(Distance from Nairobi: 240 kms. Time 5 hours)

Tsavo lies mid-way between Nairobi and Mombasa. Tsavo National Park, measuring approximately 22,000 sq kms, is believed to be the largest game sanctuary in the world. For administrative purposes, the Game Park has been split into Tsavo East National Park, and Tsavo West national Park. The vast wilderness of Tsavo has a diverse habitat of steep hills, river forests, plains, little lakes and wooded grassland. The vegetation is dominated by thorny shrubs punctuated by huge naked baobab trees.

Tsavo East National Park contains the Yatta Plateau one of the world’s largest lava flows, and the Lugard falls, a favorable haunt for sunbathing Nile crocodiles. Outstanding features in Tsavo West National Park  include the 8km long Shetani (devil) lava flow and the fabulous Mzima Springs, an oasis that has no comparison. Here a subterranean river of crystal-clear water from the Kilimanjaro melting snow gushes out of the ground. The water is so clear and cool that uyou can watch teeming tropical fish, the hippo and the crocodile eyeball to eyeball, while sitting in the safety of underwater glass window observatory. There is also Chyulu Hills beneath which lies one of the biggest cave systems in the world.

The fascinating physical landscape and its proximity to the Kenya’s coast makes Tsavo a popular safari destination. On account of its size, this national Park does not have the traffic experienced in other game sanctuaries. Tsavo accommodates a huge population of “Red Elephants”-red coming from the rich red earth of the park. Also of great attraction are the maneless Tsavo  Lions, descendants from the infamous “Man Eaters of Tsavo”-Lions that wrecked havoc in the work camps of coolies building the Kenya-Uganda Railway at the beginning of the 20th centaury. Other animals to be found include Buffalos, Rhinos, Leopards, Hippos, Zebras, Giraffes, Primates and Antelopes.