Tsavo West National Park
Location: South Eastern Kenya, Coast Province
Coordinates: 3°19′30″S 38°8′29″E / -3.325, 38.14139
Area: 7,065 km² Established 1948
Governing body: Kenya Wildlife Service
Altitude: 200 - 1,000 feet above sea level.
Airstrips: Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hottons, Ziwani and Maktau airstrips are in good condition.
Activities: Game & bird viewing, Cave exploration, Underwater hippo and fish observation.
With an area of 7065 square kilometers, Tsavo West National Park covers approximately 30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape.The A109 Nairobi-Mombasa road and a railway line divides the park into East and West. The western part is a more popular destination on account of its magnificent scenery, Mzima Springs, rich and varied wildlife, good road system, rhino reserve, rock climbing potential and guided walks along the Tsavo River. The park is operated by Kenya Wildlife Service.
During the constraction of the great Uganda Railway the notorious "Man Eaters of Tsavo", man-eating lions preyed on the railway linesman building theRailway in 1900. The carriage from which they pulled a traveler is on display in Nairobi Railway Museum. Tsavo-West has important historic connections as a major battleground in World War I where British and German troops battled for supremacy.
The park is easy to reach, located off the main Nairobi - Mombasa road. The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate which is 240km fromNairobiand Mombasa. 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.
The major attractions in this park includesthe recent volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for geological and cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima Springs is a star attraction, a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos and fish.Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, diverse bird and plant species.The park alsooffers tremendous views with diverse habitats ranging from mountains, river forest, plains, lakes and wooded grassland. Its plains border with the southern Serengeti plains in Tanzania. Game includes: leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhino, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, plains game, crocodile and small mammals including mongoose, hyrax, dik dik and the nocturnal porcupine and if lucky wild dogs.It is an excellent park for visitors who enjoy walking, offering a number of nature trails and the opportunity to explore the Chaimu volcanic crater and guides are available.
Accommodation: includes Ngulia Lodge; Kilaguni Serena Lodge; Severin Safari Camp/Lodge; Finch Hattons.Campsites includes Lake Jipe public camp site; Kamboya public public camp site; Royal Little special camp site; Simba special camp site; Kenge special camp site; Kudu special camp site.Others includes Kamboyo guesthouse; Tsavo West Information Visitor Centre
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â