Explore Tsavo West National Park Kenya : One of the biggest national parks in the world, Tsavo National Park was created in 1948. Later, for administrative reasons, the park was divided into East and West sections, one on either side of the Nairobi – Mombasa Highway. The park is adjacent to the Chyulu Hills National Park is Tsavo West. There are several entry points into Tsavo National Park namely; Lake Jipe, Mtito Andei, Chyulu, Maktau, and Ziwani. Other than the gates the par has several airstrips such as Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hattons, Ziwani, and Maktau. The park charges entry fees payable to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS);. On a Kenya safari to Tsavo West National Park you will see a variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, buffalo, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and porcupines. Tsavo West National Park is one of the birding safari destination in Kenya with numerous bird species including the uncommon Basra reed warbler and the endangered corncrake.
The main tourist attractions is the Mzima Springs which is a lava ridge that allows water that has been filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills to burst into a number of transparent pools. Lake Jipe, located near the border between Kenya and Tanzania receives water from Mt. Kilimanjaro and is home to an estimated variety of aquatic birds in Africa. With its forested hills and narrow, winding roads, Taita Hills animals Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of animals, including uncommon bird and butterfly species. Three group ranches have come together to form Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary in an effort to protect this crucial wildlife corridor.
To preserve the endangered black rhino, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary was created at the base of the Ngulia Hills. There are currently more than 50 black rhinos in the sanctuary. Known for the cacophonous sound of cicadas around them, the Roaring Rocks offer sweeping views of the sanctuary and serve as an excellent vantage point for seeing rhinos or enjoying a sundowner. The enormous torrent of lava that erupted from the ground was known by the inhabitants as Shetani, which means wicked in Swahili. The 8 km long Shetani Lava Flow is lined with tunnels where large chunks of solid magma intertwine with trees. World War I fights took place on the plains of Tsavo between the Germans who had their headquarters in what was then Tanganyika now Tanzania, and the British who were based in Kenya a British protectorate then.
Kenya tours takes you to the war graves and you will be shown the battlefields . One of the more bizarre campaigns, which was portrayed in the movie Shout at the Devil, included fleets of Rolls Royce cars and ended three months after a ceasefire was signed by the rest of the world.
The Chyulu Hills, which gained notoriety because to Ernest Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, are remarkably beautiful extinct volcanoes covered in lush vegetation and black lava. Gates to the Chyulu Hills National Park are located at Kiboko, Mukururo, and Main Gate. Three public campsites and two airstrips are available. Wildlife includes puff adders, rock pythons, giant forest hogs, leopards, elephants, and pigs. Activities include camping, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching in addition to game viewing.
Accommodations in Tsavo West National Park
Kipalo Hills
Kipalo Hills was established in 2012 and offers beautiful views of Mbulia Hills, Tsavo National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Kipalo, which translates to “a special place one returns to again and again,” is exactly that. Kipalo, the sole camp in the Mbulia Conservancy, provides seclusion, tranquilly, and an abundance of animals. Eight en-suite tents with space for an additional bed can accommodate twins or doubles. The tents have safari showers in their bathrooms and are tastefully decorated with cream drapes and beaded accents. Meals are creative and delicious, and they can be enjoyed in the open mess area, by the pool, in the guests’ tents, or outside in the wild. With its natural rock setting, the swimming pool offers expansive vistas of Tsavo’s red dirt and rocky outcrops.
Game drives in Tsavo West National Park and the conservancy are among the Kenya safari tours things to do. In the reserve and Ngulia Hills, kenya safari activities like bird watching, night drives, and game walks are available. There are additional options for fly camping on the Galana and Tsavo Rivers and for visiting First World War battlefields. Together with the local elders, the 12,000-acre Mbulia Conservancy was founded with the intention of helping the local populace as well as the native fauna. Nearly every employee is a native of the area.
Rockside Camp
Rockside Camp, formerly a hunters’ camp, is located at the base of Kale 1, a rocky kopje. Mark and Nana Tozer, the camp’s owners, personally host it. This breathtaking site provides the opportunity to either climb the kopje or simply enjoy it from the comfort of the camp. We have 8 Luxury cottages and 15 bandas with ensuite bathrooms. The dining room, a charming open space with a big rock at its centre supporting the thatched roof, is where all meals are served. When the weather is nice, barbecues are held outside under the stars. The pub has a good selection of soft drinks, beers, wines, and spirits, with the Rockside Sunset Cocktail being their house specialty. The swimming pool offers a much-needed respite from the many activities.
The region is a birdwatcher’s paradise; on one morning, 84 different species were sighted. It is strongly advised to climb the kopje, which offers expansive views of the Taru Desert’s lush bush area, the Sagalla Hills, the Taita Hills, and, on a clear day, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. There are guided nature walks to Mt Kasigau which usually takes nearly a whole day. By composting food waste and employing solar electricity, the camp reduces its environmental impact.
Campi ya Kanzi
The 1,036 km group ranch that houses Campi ya Kanzi is situated in the Chyulu Hills which Ernest Hemmingway referred to as the “Green Hills of Africa.” This area has the varied beauty that Hemmingway cherished, ranging from verdant river forests, savannah grasslands to the chilly mountain forests to the actual volcanic slopes. An initiative by the indigenous Maasai people is called Campi ya Kanzi, or Camp of the Hidden Treasure. Being the first camp to receive the Gold Award from Ecotourism Kenya, this camp has initiated several recycling and composting initiatives and was constructed completely from local materials without requiring any tree cutting. Its Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust uses conservation, health, and education initiatives to protect Maasai culture and wildlife.
Solar hot water and environmentally friendly flush toilets are features of the six luxuriant tented cottages as well as the Hemingway and Simba suites, which are situated on wooden platforms with thatched roofs and spacious en suite bathrooms. An 18-meter swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, two twin rooms, and a swimming pool cottage are features of the opulent private Kanzi House. Tembo House is an open-concept dining and living area with a spectacular view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Tsavo Hills, built from indigenous elements like lava and grass. It serves up Italian food.
