Tsavo West
Tsavo West covers 7065km² and is together with its expansive sister Tsavo East – divided by the main Nairobi-Mombasa highway - form one of the largest national parks in the world.
The beautiful, rugged wilderness comprises of open savannahs, scrublands, and Acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges. On a clear day, the park offers lovely views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro in the morning and evening hours.
Although the park is home to Kenyas Big Five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino), wildlife viewing can be harder than in Amboseli or the Masai Mara - the foliage is denser and higher here. Tsavo West has in fact the country’s largest elephant population. Giraffe, impala, buffalo and Burchell’s zebra are all common species here. Mammals include hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle and more.
The birdlife in the park is outstanding, and at least eight hornbill species are recorded. The white-headed buffalo weaver is a particularly noticeable species, with its prominent bright red rump,
However there are also several landmarks worth visiting including Shetani lava flows and Mzima Springs – the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the under parched lava rock with its underwater observation chamber for close-up views of hippos. The developed area of Tsavo West also has several steep, recent volcanic cones, one of which, Chaimu Crater, is a nature trail.
