Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park is smaller than Tsavo East, but it is still vast, covering an area of 9,050 km², making it nearly six times bigger than the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Volcanic activity has been the sculptor of the park, creating craters, conical-shaped hills, lava flows, and mountains with 1864 m high cliffs.

Parts of the northern section even resemble the moon’s surface. Two of the best places to appreciate this are from the top of Chaimu Crater and Poachers Lookout.

What to expect when visiting Tsavo West National Park

Dense vegetation can make animal viewing challenging. Nevertheless, you can see a wide range of wildlife, including big cats, Kenya’s largest population of elephants, and many rare species. Incredibly, the wildlife in this area was once even more abundant.

In the 1940s, there were ~35,000 elephants and ~20,000 Black Rhinos in Tsavo. Sadly, the trade of ivory and rhino horn led to the devastation of their populations.

By the 1980s, their numbers fell drastically due to intense poaching, leaving only ~5,400 elephants and ~20 Black rhinos in the area.

Thankfully, anti-poaching measures were implemented to protect the wildlife of Tsavo, which has resulted in a rise in the elephant population to ~12,500.

These elephants can freely migrate from the north of Tsavo East to as far south as Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania.

Which animals can you see in Tsavo West National Park?

Additionally, there is hope for Tsavo’s Black rhinos due to the establishment of the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West National Park in 1986.

This 90 km² protected area started with just nine Black rhinos but now protects ~120 rhinos, and it is a fantastic place to see them.

Other noteworthy wildlife include Klipspringer, Gerenuk, Fringe-eared Oryx, Lesser Kudu, and the Hunter’s Hartebeest or Hirola. The latter is the most endangered antelope in the world, with only ~500 remaining in the wild and a population of ~75 in Tsavo.

The park is also famous for its rich birdlife and is located on one of the busiest avian migration routes in the world.

Two defining features of Tsavo West National Park are two bodies of water, which are a life source for wildlife during the dry season and an excellent place to see a range of animals:

• The Tsavo River runs through the park, dividing it into north and south sections. The area alongside the river is a vital habitat for wildlife, making riverside game drives a very rewarding experience.One man-made structure that spans the river is the railway bridge, which was constructed in 1889. During the construction, two male lions gained notoriety for hunting the railway workers, already working under very harsh conditions.These lions became famous as “The Ghost and the Darkness” and are known as the man-eaters of Tsavo. Their story inspired a movie with the same name.
• The Mzima Springs are freshwater springs that transform the surrounding landscape into a green paradise.The water originates from the Chyulu Hills, located 30 km north, and naturally filters underground through porous rock before emerging from the springs.Visitors can enjoy a walk with a ranger to appreciate this incredible natural wonder.Alternatively, thanks to crystal-clear water and the chance to enter an underwater chamber built with glass panes, there is an opportunity to observe hippos, crocodiles, and shoals of fish in their natural habitat.