Red Elephants, Maneless Lions and the Ghost of Tsavo
Tsavo East is huge, wild, and often empty of other tourists. It’s the closest park to the Kenyan coast, which makes it the most practical choice for a safari from Mombasa, Diani, Malindi or Watamu. But three things make it genuinely one of a kind.
The red elephants. Tsavo East’s elephants dust bathe in the park’s red volcanic soil, giving their hides a distinctive rusty colour. Seeing a herd of red elephants crossing the Galana River is one of Africa’s great safari images.
The maneless lions. Tsavo’s lions are historically distinctive, the males often have no mane or a very thin one, a genetic adaptation to the arid climate and thorny undergrowth. These lions are descendants of the notorious man eaters of Tsavo.
The man eaters of Tsavo. In 1898, two maneless lions killed over 30 railway workers during construction of the Kenya Uganda Railway. The story became famous through the book and film The Ghost and the Darkness. You can still visit the area where it happened.
Space and solitude. Tsavo East receives fewer visitors than Tsavo West or the Maasai Mara, it’s entirely possible to spend a full day exploring without seeing another vehicle.
Over 500 bird species. A birdwatcher’s paradise, with dry country specials and migratory birds from across the globe.
Wildlife You’ll See on a Tsavo East Safari
Tsavo East delivers classic safari experiences on a grand scale. The park is vast, so wildlife densities can be lower than the Maasai Mara, but the sightings you do get are often more private and more rewarding.
- Elephants, large herds of red elephants, including some of Africa’s last big tuskers, the main reason most people visit
- Lions, Tsavo’s famous maneless lions, reliable sightings in the open grasslands
- Buffalo, zebra, giraffe and gazelle, all common and easy to spot
- Hippos and crocodiles, found in the Galana River and at Aruba Dam
- Cheetahs, often seen on the open plains around Aruba Dam
- Over 500 bird species, including dry country specials, raptors and migratory birds
- The hirola, the world’s rarest antelope, critically endangered and found in Kenya only in Tsavo East and along the Somali border
Worth knowing before you book: leopards are present but rarely seen, and rhinos aren’t usually spotted in Tsavo East. We’d rather tell you upfront than let you find out on day one.
The Landscape
Tsavo East mixes open plains, semi arid savanna, acacia scrub and volcanic landscapes. The Galana River cuts through the park with emerald and azure waters, and the Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava flow at over 300 kilometres, forms the western boundary. Other landmarks include Mudanda Rock and Lugard Falls.
How to Get to Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo East is the most accessible safari park from the Kenyan coast. You can reach it by road, rail or air, we arrange everything.
By road from Mombasa. About 2 hours to Bachuma Gate, the closest park to the coast.
By road from Diani or Malindi. Diani is about 2.5 hours, Malindi about 3 hours via Sala Gate.
By road from Nairobi. About 4 to 5 hours to Mtito Andei Gate.
By rail from Nairobi or Mombasa. The Standard Gauge Railway runs to Voi Station, we arrange transfers from there.
By air. Airstrips at Voi, Aruba, Satao, Sala and others, we can book charter flights for you.
Best Time to Visit Tsavo East for a Safari
Tsavo East is a year round destination, but the experience shifts with the seasons.
June to October. Dry season, excellent wildlife viewing as animals gather at the Galana River and Aruba Dam, clear skies and slightly cooler temperatures, the best time for general wildlife viewing.
January to February. Another dry spell, good viewing and clear skies, February heat can be intense.
March to May. Long rains. The park turns green, crowds thin out, roads can get muddy and wildlife is harder to spot.
November to December. Short rains, green landscape, smaller crowds, expect some afternoon showers.