Tsavo East National Park is dubbed the “Theatre of the Wild.” It is well-known for its vast herds of red-dusted elephants that like rolling in the red dusty ground. The young ones enjoy playing with their parents while sprinkling themselves with dust. The Elephants can be found at night by the crystal blue water of the palm-shaded Galana River. The Galana River’s turquoise water is the most evocative image not only in Kenya but throughout Africa. Tsavo East National Park is Kenya’s largest national park, with a total land size of 13,747 square kilometers. It is Kenya’s first national park. It, along with Tsavo West National Park, was founded in April 1948.
Tsavo East National Park is drained by two major rivers: the Tsavo River and the Athi River. Later on, the two rivers merge to form the massive and well-known Galana River. The park is regarded as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, not only in Kenya. It is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The well-known Kenyan park is one of the country’s premier national parks. It is home to the world’s longest Plateau, which stretches for almost 300 kilometers. The Yatta Plateau is a popular tourist destination in the Tsavo East National Park. The park is home to a large number of permanent residents, particularly the African big five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos). Other big game at the park include crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, Lesser Kudu, wildebeests, Gerenuk, zebras, and giraffes, among others. The park boasts a rich bird life, with over 500 bird species documented across the area. The diverse inhabitants of the park have substantially contributed to the park’s huge number of bird species.
Tsavo East is drier compared to Tsavo West and is dominated by the open savannah grassland. The geography of park is also dotted with some Acacia trees together with some rough rocky surface area.
Highlights
Location of Tsavo East national park
Kenya’s oldest and largest national park is also the country’s largest. It is located in the famous Taru Desert’s semi-arid region. Tsavo East National Park is a few kilometers from Voi town, near the coast. The park is located in Taita-Taveta County, previously known as the Coast Province. It is bordered by the Tsavo West national park, which was previously part of the Tsavo East national park before the construction of the A109 road and the railway line that connects Kenya’s interior with the coastal areas. The park is situated 250 kilometers south-east of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
Tsavo East National Park is one of Kenya’s largest national parks, having a huge unspoiled wilderness. The park is home to all five of Africa’s big five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos), with both white and black rhinos. Buffalo, dik-dik, red duiker, zebras, giraffes, bushbaby, yellow baboons, cheetahs, African hunting dogs, eland, gazelles, gerenuk, springhare, hyenas, jackals, impala, tree hyrax, hartebeest, foxes, and many more animals live here in large numbers.
The park has over 500 bird species that include ostriches, buzzards, krestrels, starlings, hornbills, secretary bird, lovebirds, herons, weaver birds, kingfishers and many more. Birding can be done throughout the year though its excellently during the rainy season when the park receives most of the immigrants across the world. This is also the breeding season for the birds across the park.
The yatta plateau is the main attraction of Tsavo East National Park. The world’s longest lava flow that runs along the boundary of the park on the Western side. The 300-kilometer-long plateau was formed by hot rushing lava from the Ol Doinyo Sabuk Mountain.
The inselberg of Mudanda are 1.6kilometers, they are the great water catchment area that supplies all the lower dams with water. It offers great vantage point for hundreds of wildlife that always come and drink water from this area. This is a game viewing destination especially during the dry season when all animals come here to quench their thirst.
Tsavo East National Park is not just Kenya’s oldest and largest national park, but also its most popular game reserve. It is home to a diverse diversity of wildlife, providing visitors with a true sense of the African juggle.
How do i get there ?
By Road
By Flight