Combined Tsavo East and West National Parks makes Tsavo one of the world's largest game sanctuaries covering 13,280 sq. miles or 20,812 sq. km. Tsavo East is larger and more arid, though less visited. There are only two permanent rivers in this vast area, the Tsavo which begins its life on Kilimanjaro is greatly supplemented by huge underground river flowing from the Mzima Springs and the Athi in Tsavo East which begins in Nairobi.

Tsavo is home to the largest elephant population despite the poaching of the earlier years. Amongst the many natural wonders in this region is the marvel of the Mzima Springs replenished with two hundred and twenty million liters of crystal clear water every day, from the underground streams stemming fro the lava massif known as the Chyulu Hills.

Tsavo National Park was established on 1st April, 1948 with an area of 21,812 Km² It is the largest Park in Kenya. In May 1948 Tsavo National Park was divided into East and West for administrative purposes. The two Parks are divided by Nairobi-Mombasa railway /road.

The vegetation around Tsavo East National Park is savannah grassland with thorny bushes and some swampy marshland near Voi River. The landscape is unique because of the Yatta Plateau formed from the lava that oozed from Ol Doinyo Sabuk Mountain.

Only a small area of Tsavo East National Park's vast nature reserve, larger by far than Tsavo West, is open to the public although new areas for human intrusion are now being added. The remainder provides a remote animal wilderness.

The main river that passes through this park is the River Galana. A variety of animals can be seen: lions, leopard, cheetah, zebras, giraffes, serval, antelopes, kongoni, lesser kudu, oryx, klipspringer, impala, stripped hyena, ostriches, gazelles, buffalos, elephants and many more.

How to get to Tsavo East National Park

• From Nairobi via Voi through the Voi gate or Manyani gate.
• Similarly, from Mombasa via Bachuma gate.
• From Malindi, via Sala gate. This road was recently graded and is attracting many visitors from North Coast.
• There are six airstrips in the southern part of the park and thirteen in the Northern part.
• There are no scheduled flights to the Park but chartered light planes can be used.