Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East is one of Kenya’s largest national parks, known for its vast open landscapes, baobab trees and large herds of red-dust elephants. Covering thousands of square kilometres, the park offers a real sense of wilderness and is often far quieter than Kenya’s more famous safari destinations.

Tsavo East is less about ticking off the Big Five and more about experiencing the scale of the African bush. Wildlife sightings can be excellent, with elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and a variety of antelope commonly seen. Lions, leopards and cheetahs are present too, although spotting predators often requires a bit more patience.

For the best wildlife viewing, check with the park rangers upon arrival for the latest sightings and road conditions. Areas that are often productive include:

• Aruba Dam, a reliable water source that attracts wildlife throughout the day.

• The Voi River Circuit, known for frequent elephant and buffalo sightings.

• The Galana River tracks, where animals often gather near the riverbanks.

• The area between Voi Gate and Ashnil Aruba Lodge, one of the park’s most accessible wildlife-viewing areas.

• The northern plains, particularly good for spotting large elephant herds.

• Visit Lugard Falls, a series of rapids and sculpted rock formations along the Galana River. Crocodiles, monkeys and a variety of birds are often seen in the area.

• Stop at Mudanda Rock, a long natural rock outcrop overlooking a seasonal water catchment. It is a good place for a picnic break and often attracts wildlife.

• Explore the Kanderi Swamp area, one of the greener parts of the park and a good place to look for elephants, buffaloes and birdlife.

Approx. 5 hours | 233 km

When you’ve exited the Voi Gate of Tsavo East National Park, you enter the A109/A8 south. This road is called the Mombasa Road.

The A8 highway between Mombasa and Nairobi is busy with cars, buses, and slow-moving trucks. Construction work is common here and adds to your travel time. Also, be wary of other cars practising dangerous overtakes, and please don’t copy their behaviour. Your Land Cruiser is limited to 80 km/hour. Best to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.