Tsavo East National Park is located on the east coast of Kenya and lies between the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. Tsavo is one of the oldest parks in Kenya and was opened in April 1948.
The park is covering an area of about 13,747 square kilometers.
Tsavo East is the larger of the two parks in Tsavo National Park and its arid bush veldt is defined by the azure water ways of the Galana & Athi Rivers, volcanic lava fields, thorny bush, marshes and savannah grasslands. From the world’s longest lava flow, the Yatta Plateau to the Lugard Falls and water worn rocks, Tsavo East is home to every creature, from hyenas, leopards, elephants to Somali Ostriches, kongoni antelope, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
Best time to visit Tsavo East
A trip to Tsavo East is best planned in June to October and January to February, when conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching. During the peak of the short rains (November) and the long rains (April and May) conditions can be more challenging. The vegetation at these times is denser and animals spread out, which makes spotting them more difficult.
Weather and climate in Tsavo East
Visitors to Tsavo East can expect a hot, dry climate. The average temperature fluctuates between 31°C/88°F during the day and 20°C/68°F at nighttime. Rainfall peaks in April and November during the long and short rains, respectively. Rain tends to fall as short heavy showers.
The Dry season months are the coolest. Days are full of sunshine and there is very little rain. The ‘short rains’ and the ‘long rains’ are separated by a drier couple of months in January and February. Road conditions are at their worst in April and May.
How to get to Tsavo East
The Park can be reached via Mtito Andei Gates which is 240 km South of Nairobi and 250 km North of Mombasa on the main Nairobi- Mombasa Road. Distance Nairobi-Mtito Andei: 240 km – Mtito Andei-Voi: 96 km – Voi-Mombasa: 153 km. From Malindi, take the western road (C103) and enter in the park via Sala gate.
Nairobi is a popular entry point of Kenya into. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is located 15km/9mi southeast of Nairobi. The country’s second international airport is Moi International Airport (MBA), and is 9km/6mi west of Mombasa.