TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
Tsavo west national park also is known as the “land of lava, springs, and magical sunsets” forms one of the largest wildlife conservation areas on earth and is one of the largest national parks in Kenya. The park is located in the southeastern part of Kenya between Nairobi and Mombasa. It is relatively close to the beaches of the Kenya coast and can easily be a 1-day safari for those who wish a quick getaway. The park has abundant wildlife, but due to its size and thicker vegetation game viewing is more challenging. For this reason, it is less popular than the Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Parks. However, the park has one of the most diverse landscapes in East Africa, with several volcanic craters and interesting hills. From the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out from the under parched lava rock that the Mzima Springs to the shetani lava flows, Tsavo West is a beautiful, rugged wilderness. The savannah ecosystem comprises open grasslands, scrublands, and acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation, and rocky ridges including the poachers’ lookout where visitors can see the teeming herds in the plains below. Tsavo West offers some of the most magnificent game viewing safaris in the world and attractions include elephants, rhinos, hippos, lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffaloes, diverse plant and bird species including the threatened corncrake and near threatened Basra Reed Warbler. Everything about Tsavo West National Park is extreme and striking. The contours and variety of its land, the deep colors of desert, Sky, and springs, and the surprise of nearby wildlife emerging from the scrub. The park is an immense panorama of savannah broken by dark volcanic lava beds, unexpected vistas, ancient baobab trees, and lush oases fed by underground springs. You can find and also do your big five safaris here in the dense foliage searching for game and sustenance as they have been for millions of years. Your Kenya safari will introduce you to the famous Tsavo lions and herds of red dust elephants that are unique to this land. The park hosts Kenya’s largest elephant population. While doing your safari keep your eyes open for the giraffes as they feast on the treetops, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos as well, especially at the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. Tsavo west area also has several steep, recent volcanic cones, one of which, Chaimu crater is a natural trail where, again you can leave yourself your safari vehicle and hike though its best to do this early in the morning if you want to do the 30minutes hike to the summit as the cinder track becomes brutal as the sun rises, when you get to the top, you have superb 360-degree views of the developed area.
Until the time of the railway, the Tsavo West region had been inhabited for thousands of years by hunter-gatherers, with limited numbers of Kamba people moving through the region in the last thousand years or so, herding their livestock or looking for honey. Maasai cattle herders arrived in the eighteenth century from the Rift Valley further north, but the tsetse flies of the woodland that infected their herds with sleeping sickness put them off from spending long in the place: despite Tsavo west’s good water, the drier plains of Tsavo East were safer for grazing area. The park’s region had become a national park in 1948 and safaris in Tsavo west became popular in the late 160s when the first charter flights began arriving in Mombasa, and really took off when the Mombasa-Nairobi road was first surfaced in 1969.
Tsavo West National Park has a moderate climate as it is located close to the equator. The temperatures range between 20- 30 0C. There are two wet seasons, the long rains between March and April and the short rains between November and December.
If you think of places to visit while on a safari in Kenya, make sure to include Tsavo West National Park on your list. Tsavo West is a great combination of seeing wildlife and admiring stunning landscapes. The park is operated by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The park has a variety of attractions and activities that one can do while on your Kenya safari.
Wildlife safaris; Tsavo West offers magnificent game viewing. Thick vegetation makes it more difficult compared to more open parks, for example, the Masai Mara, but with some patience, visitors can see some of the big five along with a wide range of antelope species, hippos, and spectacular birdlife, just make sure you have the best binoculars for your safari. Some of the species you can see are large African Eland antelopes, a family of the dick-dicks, the smallest antelopes in Africa, and funny Warthogs, giraffes on Tsavo hilly background looked attractive.
Mzima springs; Mzima springs are replenished with over 200 million liters of crystal-clear water every day. It comes from the underground streams flowing from the nearby Chyulu Hills. Mzima in Swahili means “life”. It attracts rich wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles, zebras, and giraffes wandering around the banks through the thick acacias and raffia palms together with a large number of monkeys and birds. Mzima is also the main source of Mombasa’s city water supply. There are well-marked nature trails, an observation platform, and an underwater glass tank. You can take a guided walk with a ranger guide.
Five sister’s hills; these five almost identical cone-shaped hills are located in an area and resembling one another. The scenery is stunning and very beautiful and eye-catching –a low ridge of black lava outcrop, long luscious grass, and conical hills that make the five sisters.
Chaim volcanic crater and lava; get to see how the road color changes from red to black as you get closer to chaimu crater, or “the devil’s crater” in the Kamaba language is a tall rising hill clad in the bright black color of the lava stones. You can climb this recent volcano as there is a path leading to the top. Climbing the hill is not easy as it is not stable and can be slippery.
Shetani lava flows; when entering the Tsavo West through Chyulu gate, one of the first things you see in the park is the Shetani lava flow. Shetani means “devil” in Kiswahili. When the locals first saw “fire” erupting and flowing on the ground some 500 years ago, they believed that it was the devil himself emerging from the earth. The Shetani black lava flow is 8km long, 1.6 km wide, and 5 meters deep. The sight is quite special and spectacular.
Beautiful scenery; Tsavo West national park is marked by several rocky outcrops and volcanic hills. Tsavo West National Park’s landscape is dominated by giant baobabs reputed to live a thousand years. After the rain, Tsavo West National Park is showered with white and pink Ipomoea and acacia trees of white and pink blossom. The desert rose, somewhat like a miniature baobab, has pink flowers of striking beauty at almost any time of the year. On a clear day, the park offers lovely views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accessibility.
Tsavo National park forms one of the largest conservation areas in the world. For administrative purposes, it was divided into two national parks, namely Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The park is located in the southeastern part of Kenya about 240km from Nairobi on the highway to Mombasa. Most tourists that visit Tsavo West from Nairobi, Mombasa or enter from the adjacent Amboseli National Park. The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi. Visitors from Mombasa will make use of Tsavo Gate near Manyani.
By air- there are three main airstrips in the Tsavo West National Park at Kilaguni, Finch Hattons, and Ol Donyo Wuas. However many of the lodges have their own private airstrips.
