Tsavo National Park: Explore Kenya’s Largest National Park

Updated on Mar 10, 2026 | Kenya eTA

Tsavo National Park is the largest national park in Kenya, famed for its dramatic landscape, wildlife and rich biodiversity. Located in the southeastern part of Kenya, this wildlife park comprises Tsavo East and Tsavo West.

Both these parks are adjacent to each other, together protecting the wilderness and offering classic African safari scenery. But before that don't forget to apply for your Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which is an online visa.

What is Tsavo National Park famous for?

The Tsavo National Park is the largest national park in Kenya, made up of Tsavo East and Tsavo West, together they are famous around the world for their stunning beauty and conservation. You can expect to witness:

Red elephants: These elephants are covered with red dust due to the park’s red volcanic soil.

Tree of Life: The ‘Tree of Life’ refers to the baobab tree found in Tsavo National Park.

Large population of elephants: It comprises one of the largest population of elephants in Kenya.

Vast wilderness: It is spread across a large area.

Diverse landscapes: Home to open savannahs, hills, rivers, volcanic soil, springs, and lava flows.

Rich wildlife: The wild animals here are leopards, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, zebras, cheetahs, and giraffes.

Historic man-eating lions: Tsavo National Park is famous for the man-eating lions from the 1890s railway construction era, a Hollywood movie, ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ (1996) was also made based on it.

Mzima Springs: It is a freshwater spring, you can clearly see the local fishes.

Yatta Plateau: This Plateau has the longest lava flow in the world.

Volcanic landscapes: A diverse scene of rugged hills, lava fields, and cones.

What is the ‘Tree of Life’ in Tsavo National Park?

The ‘Tree of Life’ refers to the baobab tree found in Tsavo National Park, an important part of the ecosystem of the park, the tree is nicknamed as such because:

It stores large amounts of water in its trunk, helping wildlife survive dry seasons
The Baobab tree has the ability to store large amounts of water in its trunk. During the dry season, it becomes a water source for the wildlife to survive.
One of the Rare Facts, every part of the Baobab tree is useful, its fruits, trunk, bark, leaves and seeds.
Birds and animals rely on the Baobab tree for food, shelter and shade.
The Baobab tree has a longevity of thousands years, showcasing its strength and unique survival ways even in harsh climatic conditions.

Tsavo National Park Kenya: Two Major Divisions

The Tsavo National Park comprises two main divisions, Tsavo East and West, renowned for their wilderness and unique terrain.

Tsavo East National Park:

The Tsavo East National Park is one of the largest and oldest park in Kenya
Its landscape comprises open savannahs, volcanic soil, Yatta Plateau and red elephants.
As the terrain in Tsavo East is flat, visitors can easily spot the wildlife.

Tsavo West National Park:

As compared to Tsavo East, Tsavo West National Park has more picturesque scenery and is known for its mountainous regions.
It is known for dramatic landscape comprising dense vegetation, volcanic hills, Mzima Springs, and lava flows

Tsavo National Park size

The total size of Tsavo National Park (combining Tsavo East + Tsavo West) is about 22,000 square kilometers, each comprising:

Tsavo East National Park: Approx 13,700 square kilometers
Tsavo West National Park: Approx 9,000 square kilometers

Tsavo National Park location

The Tsavo National Park is located in one of the most easily accessible regions in Kenya.

Location: Between Nairobi and Mombasa in the southeastern part of Kenya
Two Major Divisions: This wildlife park comprises Tsavo East and Tsavo West.
Counties it covers: Spread across Makueni, Taita-Taveta, Kitui, and Tana River counties
Border area: Shares its border with Nairobi-Mombasa highway and railway

Places to visit in Tsavo National Park Kenya

To ensure not to miss any of the amazing places of Tsavo National Park, we have listed the important places in Tsavo East and Tsavo West:

Tsavo East National Park

Aruba Dam: This is a waterhole, elephants, tigers and other animals come to drink water here.
Mudanda Rock: This is a huge granite rock, making it an excellent point for panoramic views.
Yatta Plateau: This Plateau has the longest lava flow in the world. One of the best geological formation examples.
Voi River: An important water source for the wildlife of the region
Taveta Hills: A beautiful viewpoint to watch the wildlife below.
Galana River: Home to crocodiles, hippos and birds.
Elephant viewing areas: Spot large herd of red elephants together.

Tsavo West National Park

Mzima Springs: This is a spring, you can see fish and crocodiles underwater by an observation tank.
Shettani Lava Flow: The landscape here is formed by past volcanic activity.
Chyulu Hills: Best spot for hiking, taking you through lush greenery and volcanoes.
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary: A conservation area for the rare black rhinos.
Hippo Pools: The river point where hippos hang out
Mtito Andei: This is one of the safari entry points and has some lodges near it.
Baobab Trees: Also called the ‘Tree of Life’ are found all around park

Other Highlights Across Both Parks

Wildlife viewing: Spot the elephants, lions, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes and different species of birds.
Historic sites: Tour of the area of the Tsavo man-eating lions of the 1890s during the construction of the railway line.
Scenic drives: Off the road drives to witness its rugged beauty.
Photography points: There are many amazing points for photography like the open savannahs, animals at the waterhole, volcanic landscape etc.

