Trip Summary:
This tour takes you to
visit 2 National parks located in the southern of Kenya, where you will
stay for 1 nights in Tsavo East National Park and 1 night in Tsavo West
National Park with game drives. Accommodation can be either at luxury,
standard lodges or camping as per your choice.
You will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, habit and habitat of the
fauna and flora in the natural areas, also peoples and culture.
Availability 90%
Minimum Rate Per Adult: US$
Departing From: Mombasa
Duration: 2 Days / 1 Nights Tsavo East - Tsavo West Lodge Safari
Departure Time: 0800 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)
Departures: Daily
Minimum Persons Required: 2
Accommodations: Luxury lodgeBest Time: All round the year
TWO DAYS (1 nights)
TSAVO EAST / WEST NATIONAL PARK
Day 1 - TSAVO EAST
Pick up from the hotel at 05:00 hrs. Drive to the Tsavo East National
park entering through Bachuma Gate. Morning game drive via Aruba dam,
arriving at Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon,
proceed to Tsavo West National Park , game drive with a visit of the
Rhino Sanctuary where possibilities of seeing the shy Rhino can be
there. Dinner and overnight at Ngulia Safari Lodge.
N. B. Chances of seeing Leopard at the Lodge are high but not
guaranteed.
Day 2 - TSAVO WEST / MOMBASA
Early breakfast, then proceed for morning game drive to visit Mzima
Springs, where you can see Hippos and Fish in a crystalline clear water.
There are possibilities of seeing Crocodiles and Monkeys. After lunch,
game drive enroute as you leave the park arriving in Mombasa late in the
evening.
Safari price Includes:
-Transport on custom made 8 seater tour van ideal for game viewing and
photography
-Full board accommodation whilst on safari
-Accommodation in double/triple room
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-All game drives as detailed in the itinerary
-Bottled water whilst on safari
-Start and end in Nairobi.
-Personalized service
Safari price excludes:
-Tips
-Laundry
-Beverages/Drinks
-International flights
-Visas
-Items of a personal nature
-Any other extras not detailed in
-Hotel accommodations in Nairobi before and after the safari
Tsavo East National Park
The Theatre of the Wild...
Establishment history
Tsavo National Park was established on 1st April, 1948 with an area of
21,812 Km2 It is the largest Park in Kenya. In May 1948 Tsavo National
Park was divided into East and West for administrative purposes. The two
Parks are divided by Nairobi–Mombasa railway /road.
The Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used it as a hunting ground prior to
gazettement.
Dr. Krapf journeyed on foot through this area in 1848 crossing the Tsavo
river on his way to Kitui – first European to see Mt. Kenya.
Construction of the railway reached Tsavo river in 1898. During the
construction of the bridge Lions (Man eaters of Tsavo) terrorized the
workers, killing over 130 people before being killed by Col. Patterson.
During the World War I (1914-1918) British forces built fortresses along
Tsavo river to counter threats from invading German forces from
Tanganyika (present Tanzania) – whose intention was to blow up the Tsavo
river bridge that was vital to British Communication.
Captain Lugards a European explorer passed through the area on his way
to Uganda and had a drop over at the Lugards falls area.
Scenic features
Tsavo East is a very popular Park as is indicated by the high number of
tourists. Some of the attractive scenic features include:
large herds of elephants and other wildlife.
it is easily accessible by road, air (light aircraft) and railway.
the Park is a “catchments” for coast resorts’ visitors.
popular legend of Tsavo “The Man-eaters of Tsavo”.
Yatta plateau – It is about 290Km long and is one of the worlds longest
lava flows.
Lugards Falls on the Galana river – This is not a true falls but a
series of rapids. Visitors can walk down to the river to view the
rapids.
Mudanda rock – This is a long rock outcrop that is about 1.6Km long.
There is a dam at the base. Animals can be seen drinking. Visitors can
walk along the rock and enjoy a cool breeze as well as view wildlife at
the base.
Aruba Dam - was built in 1952 across the Voi river. The dam attracts
many animals and water birds can be seen at this dam.
Tsavo/Athi rivers confluence – when the two rivers join they form the
Galana river.
Elephants, Rhinos, Hirola (Hunters Hartebeest).
How to get to Tsavo East National Park
From Nairobi via Voi through the Voi gate or Manyani gate.
Similarly, from Mombasa via Bachuma gate.
From Malindi, via Sala gate. This road was recently graded and is
attracting many visitors from North Coast.
Note: The road network in the Northern area is being worked on at
the moment. The road when completed will expand tourism activities in
the area.
There are six airstrips in the southern part of the park and thirteen in
the Northern part.
There are no scheduled flights to the Park but chartered light planes
can be used.
The Park opens at 6.30 a.m. and closes at 6.30 p.m.
