Park or nature areaOutline guide

Tsavo East National Park

National park in Kenya

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Tsavo East National Park is in the Southern Rift Valley of Kenya. Tsavo East is more popular than its slightly smaller brother, Tsavo West National Park, due to its proximity to Mombasa and its drier, more barren landscape that makes wildlife easier to spot.

Getting there and around

Getting there

There are four gates for Tsavo East: Voi Gate (the main gate), Manyani Gate, Buchuma Gate and Sala Gate. However, a smartcard is needed to enter the park, and this can only be obtained at Voi gate.

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Getting around

Though you can tour the park on your own, it's usually best to hire a safari operator to guide you and, most importantly, find you the wildlife.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Moi International Airport

Mombasa · International · MBA

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Read before you go to Tsavo East National Park

Articles and travel topics about Tsavo East National Park and Kenya.

Nature & adventure

Kenyan national parks

The national parks system of Kenya is maintained by the Kenya Wildlife Service. There are two main types of terrestrial protected areas in Kenya: national parks, and national reserves.

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Nature & adventure

Safaris

Safaris are perhaps the greatest tourism draw in Africa and the highlight for many visitors. The term safari in popular use refers to overland travel to view the stunning African wildlife, particularly on savanna.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThe best time to see wildlife in Tsavo East is from August through September, when the grass is lower and the viewing distances longer. That said, safaris will be more expensive during this period.

Get inThere are four gates for Tsavo East: Voi Gate (the main gate), Manyani Gate, Buchuma Gate and Sala Gate. However, a smartcard is needed to enter the park, and this can only be obtained at Voi gate.

Fees and permits

Get aroundThough you can tour the park on your own, it's usually best to hire a safari operator to guide you and, most importantly, find you the wildlife.

See

BuyShopping opportunities inside Tsavo East National Park are limited, so visitors should purchase most food, water, fuel, medicines, and other essentials before entering the park.

EatYour safari operator should, in most cases, provide catered food. Otherwise there is food at the lodges.

DrinkIn the lodges the prices for soft drinks are about Ksh 150ksh, while beer is roughly Ksh 350 and wine Ksh 400. Water is free in most camps. Prices for drinks in the safari vehicles should be about the same.

SleepThere are many places to stay inside the park (more expensive) and outside the park (less expensive). The downside to staying outside the park is that you have to drive through the gate again, which takes time.

Stay safeTsavo East is generally safe for safari visitors, but it is a vast and relatively remote wilderness.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Tsavo East National Park" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Tsavo East National Park", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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