Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East’s sister park across the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, covers roughly 9,065 square kilometres of considerably more varied terrain than its eastern counterpart, ranging from volcanic hills and lava flows to swamps, lakes and dense woodland. Where Tsavo East is defined by its open, dusty plains, Tsavo West is known for dramatic scenery and a wider diversity of habitats packed into a single park.

Mzima Springs

Mzima Springs is Tsavo West’s signature attraction, a crystal-clear natural spring producing roughly 250 million litres of water daily, filtered through volcanic rock from the Chyulu Hills. An underwater viewing chamber here lets visitors watch hippos and crocodiles from below the waterline, one of the few places in Africa offering this kind of vantage point.

Volcanic Landscape

Shetani Lava Flow

The Shetani lava flow, meaning “devil” in Swahili, is a striking field of black volcanic rock formed by an eruption believed to have occurred within the last few hundred years, still largely barren of vegetation and dramatic to walk across on a short guided stop.

Chaimu Crater

A short, easy climb up the Chaimu volcanic cone offers panoramic views across the park, one of the few spots in Tsavo West where visitors can leave their vehicle under guide supervision.

Wildlife of Tsavo West

Tsavo West holds healthy populations of elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and the localised fringe-eared oryx, along with over 600 recorded bird species across its varied habitats. The park’s Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, a fenced section within the wider park, protects a breeding population of black rhino in a similar model to Lake Nakuru’s.

Lake Jipe

On the park’s southern boundary, Lake Jipe straddles the border with Tanzania and offers boat safaris amid substantial hippo and crocodile populations, with Mount Kilimanjaro visible on clear days across the water.

Where to Stay

Options Across the Park

Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, one of Kenya’s oldest safari lodges, overlooks a waterhole with Kilimanjaro views on clear days, while Ngulia Safari Lodge and a range of tented camps offer further options throughout the park.

Best Time to Visit

Tsavo West’s varied habitats make it rewarding across most of the year, though the dry seasons offer the easiest wildlife viewing as animals concentrate around Mzima Springs and the park’s other permanent water sources.