Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park is part of the greater Tsavo National Park which was divided to form the now existent Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park, all great Kenya national parks that are highly sought after for wildlife safaris in the vast wilderness. Tsavo West National Park is known as “the land of lava, springs, Man eaters and Magical Sunsets”, which simply explains what you shall experience while in the park, authentic African wilderness game viewing.
Tsavo West National Park Location
Tsavo West National park is located in the Coast Province of Kenya, covering about 9065 square kilometres of space making it one of the largest protected areas in Kenya, under the protection of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Tsavo West National Park is along the A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa route which makes it quite easy to access.
How to get to Tsavo West National Park
Tourists can get to Tsavo West National Park by both air and road, using the various gates and airstrips in Tsavo West National Park, to enjoy the various activities in the park.
By Road, travellers can get to Tsavo West National Park using the Nairobi-Mombasa road which is about 240km, with a drive time of 5-6 hours through different villages and small towns. The road is tarmacked and so the drive is quite smooth. Travellers from Mombasa can easily access Tsavo West National Park through the Mtito gate which connects directly.
By Air, one can get to Tsavo West National Park by catching scheduled and charter flights from either Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to any of the various airstrips in Tsavo West National Park like Tsavo gate airstrip, Ziwani airstrip among others.
Tsavo West National Park Attractions
Wildlife
Wildlife in Tsavo West National Park is the main attraction that brings thousands of travellers visiting the park, on Kenya wildlife safaris. There are over 70 animal species recorded in Tsavo West National Park. big cats are abundant here, as well as the famous and much sought after African big five which include the Tsavo lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards, as well as other wild game like zebras, hyenas, cheetahs, and giraffes among so many others. All these wildlife in Tsavo West National Park can be spotted on various activities in the park on typical African wildlife safari experiences.
Birds
There are over 400 bird species recorded in Tsavo West National Park, which travellers can spot on various birding safaris in the park. Birds in Tsavo West National Park are distributed throughout the park, with the Ngulia Hills being the best birding spot in the park given its location along one of the world’s busiest avian migration routes. Birds in Tsavo West National Park include residents as well as migratory birds which come especially during the wet season in the park. some of the species of birds in Tsavo West National Park that travellers keen on birding can come across include the Eastern black-headed oriole, red-backed shrike, thrush nightingale, river warbler, marina trogon, Northern brownbul, Rufous chatter, Shelley’s starling, red-bellied parrot, lesser kestrel, golden pipit, among so many others.
Lake Jipe
Lake Jipe is one of the various attractions in Tsavo West National Park worth a visit while on your safari tour in the park. Lake Jipe is a source of water to the abundant wildlife in Tsavo West National Park, and is as well a home to a variety of aquatic wildlife like crocodiles, hippos and various water birds like the African fin foot.
Mzima Springs
Mzima springs are a unique feature in Tsavo West National Park as a result of the active volcanoes, with more than 50 gallons of water spewing from underground, attracting a number of travellers to have a look at them.
Ngulia Sanctuary
Ngulia sanctuary is the home of rhinos in Tsavo West National Park, having been opened to protect and conserve the black rhinos. With Ngulia sanctuary where rhinos can be spotted, Tsavo West National Park is home to the complete African big five list.
Tsavo West National Park Activities
With the various attractions in Tsavo West National Park, travellers do visit and get to do the various activities therein, all throughout the year. Below are the various activities in Tsavo West National Park that travellers can do while in the park;
Game drives
Game drives in Tsavo West National Park are the most done of all the activities in Tsavo West National Park, rewarding travellers with amazing and authentic Africa wilderness safari experiences. Game drives in Tsavo West National Park can be done all throughout the day, with the early morning and evening game drives being the most rewarding, while night game drives in Tsavo West National Park give travellers chance to spot nocturnal animals in Tsavo West National Park that may otherwise have been missed during day game drives. Animals in Tsavo West National Park that you are likely to spot while on game drives include the African big five and big cats as well as other animals including but not limited to lions, cheetahs, leopards, re-dust elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, dik-dik, zebras, giraffes and topis.
Birding
Birding safaris in Tsavo West National Park take travellers in search of the abundant bird species in the park. The over 500 bird species in Tsavo West National Park that travellers after birding safaris can spot include pied kingfisher, taita fiscal, taita falcon, Somali ostrich, and lesser kestrel among so many others. Birding safaris in Tsavo West National Park have birders going through the different trails in the park, especially in the Ngulia Hills which is a haven for various bird species including migratory birds because of the strategic location of the area on the busiest avian migration routes in the world, giving travellers an opportunity to spot a variety of bird species while on birding safaris in Tsavo West National Park.
Rhino Tracking
Rhino tracking is one of the various activities in Tsavo West National Park that travellers can do while in the park. Rhino tracking is done in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, a refuge for a number of rhinos in Tsavo West National Park.
Visiting Mzima Springs
Mzima springs which are found in the northern part of Tsavo West National Park can be visited, for sightseeing opportunities, and be amazed at the natural beauty of the springs and the power of nature.
Best time to visit Tsavo West National Park
If it is a clear view of the Kilimanjaro and green vegetation is what you are after, as well as birding safaris in Tsavo West National Park, then the best time to visit Tsavo West National Park is during the wet season which falls in the months of March to May and October as well as November which is the perfect time for migratory bird sightings. If game drives is what you are after however, then the best time to visit Tsavo West National Park is during the dry season when the animals converge in the few available water holes in the park.
Accommodation in Tsavo West National Park
There are various accommodation in Tsavo West National Park that you can stay in while on your Kenya safari tour in the park, ranging from super luxury, to midrange as well as budget options, thereby catering for all categories of travellers.