Accommodation facilities
Tsavo East has got one lodge, several tented camps and public campsites.
1. Lodge Rooms Beds
Voi Safari Lodge 52 104
2. Tented Camps
Galdessa camp
8 16
Epiya Chapeyu Camp 11 22
Tsavo Safari Camp (Cottars) 20 40
Satao Camp 10 20
Sobo
Patterson Safari Camp
3. Public Campsites
Ndololo, Kandri, Main gate campsites. All these campsites have no
facilities. Visitors bring their own camping gear.
Ongoing Tourist Activities
Game viewing.
Walking Safaris along the Galana.
Bird watching.
Tourist guidance while in Tsavo
The weather in Tsavo is pleasant most of the year. There are two rain
seasons. The long rains generally come in March – May and the short
rains from October – December.
It is forbidden to travel in an open vehicle while in the Park.
Stay in your vehicle all the time. Get out only at designated areas.
Off road driving is not allowed. View the wildlife from a distance with
binoculars.
Off road driving destroys vegetation, might kill wildlife and could
interfere with the daily routine of animals. The tracks formed become an
eyesore.
Animals have a right of way. Do not harass them or make loud sounds –
this might scare then and make them nervous. Patience pays!
Remember not to litter.
Remember: Do not take away anything, but photographs and leave nothing
behind but footprints.
Tsavo West National Park
The Land of Lava, Man-eaters, Springs and much more...
Tsavo West National Park covers 7065 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's
area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a
mountainous scenic landscape.
The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from Mtito Andei, along
the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The North
Eastern boundary along the Highway adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but
Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of
habitats than its neighbour.
The park's habitats include open plains alternating with Savannah bush
and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and
more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation;
palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest.
There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park,
towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava flows
and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent
volacano.
In the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake
Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by
runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains.
At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered
underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a
series of clear pools.
Location:
South Eastern Kenya, inland from Mombasa, and the altitude ranges
between 200 - 1000m.
Climate:
Temperature ranges from 20 - 30o C and rainfall from 200mm - 700mm. Two
ran seasons: Long rains - March/April & Short rains - Nov/December.
HOW TO GET THERE
Roads:
The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito
Andei Gate from Nairobi (240 km) and Mombasa. Visitors from Mombasa also
use Tsavo Gate near Manyani. The park can also be reached via Taveta-Voi
road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe gates.
Airstrips:
Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hottons, Ziwani and
Maktau airstrips are in good condition.
Park Gates:
Chyulu, Mtito Andei, Tsavo, Jipe, Maktau Gate, Kasigau and Ziwani Gates.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Recent volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for geological and
cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima Springs & underwater hippo watching,
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, elephant, rhino,
diverse bird and plant species. And if lucky - Wild dogs.
FACILITIES
Lodges:
Ngulia Lodge; Kilaguni Serena Lodge; Severin Safari Camp/Lodge; Finch
Hattons.
Campsites:
Lake Jipe (public); Kamboya (public); Royal Little (special); Simba
(special); Kenge (special); Kudu (special).
Others:
Kamboyo guesthouse; Tsavo West Information Visitor Centre.
Bandas:
Lake Jipe; Kitani; Ngulia.
Picnic Sites:
Poachers look out; Chaimu Crater; Shetani Lava Flow; Roaring Rocks;
Mzima Springs; Visitor Information Centre Picnic Site.
COMMON VEGETATION
Most of the northern sector is Acacia commiphora bushland with scattered
trees such as baobabs - Adansonia digitata and Delonix elata. In the
Ngulia area, a range of craggy hills reaches around 1800m and is heavily
wooded. The southern sector consists of open grassy plains. The
permanent tsavo river runs through the northern part of the park with a
fringe of riverine Acacia elatior and Hyphaene compressa woodland. Lake
Jipe is bordered by extensive beds to Typha and has large permanent
swamps at its eastern and western ends. Mzima springs, is fringed by
Raphia farinifera and Phoenix reclinata palms.
Visitor Activities
Boat excursion at lake Jipe; Bird watching at lake Jipe; Annual bird
ringing at Ngulia lodge; Hill and rock climbing at Chaimu and Ngulia
Hills.
Aaccommodations
in Tsavo
Finch Hatton's Finch Hatton's
Found at the foot of the Chyulu Hills rests the friendly luxury tented
lodge of Finch Hattons. From Mombasa or Nairobi Finch Hattons is in the
heart of Tsavo.
Voyager Safari Camp
Voyager Safari Camp offers a tranquil retreat in one of the wildest
places left on Earth. It has excellent view of the overlooking mystical
Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kilaguni
In the heart of the Tsavo National Park lies Kilaguni Lodge, a Tsavo
landmark, where you are assured a memorable experience.
