4 daysMombasa
4 Days Safari from Mombasa to Amboseli and Tsavo West and East
5.0(42)Free cancellation
from$1,600
Photo: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTsavo East and West
Southern Kenya
Together, Tsavo East and Tsavo West cover more than 20,000 square kilometres, making Tsavo Kenya's largest protected area. The Nairobi to Mombasa road and railway split the two parks. Wildlife is more spread out than in the Mara, but you will often have sightings to yourself.
Tsavo is famous for elephants coloured red by the soil, and for the man eating lions that stalked railway workers in 1898.
Tsavo East or Tsavo West?
| Tsavo East | Tsavo West | |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Flat, open plains and the Galana River | Hills, volcanic cones and lava flows |
| Highlights | Lugard Falls, Mudanda Rock, Aruba Dam, red elephants | Mzima Springs, Shetani lava flow, Ngulia rhino sanctuary |
| Wildlife viewing | Easier on the open plains | Harder in thick bush, but beautiful |
| Best combined with | The coast and the train to Voi | Amboseli |
Highlights
- Mzima Springs: Crystal clear pools fed by Kilimanjaro's water, with an underwater hide for watching hippos and fish.
- Lugard Falls: Rapids where the Galana River squeezes through rock channels; watch for crocodiles.
- Mudanda Rock: A long rock ridge above a waterhole where elephants gather in the dry season.
- Shetani lava flow: A black lava field from an eruption a few hundred years ago.
Getting there
Tsavo is about five hours by road from Nairobi, or take the Madaraka Express train to Voi, the gateway to Tsavo East, where operators meet travellers. From Amboseli, Tsavo West is about three hours; from the park to Diani Beach is about five hours. See our Tsavo guide.
Tip: Tsavo's distances are huge: base yourself near the area you want to explore rather than trying to cover the whole park.
Practical information
| Fee | US$80 a day for each park |
| Tsavo East size | About 13,700 square kilometres |
| Tsavo West size | About 9,000 square kilometres |
| Train | Madaraka Express Nairobi to Voi, about 3 hours |
| History | The man eaters of Tsavo killed railway workers in 1898 |
Honest downsides
Wildlife is more spread out than in the Mara, so game drives involve more driving between sightings. The bush in Tsavo West is thick, which makes cats harder to spot. In return you get space, huge views and very few other vehicles.
Where it is
Multi-day tours that visit Tsavo East and West
Every tour here includes Tsavo East and West in its itinerary. Best rated first.
4 days
3 days
5 days
2 days
4 daysMombasa
4 Days Tsavo West, Amboseli and Tsavo East National Park Safari
4.9(36)Free cancellation
from$2,235
5 daysCombine it with
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Tsavo East and West: questions
Why are Tsavo's elephants red?
They dust themselves with the park's red soil to protect their skin from the sun and insects.
Is Tsavo East or West better?
Tsavo East is easier for game viewing on open plains; Tsavo West has more dramatic scenery and Mzima Springs. Many safaris visit both.
Can you take the train to Tsavo?
Yes. Some Madaraka Express trains stop at Voi, the gateway to Tsavo East, about three hours from Nairobi.