Tsavo West National Park.
Tsavo West national park was divided from Tsavo East national park, and these two wonderful national parks form the magical Tsavo National Park. Tsavo West National Park is more mountainous and then known as wetter than its counterpart, with the gorgeous Lake Jipe, Mzima Springs. The park is famous and known as ‘’Land of Lava, Man-Eaters and then colourful sunsets’ ’Tsavo West national park is the second largest national park where as Tsavo East national park being the largest national park. Tsavo West national park covers an area 9065 square kilometers, the park was separated from Tsavo east national park by the A109 highway that connects Nairobi to Mombasa; the park is popularly known of over fifty million gallons of the crystal clear water that comes from under parched lava rock. Tsavo West national park has colourful landscape than Tsavo East national park with the rouged mountainous areas, also the park has Mzima springs and the Shetani lava flows are the wonderful attractions that are located in the park.
Tsavo West national park is uniquely famous because of the scenic beauty that is characterized by the wide range of attractive vegetation, and the great wildlife ranches which are the homes of the black and then white rhinos. Tsavo west national park is covered by the open savannah grassland dotted with Acacia woodlands, scrublands, riverine vegetation, and rocky ridges and among others in the remotely coastal province. On an African safari to Tsavo west national park, the tourists can spot the Big five mammals that includes the rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and lions. Other big game found in the park includes the hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, hyenas, lesser kudus, waterbucks, wildebeests, and among others minus for getting the numerous numbers of the colourful and beautiful bird species like Grey-backed Fiscal, Kori bustard, Fischer’s Starling, Crowned Plover, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Lilac-breasted, Lilac-breasted rollers and among others, the park’s diverse habitats support a wide range of various bird species.
Location of Tsavo west national park.
Tsavo west national park is situated in the South Eastern part of Keya along the Nairobi Mombasa highway, which is about 240 kilometers from Nairobi while using the Nairobi-Mombasa A109 highway that’s takes about 3 to 4 hour’s drive. From Mombasa id only less hours’ drive which is 250 kilometers. Tsavo West national park is located in the former Taru Desert with the semi-arid climatic conditions, as these climatic condition has led to the scares human population in the area hence offers the wildlife space to stay.
On an African safari to Tsavo West national park the tourists reach the park either by road or the air transport. On a safari using the road transport you can use A109 highway that passes in the middle of the park, you will enter the park through the park’s gates like Chyulu gate, Ziwani gate, Mtito Andei gate, Maktau gate and others. Then when coming from Mombasa you can as well enter the park using the main gate that is your entry point that is Mtito Andei gate alternatively you can use Tsavo Gate that is near Manyani. If you have the combined Kenya safari that includes Amboseli national park and Tsavo west national park, you will enter the park while using Chyulu gate. Also you can use the alternative route that is Taveta-Voi road and enter the park through Jipe gate or Maktau gate of Ziwani gate.
For the tourists that want to access the park so first, can then opt for the air transport this is where you get your domestic flight from Wilson airport then to the different park airstrips that is Kilaguni airstrip, Jipe airstrip, Kamboyo airstrip, Maktau airstrip, Finch Hottons airstrip and among others, you can book your Tsavo West National Park that start from Wilson airport in Nairobi to different park’s airstrips with African Vacation Safaris.
Attractions in Tsavo West National Parks.
Tsavo west national park is Kenya’s finest safari destination with numerous attractions and that’s the reason to why various tourists come to the park to explore on an African safari, this is the fascinating African wilderness that every travel should explore, with the following attractions.
Animal species: Tsavo west national park is African safari destination with the true meaning of the wilderness from the man-eaters to other members of the big five mammals that is buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, elephants. Minus the big five mammals the park is a home of other animal species like hyenas, wildebeests, cheetahs, African wild dogs, black and white rhinos, yellow baboons, impalas, gazelles, giraffes and among others.
Bird species: Tsavo west national park is a home of over 500 bird species including the resident, migratory bird species and among others, the park is a home to Ngulia hills that offers tourists with the massive safari experience. The park is a home to various bird species including African finfoot, Starlings, River warblers, Marsh warblers, Basra reed warbles, African finfoot, and among many others.
Mzima springs: Mzima springs is known as the sight of the fifty million gallons of the crystal water that comes from the underground of the parched lava rocks, this is the park’s famous place of sightseeing not only on a Kenya safari but as well as the entire Africa safari. This is such eye catching as you see white crystal water coming from the underground. On your Kenya safari this is one of the intriguing attraction in Tsavo west national park hence the park getting its name ‘’Land of Lava, springs, Man-eaters and then Magical sunsets’’.
