Tsavo National Park
Tsavo
National Park is the closest National Park to Mombasa and the surrounding
beaches and, therefore, is a popular choice for combining your beach holiday
with a
safari.
It is about 200 kms south-east
of Nairobi and is Kenya's largest national park, covering an area of approx
21,500 sq kms. The main Nairobi Mombasa highway runs through the park which is
split into two sections; Tsavo East (approx 11,500 sq kms) and Tsavo West
(approx 9000 sq kms)
Tsavo National Park is fine to visit at year round
but the best times for a wildlife viewing
safari is regarded as being during the dry
season, December through to March. There are two rainy seasons. The long rains
are generally from March through to May and the weather is hot and humid. The
short rains arrive in the warm months of October to December.
TSAVO
WEST is the most popular as it has been developed for longer and is regarded to
have better game viewing opportunities.
In the northwestern corner of
the park is Shetani Lava Flow, a massive lava bed created by an eruption in the
Chyulu Hills where the raw cone at the centre can still be seen. Rain falling
in these hills is purified as it soaks through the porous volcanic ash ,
running underground for 50km, resurfacing at the lush Mzima Springs, which is
one of the parks main attractions. This is haven to crocodiles and hippo and a
waterhole for a large variety of other game.
The parks supports the
BIG5 and wildlife viewing opportunities include
buffalo,
rhino,
giraffe,
zebra,
lion,
leopard,
cheetah, crocodile and many varieties of
antelope. Being so vast the animals can be spread over a large area, so when on
safari
you need to allow time and have patience to see of most the different animals.
TSAVO EAST is more wild, remote and has less visitors. The southern
accessible area of the park includes the Kanderi Swamp and the Aruba Dam on the
Voi river and has large concentrations of game including
hippo, giant crocodiles
lion,
leopard, waterbuck, kudu,
zebra and ostrich.
It is also home to
the largest herds of
elephant found in Kenya, usually covered in
the red dust, common in the dry, arid park.
The park provides for
excellent photography with it's spectacular views such as Mudanda Rock and
Yatta Plateau, the world's largest lava flow.
--> View photos taken in Tsavo National
Park
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