Things To Do In Tsavo National Park With Friends

Things To Do In Tsavo National Park.
The top eight attractions in Tsavo West National Park include stunning views, bird watching, cultural tours, walking safaris and visiting Mzima Springs. Other staying at Serena Kilaguni Lodge, exploring Shetani lava flow, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes of Tsavo National Park.

When planning your travels in Kenya, be sure to add Tsavo West National Park to your itinerary. Together with Tsavo East National Park, it constitutes one of the largest national parks globally. It is covering 4% of Kenya’s land area, comparable in size to Jamaica, Michigan, Wales, or Israel.

The park derives its name from the Tsavo River, which flows eastward. For organizational reasons, it has been split into East and West, with the Nairobi-Mombasa road serving as a dividing line.

Spanning 9,000 square kilometers, Tsavo West features a rugged, arid terrain that varies from 200 to 1,000 meters in elevation, dotted with rocky outcrops and volcanic hills. It is less visited due to its vastness and lower wildlife density compared to other parks.

One of the major benefits of Tsavo West National Park is its extensive network of over 2,000 kilometers of well-maintained roads. Bellow are some activities which can be done in Tsavo.

1. CULTURAL TOURS
Kenya is a premier destination for cultural tours. Many national parks are adjacent to the Maasai communities, who maintain their distinctive traditions despite modern influences.

Guests can partake in cultural experiences in Tsavo, which include visits to local homes that are securely enclosed with traditional materials such as thorns. Visitors can enjoy a variety of cultural activities, including dances, performances, and songs.

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2. VISIT THE MZIMA SPRINGS
Mzima Springs are reanimated with two hundred and twenty million litres of crystal clear natural water every day. It comes from the underground streams flowing from the nearby Chyulu Hills. Mzima in Swahili means ‘Life’.

It attracts rich wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles, zebras and giraffes. These animals are wandering around the banks through the thick acacias and raffia palms together with a large number of monkeys and birds.

Mzima is also the main source of Mombasa’s city water supply. There are well-marked nature trails, an observation platform and an underwater glass tank.

3. GAME VIEWING
The primary attraction for visitors to Tsavo West National Park is the opportunity to observe wildlife.

The park hosts a diverse range of species, and you are likely to see buffalo, baboons, zebras, gazelles, eland, giraffes, the rarely seen leopard, and the well-known red elephants of Tsavo.

4. VISIT THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
Tsavo West features various rocky formations and volcanic hills. The scenery of Tsavo West National Park is distinguished by enormous baobab trees, which are believed to live for a millennium.

Following rainfall, the park is adorned with white and pink blossoms from ipomea and acacia trees. The desert rose, resembling a smaller baobab, showcases stunning pink flowers throughout much of the year. On a clear day, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the snow-covered summits of Mount Kilimanjaro.

5. WALKING SAFARIS
Walking safaris rank among the best experiences at Tsavo National Park. These guided nature hikes are led by park rangers who carry weapons to ensure the safety of the participants. Designated areas within the park are set for these walking safaris.

This experience not only allows you to get up close to the wildlife but also immerses you in the unique wilderness of the park. Enjoy the refreshing air of the African bush as you stroll.

6. BIRD WATCHING
Bird watching is one of the most thrilling activities that many travelers enjoy during their Tsavo Safari. Known as a small paradise for bird enthusiasts, the park is home to over 500 bird species.

It boasts a diverse population of birds categorized by their species. While on your birding safaris, you may encounter various birds such as the Narina trogon, Papyrus Gonolek, River Warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis, Martial Eagle, Somalia Ostrich, Anhinga rufa, Casmerodius albus, African Finfoot, and many others.

7. VISIT THE SHETANI LAVA FLOW
Upon entering Tsavo West through the Chyulu gate, a must-see is the Shetani lava flow. The term “Shetani” translates to “devil” in Kiswahili, and when locals first witnessed “fire” erupting and spreading across the ground around 500 years ago, they thought it was the devil rising from the earth.

This black lava flow stretches 8 km in length, measures 1.6 km in width, and has a depth of 5 meters. The view is truly remarkable and captivating.

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8. TOUR THE SERENA KILAGUNI LODGE
Kilaguni was the first lodge inside Tsavo West National Park, opened by Britain’s Duke of Gloucester in 1962. It is located at the centre of the park and has an excellent game viewing in all directions.

The lodge and its waterhole have an almost permanent population of ground squirrels, warthogs, hyraxes, mongooses and other birds.

The traditionally decorated dining room overlooks the Lodge’s waterhole where herds of elephants, buffaloes and graceful antelopes collect to drink while guests enjoy dishes of ethnic cuisine, internationally themed dishes, and traditional safari favorites.