Things to do in Tsavo National Park Kenya

To ensure not to miss any of the amazing things to do in Tsavo National Park, we have listed some of the important things to do in Tsavo East and Tsavo West:

Interesting Things to do in Tsavo East and Tsavo West:

Game Drives/ Safari

Take a 4x4 vehicle for a game drive, guided by professional rangers.
Close encounter with the Big Five (lions, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, and leopards) a few steps away.
Red dusted elephants, a unique feature to observe in Tsavo East.
Opt for sunrise or sunset safari, best time for wildlife viewing.

Visit Mzima Springs (Tsavo West)

Common wildlife here are hippos and crocodiles and fish (underwater through glass viewing tanks)
Bird watching
Guided nature walks around the springs.

Explore Scenic & Geological Sites

Shettani Lava Flow (Tsavo West)
Chyulu Hills (Tsavo West), famed for its lush hills and volcanoes.
Yatta Plateau (Tsavo East), longest lava flow in the world.
Mudanda Rock (Tsavo East), excellent viewpoint offering views of the surrounding

Visit Iconic Trees

Baobab Trees: Also nicknamed the “Tree of Life” is common to the region, providing shade, food, and stores water in the trunk and leaves.

Visit Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West

There is a black rhino sanctuary called Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary.
This sanctuary is located inside the Tsavo National park.

Camping / Bush Experiences

There are campsites and luxury tented lodges for a close stay near the park
Visitors can opt for night safaris, campfires, and stargazing amidst the wild.

Walking Safaris

Guided wildlife walking safaris in the buffer zones for a close interaction with nature and wildlife
Learn about the local plants of the park, its insects and animal tracks

Bird Watching

Bird lovers will enjoy bird watching here, as the park houses more than 500 bird species.
The best time for bird watching is early morning hours.

Historical / Cultural Interest

There are many historical places to visit like the site of the construction of the railway line with the history of Tsavo man-eating lions.
Visit the villages of the local communities, know about their culture and tradition and learn about their handmade items.

Tsavo National Park entrance fee

For both Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks the entrance fees are same and are listed below:

Kenyan and East African Citizen:

Adults Entrance Fee: Estimated to be around KES 515
Children (3–17 yrs) Entrance Fee: Estimated to be around KES 215

Non-Residents (International visitors):

Adults Entrance Fee: Estimated to be around USD 52
Children Entrance Fee: Estimated to be around USD 35

Tsavo National Park accommodation

Here is a list of some of the accommodations, which you can choose according to your budget and preference.

Luxury & Mid‑Range Safari Lodges & Camps:

Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp
Severin Safari Camp
Satao Camp
Ashnil Aruba Lodge
Sentrim Tsavo East
Voi Wildlife Lodge
Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa
Soroi Lions Bluff Lodge.

Unique Camps & Nature‑Focused Stays:

Man Eaters Camp
Galdessa Camp
Tsavo Safari Camp
Tsavo Lodge voi
Zomeni Lion Hill Safari Lodge

Tsavo National Park Kenya packages

Here are some of the estimated price of the packages which vary according to budget, duration, no. of people, traveler type and so on.

Short Safari Packages (3–4 Days):

3‑Day Tsavo East & Tsavo West (Peak/Low Season)

Budget packages: Approx $540‑$700
Mid‑Range packages: Approx $580‑$730
Luxury packages: Approx $600‑$930

3‑Day Diani Beach + Tsavo Safari Package

High‑end lodges: Approx $580‑$865+ per person
Standard lodges: Approx $500‑$765+ per person

Medium Length Safaris (4–5 Days):

4‑5 Day Tsavo East & West Packages: Most packages include transportation, accommodation, meals, game drives, tour to view points like Shetani Lava Flows and Mzima Springs.

5‑Day Add‑Ons: Mid‑range around USD 950+ per person.
Some tours even include full 5‑day itineraries from beach hubs like Diani.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is special about Tsavo National Park?

The Tsavo National Park is specially known for its Red elephants, Tsavo East and Tsavo West (largest protected areas in Africa), Historic man-eating lions of Tsavo, Yatta Plateau, Mzima Springs, Volcanic landscapes and plays a strong conservation role (refuge for elephants and black rhinos).

What are the things to do in Tsavo National Park?

Go for game drives, Visit Mzima Springs (Tsavo West), Explore Scenic & Geological Sites, Check out the iconic Baobab trees, Visit Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West, Camping / Bush Experiences, Walking Safaris, Bird Watching, Historical / Cultural Interest.

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Amboseli National Park Kenya is famous for its large herds of elephants, grazing in the open savannahs with the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. With the availability of Kenya eTA or Kenya online visa for tourism, foreign nationals can easily enter Kenya.

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