background
The two Tsavo National Parks are the closest parks to the beaches of Diani Beach, Mombasa, Malindi. In this way, safari and beach vacation can be combined inexpensively, since the journey can be made by road and not via expensive flight.
history
Tsavo National Park was established on April 1, 1948 with an area of 21,812 km². It is the largest park in Kenya. In May 1948, Tsavo National Park was established in East and west shared for administrative purposes. The two parks are divided by the Nairobi-Mombasa railroad / road. The Tsavo East National Park is significantly larger than that Tsavo West National ParkThe Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used it as a hunting ground before it became a national park. The area was discovered by Dr. Donut. He traveled through this area on foot in 1848 and crossed the Tsavo on his way to Kitui and was the first European to see Mt. Kenya. The construction of the railroad by the English colonial powers reached the Tsavo River in 1898. During the construction of the bridge, two lions terrorized the workers, killing over 130 people before being killed by Colonel Patterson. Patterson reported the story in his book "The Maneaters of Tsavo", which was used as the basis for the famous film "The Ghost and the Darkness" (1997). During the First World War (1914-1918), British forces built up along the Tsavo River Fortifications to counter the threats posed by German troops from Tanganyika (modern-day Tanzania) - whose intent was to blow up the bridge over the Tsavo River, which was vital to British communications.
landscape
The park is i.a. flat, with dry plains (semi-arid thorn bush savannah), over which the Galana River flows with its marshy marshland. The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to most of the larger mammals. The 300 km long Yatta Plateau is the longest lava flow in the world. More than half of the park north of the Galana and Athi Rivers is closed to the public. The park is approximately 350 km from the Diani Beach away.
Flora and fauna
- You can see large herds of (dusty red) elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck, smaller kudu, gerenuk and more than 500 species of birds.
- To see as many animals as possible, you need good guidance and a bit of luck. In the off-season after the rainy season (May - June) the grass is tall and the animals are sometimes more difficult to see, except for elephants and giraffes. On the other hand, nature has fresh colors and the safaris are cheaper. In the high season August - September the grass is short and it is easier to see animals, but also more expensive.
climate
It's usually warm and dry. The temperature is fairly constant all year round, but rainfall varies. The temperature is between 27 and 31 ° C during the day and between 22 and 24 ° C at night. The humidity is high from December to April.
- Kange rainy season: March to May. The rain is usually heavy so this is a bad time to go on safaris.
- Short rainy season: October to December. The weather at this time is still good enough to go on safari - mostly just a few afternoon showers.
- During the rainy season the paths are muddy and getting around is not always easy, even with 4WD. After the rainy seasons, the grass grows well and the landscape appears very beautiful in the fresh green. But then you don't see the smaller animals so well because they are hidden by the tall grass.
getting there
Tsavo East is a national park in KenyaBy car, the journey from Diani Beach or from the beaches between Mombasa and Mtwapa approx. 4-6 hours. The park can be reached via Manyani Gate, Voi Gate, Buchuma Gate and Sala Gate. There are runways by small aircraft in Voi, Aruba, Satao, Sala, Ithumba, Sangayaya, Mopeo, Bachuma and Cottars.
Each park has several entrances (gates).
- 1 Manyani Gate
- 2 Voi Gate. The main entrance. Many lodges are in this area.
- 3 Buchuma Gate
- 4 Sala Gate
Fees / permits
- Adults: USD 52, children: 35 per day.
- Electronic tickets: You cannot buy an entrance ticket for cash at the gates, but only cashless, e.g. with Visa Card, M-Pesa or bank transfer. And not at every gate either. This is to prevent employees of the parks from illegally enriching themselves with the entrance fees. Electronic cards are sold at special gates and points of sale, the so-called Point of Issue (POI) and Point of Sale (POS) from 6: 00-18-00. POS / POI: - Mombasa (Mombasa Marine Park Headquarters), - Malindi (Malindi Marine Park Headquarters), - Tsavo West National Park- Mtito Gate, - Tsavo East National Park- Voi Gate, - among others. There are 2 different types of electronic tickets to buy: 1) Personalized cards: Annual passes. The card is issued for a one-time administration fee of KES 1,000 and you top up an amount that is sufficient for all the parks you want to visit. 2) Temporary cards: Day tickets which are bought at the POS on the day of the visit. The card is handed in at the gate when leaving the park. The card expires 24 hours after it has been issued.
mobility
It is also possible to drive into the park with a rental car. But it should be an off-road vehicle. A booked tour is better. Guides are also available at the gates, which you can take with you in your own car, which is highly recommended.
