kms
  • Distance from Nairobi 240 kms
  • Opened April 1948
  • Cave & Geological exploration: shetani lava flow & caves
  • Excellent bird watching over 600 species
  • Game viewing: elephant, rhino sanctuary
  • Mzima springs – Underwater hippo watching
  • Excellent views of Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Chyulu Hills National Park extension of Tsavo-West National Park

How to get to Tsavo West National park

  • Distance: 240 km from Nairobi, 250km from Mombasa (Mtito Andei Gate).
  • By air: There are 3 airstrips in the park
  • Gates: Tsavo, Lake Jipe, Mtito Andei (Kamboyo HQ), Chyulu, Maktau and Ziwani.
  • Roads: The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi.
  • Visitors from Mombasa also use Tsavo Gate near Manyani.
  • The Park can also be reached via Taveta – Voi road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe Gates.
  • Airstrips: Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau,Finch Hottons, Ziwani, and Maktau airstrips are in good.

What to see and what to do at Tsavo West National park

  • The spectacle Mzima Springs is the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the  under parched lava rocks, forming the most welcoming and lovely scene in Africa
  • Ancient lands of Lions, in 1898 the Uganda railway construction was abruptly halted by the two of the most voracious and insatiable man-eating lions appeared upon the scene, and for over nine month waged intermittent warfare against the railway and all those connected with it in the vicinity of Tsavo.
  • A vibrant volcanic arena; molten lava that form Shetani lava spewed from the earth just about 200 years ago and its fiery fury was thought by locals to be work of the Devil.
  • Poacher’s Lookout and roaring rocks; the Park abound the panoramic vintage point from which to view the movement of the herds.
  • Glorious game drives; Tsavo west offers some of the most magnificent game viewing in the world
  • Ngulia Sanctuary; this is where the growing population of highly endangered black rhino are inching from chasm of extinction forced upon them by rampant poaching in the 1960s.
  • Lake Jipe, lies astride Kenya and Tanzania boarder and is teeming with aquatic life, Bird watching I also major activity around the lake.
  • First World War Site-East African Campaign, Perhaps the most bizarre campaign of the world war was fought in the “Bundu” (Bush) – the barely explored wilderness of thorny scrub and dense forest of Tsavo west. This last ‘gentleman war’ was waged under the code of honor.

Best Time to Visit

If you prefer your vegetation green instead of brown, and want a clear view of Kilimanjaro, then the Wet season (October to May) is when you’ll want to visit. Migratory birds also offer a great spectacle at this time. But for wildlife watching in general, you should really go in the drier months, when a lack of water sees animals gather at local rivers and waterholes.

Climate and weather in Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park is just a few degrees south of the equator. The temperature remains the same throughout the year at 27-31°C (81-88°F) during the day and 22-24°C (72-75°F) during the night. Humidity is high from December through April.

The rainfall defines the seasons. The long rainy season, or monsoon season, is from March to May. The shorter rains come in October through December.

Best time to visit Tsavo West National park – rates and fees

January and February are good months to visit Tsavo West, as well as June to September. Visiting during the heavy rainy season of March to May should be avoided as the roads become very muddy. There may be some rain from October to December. Temperatures stay at a pleasant 27-31C (81-88F) during the day and 22-24C (72-75F) at night year round.

The best months for birdwatchers to see migratory birds are October to January. The best times to view the park’s animals are early and late in the day, as they tend to sleep in the hot afternoon sun.