The Tsavo National Parks (East and West) together form Kenya’s largest protected area — over 21,000 km² in size. Divided by the historic railway line between Mombasa and Nairobi, both parks offer dramatically different landscapes.
📍 General Information
Location: Southeastern Kenya
Area: approx. 21,000 km² (East: 13,747 km², West: 9,065 km²)
Established: 1948
Special Feature: Kenya’s largest national park system
🐘 Tsavo East – “Land of Red Dust”
Tsavo East is known for its red elephants, which coat themselves in iron-rich soil. Its scenery is dry, vast, and open — dominated by acacia savannah and the impressive Yatta Plateau.
🌋 Tsavo West – Mountains, Springs & Lava
Tsavo West is greener and more varied: volcanic hills, black lava landscapes, and the famous Mzima Springs, where hippos and fish can be observed through underwater viewing windows. The dramatic Shetani Lava Flow tells the story of ancient eruptions.
🦁 Wildlife
Tsavo hosts all of the Big Five, numerous predators, giraffes, zebras, and more than 500 bird species. It is also known for the legendary “Man-Eaters of Tsavo”, two lions that attacked railway workers in 1898.
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
The ideal safari months are June–October and January–February, when animals gather at water sources and the roads are dry.
🌍 Did You Know?
Tsavo covers nearly 4% of Kenya’s total land area.
“Tsavo” means “Place of Wildlife” in the Kamba language.
The Galana River is one of Africa’s last free-flowing rivers.