Tourist Attractions
Tsavo East is a very popular park, as the large number of tourists shows. The attractive scenic features include:
- large herds of elephants and other wildlife.
- 1 Yatta plateau (Yatta plateau).
.It is about 290 km long and is one of the longest lava flows in the world. - 2 Lugards Falls..on the Galana River - This is not a real waterfall, but a series of rapids. Visitors can walk down to the river to see the rapids.
- 3 Mudanda skirt. This is a long ledge that is about a mile long. There is a dam at the base. Visitors can stroll along the rock, enjoy a cool breeze and view the wildlife below as they soak.
- 4 Aruba dam. was built in 1952 over the river Voi. The dam attracts many animals. A particularly large number of water birds can be seen.
- Confluence of Tsavo and Athi - When the two rivers converge, they form the Galana River.
- 1 Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. A station where the rhinoceros can be saved from extinction.
activities
The main purpose of a wildlife safari is to see wildlife in their natural environment. As a rule, tours are booked through travel agencies that organize tours into the park by minibuses or jeeps. Hiking safaris are also offered by several guides along the Galana River. It is also possible to visit the park on your own, but for safety reasons it is not advisable. In addition, you will not get to see many animals, as only the guides know the places where the animals are. However, you can also hire guides at the park entrances, who then travel with you in your own car. But it should already be an off-road vehicle that you drive into the park. Cars are too low so that the animals cannot be seen in the tall grass.
shop
kitchen
- In most cases, meals are included in the overnight price of the safari lodges.
- In the lodges the prices for soft drinks are around Ksh 250, beer Ksh 450, wine Ksh 600, water is free in most camps. The prices for drinks in the safari vehicles are about the same.
accommodation
There are many places to stay inside (more expensive) and outside (cheaper) the park. The disadvantage of having booked a lodge outside the park is that you have to go through the entrance control at the gates in the morning when the tour begins and that you have to go through the entrance control at the gates for meals and that costs time that is lost on the actual safari . You spend a lot of time transporting. A good overview of the various hotels and lodges in the park can be found on the Site of the Tsavo National Park.
Hotels and hostels
- 2 Voi Lodge. A bit old, very simple rooms but with a wonderful view. At the lodge's waterhole you can mostly see elephants and lions at night.
- 4 Satao Camp. in tent camp of the upper class, correspondingly expensive. With a beautiful watering hole and a viewing platform and a wealth of animals. It is a bit off the usual safari route, but can be reached quickly from the Buchuma Gate.
- 5 Ashnil Aruba. Hotel with clean but badly soundproofed and hot rooms, because there is neither a van nor air conditioning. It is well located for wildlife viewing because of its proximity to the Aruba Dam, where the animals find grass and are so easy to spot. If there is water in the reservoir, you can also watch hippos in it.
- 6 Lion Hill Lodge
- 7 Manyatta camp. It's outside the park, close to the VOI gate with small pools in front of each tent, which is very pleasant after a dusty game drive. The animals come close to the camp and can also be seen from the tents.
camping
Tent camps are usually not fenced, so elephants and other animals roam around the tents. It is a unique and exciting experience of nature and more adventurous than in the lodges.
security
- The safety in the park is guaranteed by the experienced guides. The vehicles are only left on the safari in special places that are safe. If you drive into the park alone with a car, it is advisable to follow the safety regulations in your own interest.
Parking rules:
- Do not disturb the animals, this is their habitat.
- Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable.
- Do not push the animals or make any sudden noises or movements.
- Do not feed the animals, it disrupts their diet and leads to human dependency.
- Keep calm, the noise is disturbing the wildlife.
- Always stay in your vehicle, except in designated picnic or hiking areas.
- Keep below the maximum speed (40 km / h).
- Do not deviate from the paths, this will seriously damage the habitat.
- When viewing the wildlife, keep a minimum distance of 20 meters and park on the side of the path so that other vehicles can pass.
- Do not leave rubbish behind, never leave fire unattended and do not throw away any burning objects (cigarette butts).
- Respect Kenya's cultural heritage, never photograph the locals or their villages and houses without asking for permission, and respect Kenya's cultural traditions and always dress with decency.
- Leave the park before dusk, no later than 6:00 p.m., unless you are staying in a park lodge. Night drives are not permitted.