Ngulia rhino sanctuary: Ngulia rhino sanctuary in Tsavo west national park is a thrilling conservation success story, that provides a safe haven for the critically endangered black rhino, where the visitors can go on the guided game drives with the experienced tour guides from African Vacation Safaris to spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, witnessing conservation efforts first hand, and experiencing the excitement of potentially encountering one of the Africa’s most wonderful and majestic animals, making it for unforgettable wildlife adventure.
Poachers’ lookout: The poachers’ lookout is a hill that is situated in the center of Tsavo west national park that offers you 3600 degrees view of the entire park. The name originated after the hill as popularly used by the poachers to view the wildlife in the park during their poaching time. When poaching was eradicated in the park the hill has retained its popularity and hence it’s the best spot on a Kenya safari in the park.
Shetani lava flow: Shetani lava flow is the fascinating attraction in Tsavo west national park that is located next to shetani caves, this lava is such attractive and this located on 4 kilometers created in about 200 years ago as a result of the volcanic eruptions; the shetani lava flow runs west of Chyulu gat with the folded black lava spreading about 50 square kilometers across savannah plains next to Chyulus hills. This is the solely feature on where you can spot the magma can be seen on the surface of the earth. This is where the locals believe that that the devil himself came through the lava flow to enter the earth because of this belief the lava flow was named shetani a Kiswahili word that means devil.
Lake Jipe: Lake Jipe in Tsavo west national park is a serene and captivating oasis, this is a small shallow alkaline and inter-territorial lake straddling along the border of Kenya and Tanzania, and then the Kenyan part of this wonderful lake is located in Tsavo west national park. Lake Jipe is 30 square kilometers and is inlet is River Lumi descending from Mount Kilimanjaro. On a Kenya safari, this is a perfect attraction that attracts various bird species in the park like black heron, African swamp hen, black heron, Egptian geese and various animal species like elephants, antelopes, impalas, kudus, hartebeests and among others. On a Kenya safari, Lake Jipe is a stunning hotspot on a Kenya safari for game viewing, bird watching safaris in Tsavo west national park.
Chaimu volcanic crater: Chaimu volcanic crater is such outstanding tall rising hill of the volcanic nature raising from the endless landscape of Tsavo west national park, the chaimu volcanic crater is made of the bright black colored lava stones which offers tourists with wonderful landscape and it’s great for Kenya climbing safaris in Tsavo west national park. Chaimu volcanic crater is commonly known as devil’s crater by the local Kamba people and it’s from the local people that named it ‘’Chaimu’’ where the crater gets name.
Activities to do in Tsavo West National Park.
Game drives: Game drives in Tsavo west national park offer an exhilarating adventure on the open roofed open safari vehicles with the experienced guides from African Vacation Safaris that takes you through the park’s vast wilderness in search of its incredible wildlife including the big five mammals like buffaloes, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, rhinos, the park is a home to other various animal species like hyenas, foxes, giraffes, and others in the park’s popular spots with the park’s rugged landscape and volcanic features provides a dramatic backdrop for spotting these amazing animals that offers you the unforgettable safari memories.
Bird watching: Bird watching in Tsavo west national park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 500 bird species recorded. The park’s stunning landscapes of the volcanic hills, savannahs, woodlands and among others offers the thrilling safari experience for the nature lovers to spot and identify a diverse variety of birdlife, with each sighting offers stunning to the park’s incredible avian richness and biodiversity. Some of the bird species that that can be spotted on a bird watching safari with a birding safari guide from African Vacation Safaris incudes African finfoot, Black-faced sandgrouse, Corncrake, Golden-breasted starling, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Narina trogon, Golden palm weaver, Northern brownbul and among many others.
Visiting Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary: Visiting the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo west national park is a thrilling safari experience that offers the tourists on a Kenya and African safari a rare opportunity to spot the critically endangered black rhino in a safe and protected environment, where the guided game drives takes you through the sanctuary’s scenic landscapes, increasing the chances of witnessing these magnificent creatures up close, while supporting important conservation that protect these animals in their natural habitats that offers you unforgettable safari experience and then impactful wildlife experience.
Guided nature walks: Guided nature walks in Tsavo west national park offer an immersive safari experience, where the expert guided lead you through the park’s diverse landscapes, pointing out the fascinating flora and fauna, as they are giving you all the park’s information and ecosystem as well, while keeping a watchful eye out for the wildlife, that allows you to connect with nature, breathe in the African wilderness that makes you to enjoy and appreciate the park’s unique natural beauty and wonders.
On an African safari, Tsavo west national park is the stunning Kenya safari destination to explore in one day or more regrading on how you want to experience the park’s wildlife to the fullest that is the park can be accessed easily from Nairobi the capital city with African Vacation Safaris.