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Tsavo East & West National Parks

Elephant Tsavo East National Park Kenya
Giraffe Tsavo East National Park Kenya
Cape Buffalo Masai Mara Kenya
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Welcome to Tsavo East & West National Parks

The insider's travel guide to Tsavo East & West National Parks

Separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, Tsavo East and West National Parks cover a massive area of Kenya, but despite their close proximity, they are distinctly different.

Tsavo is home to the Big Five, with prides of the Tsavo lion, that’s male lack manes and are known for their heightened aggression, as well as hippos, impalas, dik-dik and a range of species. However, Tsavo is renowned for its elephants and for the size of their tusks. Due to the size of the parks, herds are more spread out so can be harder to spot.

Tsavo East is made up of flat, dry plains which the Galana River flows through. Zebra and wildebeest are common and you can see some more rare dry country species like gerenuk and oryx.

Tsavo West is wetter, with swamps, lakes and springs as well as a more mountainous terrain. It has a black rhino sanctuary as well as being a place to spot hippos and cape buffalo.

Gates are located off the Nairobi-Mombasa highway making the parks easy to access and a good choice for independent travellers.

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Ask our Tsavo East & West National Parks experts

Real questions, answered by the people who know it

12 Nov 2025

Kenya
I
Asked by: Ian

We have one day spare en route from Nairobi to Diani, can we get to Tsavo with enough time for a game drive that day and the following morning before heading to Diani?

Kelvin Ngugi
Answered by: Kelvin Ngugi

The journey from Nairobi to Tsavo East takes five to six hours, depending on your lodge. So you'll arrive in the evening – maybe with time for a night game drive, but possible not. You'll get a game drive in the morning before heading to Diani.

Kelvin Ngugi

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The Tsavo East & West National Parks atlas

4 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere
Where
What

  • In Tsavo East there’s a more comprehensive range of accommodation, including the spectacular Galdessa Camp with a prime riverfront setting frequented by hippos and elephants.

  • A more affordable and utterly delightful option is Kitani Safari Lodge, which offers simple self-catering cabins in a wilderness setting.

  • Multiple award-winning Finch Hatton’s is the most exclusive accommodation within the park. Assuming you've got the budget (high season rates start at around $1,300 per person per night) you can't really go wrong here.

  • In Tsavo West most of the accommodation is fairly expensive (unless you have your own camping gear in which case there are three spartan public campgrounds). A reasonably-priced option is the Kilaguni Serena Lodge – it’s far from a budget offering but the Serena collection is generally pretty good value. If you have the budget to blow, Finch Hattons is the most exclusive camp in the park, with an eye watering price tag to match.

  • Galdessa Camp

    Galdessa Camp

  • Kitani Safari Lodge

    Kitani Safari Lodge

  • Finch Hattons

    Finch Hattons

  • Kilaguni Serena Lodge

    Kilaguni Serena Lodge

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Dispatches

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