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Tsavo National
Park |
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See also;
Other Kenya National Parks |
This is the
largest national park in Kenya
covering about 21,000 Km square, it
is in fact one of the largest parks
in the world.. it is divided into
two by the Mombasa – Nairobi
highway, to Tsavo East and Tsavo
west National Parks.
The Tsavo
National Park is Kenya’s largest
wildlife stronghold and it comprises
a diversity of habitats including;
open plains alternating
 with
savannah bush and semi-desert scrub,
acacia woodland, rocky ridges and
outcrops, and more extensive ranges
and isolated hills, belts of
riverine vegetation; palm thickets,
and on the Chyulu Hills extension
area, mountain forest. A section of
Lake Jipe is included in the extreme
south-west of the Park, an extremely
rich bird locality where Pygmy Geese
and Black Heron are common.
The Park is watered by two permanent
rivers, the Tsavo River which flows
through Tsavo West and the Athi
River which crosses a corner of
Tsavo East. The two unite above
Lugard's falls to become the Galana
River which flows all the way to
Malindi and become the river Sabaki
emptying it's waters in the Indian
ocean. The Voi River, to the south
of Tsavo East is a seasonal river.
Lava flows and cones, such as
Shetani, near Kilaguni Lodge in
Tsavo West, is a perfect example of
a recent volcano. This volcanic zone
also contains the famous Mzima
Springs - a natural underground
water system bubbling thousands of
litres of water everyday proving a
source of water for the Coast
Province of Kenya. Hippopotamus and
shoals of Barbel live in the springs
and provide a dramatic spectacle The
water is so clear that every action
of these huge aquatic beasts under
the water, and of their attendant
piscine scavengers, may be watched
from the lookouts or through the
plate-glass windows of the submerged
observation chamber.
The Mudanda Rock between Voi and
Manyani is a 112km-long outcrop
which supplies a natural dam at it’s
base. In the dry season, hundreds of
elephants come to drink and bathe.
From a safe vantage point just above
the water visitors may have
 the luck
to sit and watch the activities of
great beasts below them. A similar
elephant spectacle may also be
observed at Aruba Dam. Tsavo is also
a good place to see one of our most
beautiful antelopes, the Lesser Kudu
with spiral horns and white striped
coat. Whilst you may come across
these graceful animals almost
anywhere, the dry bush along the
Galana River is their favourite
haunt. Other animals likely to be
encountered are Buffalo, Common
Waterbuck, Eland, Gerenuk,
Fringe-eared Oryx, Impala and Masai
Giraffe. Black Rhinoceros, once
numerous, are now less frequently
seen. Birdlife is legion in the Park
and the visitor is constantly
meeting with new species. One of the
most conspicuous is the White-headed
Buffalo Weaver, brownish-black and
white with a startling vivid red
rump when it flies.
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