Wide open spaces of Tsavo

Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo is vast. About the same size as Wales, it is the largest national park in Kenya and with its seemingly endless expanses of savannah grassland, acacia woodland and distant ranges of hills, for many this wilderness is the embodiment of Africa, a land that spreads out forever.

Tsavo is divided into two parks. Tsavo East is by far the larger of the two and attractions of the park include the Yatta plateau which is the world's longest lava flow stretching for 290 km along the western edge of the park. The park also has an extensive river system, one of the highlights of which is Lugards Falls, a series of rapids that tumble down over smooth water worn rocks to Crocodile Point on the Galana river.

Tsavo West is less arid and smaller than Tsavo East although it still occupies 30% of the Kenya 's total national park area. The park's recent volcanic history has created a more varied topography here with hills and lava flows that are ideal for hiking and extensive networks of caves. The oasis of Mzima Springs attracts a rich concentration of wildlife and Lake Jipe, a large and shallow lake straddling the border between Kenya and Tanzania has plenty of hippo, elephant and bird life.

With such a diverse range of habitats, the parks are home to virtually all the African wildlife you could wish to see. This is the territory of the largest herds of elephant in Kenya , often covered in a luminous red dust, as well as lion, buffalo, eland, giraffe, impala, zebra, and several species of antelope including the lesser kudu and the rare hirola or Hunter's hartebeest. Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is in Tsavo West and is vitally important to the protection and conservation of the black rhino. There is also plenty to see for the birdwatcher with numerous species of weavers, hornbills, sunbirds, rollers and raptors commonly seen.

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