Tsavo West National Park, Kenya

The Tsavo West national park sits south of Kenya. The Tsavo West covers an area of 7,065 square Kilometers. Tsavo West’s rugged arid landscape typifies vast areas of the lower altitudes of Kenya. The flat rocky base of this landscape is composed of ancient weathered Precambrian basement rocks. Fragments of this tumultuous history can be seen littering the red dust in the form of sand stone and sheets of shale.  In sharp contrast with the vast flat plains of Tsavo East, Tsavo West is marked by a number of recent rocky outcrops and volcanic hills, the youngest being only a few hundred years old.

Tsavo West is a diverse mosaic of rocky outcrops and parched plains. The varied habitats shelter an array of different mammal species. Tsavo vast reaches shelter some of the largest populations of wildlife in Kenya. These include the largest concentration of Elephants, Lions and many herds of Oryx, Zebra and lesser Kudu. The expanse of bush can sometimes seem silent and lifeless; however, there is an abundance of wildlife. The waterholes and dams are essential points for animals to drink and a good place to spot wildlife.

Tsavo West is home to all the three big cats of Kenya – Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. Other animals include the Hyenas, Wild dogs, African Civets, Rhinos, Servals and Caracals. Other attractions at Tsavo include the Mzima Springs. This is a fresh water oasis in the heart of Tsavo dry savannah. The Mzima spring is a fascinating geological phenomenon. Fed by water that drains from the slopes of Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu hills, it forms into a network of subterranean streams that flow above the Non- porous Precambrian rock surfacing south of its source in the vast Tsavo.
The mass of black lava flow is known as the Shetani Lava flow- A relict of the most recent major volcanic eruption in the Tsavo area. Shetani is a solidified stream of Magma that erupted from the southern east end of the Chyulu Hills. According to the local oral tradition, many people and animals were buried alive by the fast flowing fiery stream of Lava accounting for its Swahili name Shetani which means Devil.

Further south of the Shetani Lava flow is the Chaimu Crater. This volcanic hill rises is stark isolation from a setting of solidified lava flows, forming an almost perfect conical pyramid whose coal black ashy support a meagre cover of yellow grass on one side and are totally denuded on the other. The natural equivalent of a giant slagheap , the honeycombed hill can be climbed via a steep, soft and shade less path to the rim which offers fantastic views over the surrounding plains.

• Access to Tsavo from Nairobi is via the Mtito Andei Gate 232 Kilometers from Nairobi
• From Mombasa access is via the Tsavo River Gate at Manyani
• From Amboseli easier access is via the Chyulu Gate. This is a dirt road.
  Tsavo West sits at an elevation of approximately 900 Meters above sea level
• There are daily scheduled flights either from Nairobi or Mombasa.

For further information of combining Tsavo West with Amboseli and Tsavo East, please see our Southern Kenya safari options for more details