Due to its volcanic past, Tsavo's soil is a very rich, red color, giving the region a vibrant terracotta hue. In fact the lunar landscape of the Chyulu region -- home to the shy Klippspringer -- contains lava flows and boulders which seem to be still almost hot to the touch.
This is the home to many of East Africa's larger elephants families... and after you have seen the elephants of the Tsavo and Chyulu Regions, you will never choose a gray crayon to draw an elephant again.
Tsavo National Park, which is divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East, is Kenya's largest national park and one of the world's biggest. Tsavo West has a rolling volcanic landscape and is home to the "big five" animals. It also offers a temporary home to a huge number of migrating birds between October and January.
Tsavo East, across the highway, has rolling scrub-covered hills and is home to large herds of elephant and buffalo.Other places of interest in the area are the small village of Makindu with its Sikh temple and nearby Makindu Handicrafts Co-operative; the Lava Flows of Shetani and Chaimu which offer fun caving; and Taveta, which can be used as a base to enjoy swimming with the pygmy crocodiles in Lake Chala or exploring Lake Jipe by motorboat or traditional dugout canoe.
TSAVO NATIONAL PARK
At just over 21,000km sq, Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. Because of its size the park was split into two, Tsavo West and Tsavo East, for easy administration. Midway between Nairobi and Mombasa the area boasts volcanic hills, four rivers, more than 60 major mammal species and 1000 plant species. But its huge size has also been its enemy and the park has been hard hit by poachers who slaughtered horrifying numbers of rhino, elephant and other species.
The northern part of Tsavo West is the most developed and has spectacular scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape carpeted in long grass and dense bush. Although the tall vegetation makes game spotting trickier than in some of the other parks, the big five are in residence along with a fine collection of antelope. The main attraction of the park are the two watering holes, where lodges have been built which more or less guarantee that their guests will be treated to fabulous game viewing.
Across the highway from Tsavo West is Tsavo East. Famous for its large herds of elephant, the park has long been at the epicentre of a poaching war which decimated rhino numbers from approximately 8000 in 1970 to less than 50 two decades later. Elephant numbers plummeted from 50,000 in the 1960s to 5,000 twenty years later. For a number of years only the southern third of the park was open to the public because of the danger posed by poachers, and visitors were likely to encounter carcasses of tuskless elephants. Today, however, you can be treated to the sight of large herds of 50 or more robust elephants, which have instinctively retreated to the vicinity of the lodges where they are assured of protection. Another great sight is the spectacular herds of up to 1000 buffalo which are common here. The rolling scrub-covered hills of the park have a very remote feel and it does not attract large numbers of tourists. The best game viewing is along the watercourses and at the Kanderi swamp, which is not far from the main Voi gate. Thirty kilometres from the gate is the Aruba Dam and lion are commonly spotted around here.
MZIMA SPRINGS
These crystal clear pools are a favourite hangout for hippos and crocodiles. You need to go early to avoid the rush of tour buses, but you won't be disappointed by the peace which is disturbed only by the birds and monkeys. The main attraction is a submerged viewing tank which was designed so that people could watch the hippo's antics underwater, but since it was built the hippos have retreated shyly to the other side of the pool. The good news is that you get a great view of the fish. The underground water that feeds the pools filters up through the volcanic rock of the Chyulu Hills and it is linked by pipeline to Mombasa, supplying most of the town's water.
Tsavo West is renown for its watering holes which attract many varieties of animals particularly birds during the dry season when water may be scare elsewhere. Mzima Springs is also a star attraction, a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos and crocodiles. Tsavo West is an excellent park for visitors who enjoy walking, offering a number of nature trails and the opportunity to explore the Chaimu volcanic crater. Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary also located within the park allows visits a chance to see the elusive black Rhino, 30 of which live protected within the sanctuary
Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya. Covering 20,000 sq km it has been divided for administration reasons into Tsavo West and Tsavo East. The parks are easy to reach, located off the main Nairobi-Mombasa road.
The area to the north of Tsavo West is the most developed and offers some beautiful scenery especially at the end of the wet season when the vegetation is lush and green. Tsavo West is renown for its watering holes which attract many varieties of animals particularly birds during the dry season when water may be scare elsewhere. Mzima Springs is also a star attraction, a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos and crocodiles. Tsavo West is an excellent park for visitors who enjoy walking, offering a number of nature trails and the opportunity to explore the Chaimu volcanic crater. Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary also located within the park allows visits a chance to see the elusive black Rhino, 30 of which live protected within the sanctuary.
Tsavo East has scruby vegetation and rolling plains which are home to large herds of elephants. Most of Tsavo East National Park is closed to the public as authorities are trying to combat the ongoing poaching problems. Tsavo East attracts much fewer visitors than other parts of Kenya so you won't have any of the congestion found in other parks. The main attraction of Tsavo East is the Aruba Dam which spans the Voi River. Here you can encounter a large variety of game without hordes of tourists.
The ranch is immense and has a wide variety of natural habitats, so it's home to a remarkable range of wildlife and bird species. This diversity makes it a very valuable area for conservation in Kenya. It also ensures a truly thrilling safari for our guests! Of course, we have lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and the common animals of the plains, but also many rare species such as the African wild dog, lesser kudu, and cheetah thrive on the ranch. Conservation efforts have been so successful that black rhino have recently moved onto the ranch!
More than 50 species of mammals and almost 400 bird species inhabit the ranch. The most recent game count revealed an abundant local wildlife population: 312 giraffes, 289 buffaloes, 115 elephants, 37 lions, and 16 leopards. We also have hundreds and hundreds of gnus, zebras, waterbucks, Grant's gazelles, Thompson's gazelles, baboons, hartebeest, and impalas. A walk through the gentle hills near the camp will reward you with a view of mountain reedbuck, the graceful klipspringer. While exploring the riverbanks, you might catch a view of the shy lesser kudu or the rare gerenuk.
You'll find different wildlife on your safari to one of the nearby watering places, where lions, elephants, and other large game animals gather in the evening. For an authentic tribal experience, you can also visit the local Maasai village where your tracker lives. Towards the end of the day, you'll find that early evening is also an excellent time for a safari. At dusk, you can make an easy climb up one of the beautiful volcanic hills surrounding the camp. This provides a stunning view of animals grazing on the golden plains below you.
In summary, wildlife is abundant and varied. You'll discover something different every day of your visit!
