Destination Overview
One of the largest animal sanctuaries in the world, this park has a total area of 20,700 square kilometers and is split into East and West blocks by the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. A large area to the north of the park is still inaccessible and off-limits to regular tourist traffic, despite significant areas of the park having been opened and developed for tourism. Tsavo is an intriguing combination of broad plains, abruptly rising steep rocky hills, and a few river basins framed by towering, green acacia and palm trees. The highest peaks of the Ngulia Hills have an elevation of 1,800 meters, while the eastern region only reaches 300 meters.
An intriguing feature in Tsavo west is the Mzima springs. Crocodiles, hippos, and fish find refuge in the waters there, which are crystal clear and pure. Visitors can go up close to the hippos without running the risk of an interaction in an underground glass observatory. It is nourished by numerous, some subsurface rivers that emerge from the lava in various directions, creating an oasis in the midst of this otherwise parched and sagebrush-covered region. The two blocks of Tsavo include practically all of Kenya's wildlife, but elephants predominate. The region, which also happens to be a black rhino stronghold, is home to almost 20,000 of these enormous animals. The park's lions, which are descended from the notorious Man Eaters during the construction of the Mombasa-Kampala at the close of the twentieth century.
Almost 800 km of roads are dedicated to game viewing. The park is abundant with birds, and new species are frequently found there. Among the many species, sunbirds, hornbills, parrots, weavers, starlings, bustards, and raptors are numerous.
