Tsavo East National Park-Kenya
Previously referred to as Taru desert, Tsavo East National Park is one of the Kenya’s oldest and largest parks covering an area of approximately 13,747 square kilometers. The national park was established in 1948 and it is located near the town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County of the former Coast Province. Tsavo National park is divided into two sections that are east and west sections by the A109 road and a railway. It was named for the Tsavo River which flows west to east through the national park bordering the Chyulu hills national park and the Mkomazi Game reserve in the Republic of Tanzania. The National park has got a number of attractions that can surely catch the travelers’ eyes and make his or her journey memorable. Among them include;
Mudanda Rock: The Mudanda rock is an inselberg of stratified rock covering 1.6km. The rock acts as a water catchment supplying a natural dam below it which offers an excellent vantage point for a numerous animals that come for drinking water especially in the dry season. Also, the rock is a better point for the tourists to view different animals in the national park that come to drink water. Among the animals include the hundreds of herds of elephants, buffalos, wildebeest and others.
Yatta Plateau: The world’s longest lava flow, Yatta plateau is one of the must visit attractions at the Tsavo national park in Kenya. The plateau runs along the western boundary of the park above Athi River with a length of 290km formed by lava from OI Doinyo Sabuk Mountain.
Lugard Falls: Named after the first European explorer Frederick Lugard to step on the falls, the falls is a series of white water rapids on the Galana River. Have some bit of exercise while hiking to the top of the falls.
Aruba dam: Aruba dam is one of the oldest dams in the national park built across Voi River in 1952. The dam attracts a number of animals and water birds that come to quench the thirst.
Bird species: Tsavo National park hosts above 500 bird species recorded in the area including the endemic and epidemic bird species. Among the birds sighted at the park include ostriches, weaver birds, kingfishers, hornbills, herons, secretary birds, buzzards, kestrels, taita falcon, Somali bee-eater, guinea fowl, Eastern chanting goshawk and others.
Wildlife: Tsavo National park is one the world’s largest national parks providing a home to vast numbers of wildlife with the Tsavo lions as the famous ones. Among the others animals in the park include yellow baboon, cape buffalo, Senegal bush baby, bushbuck, caracal, African wildcat, Southeast African cheetah, African wild dog, Blue duiker, common eland, bush duiker, bat-eared fox, Maasai giraffe, springhare, hunter’s hartebeest, spotted hyena, impala, side-striped jackal and others.
Activities at Tsavo National Park.
Nature walks and hikes: Explore the park on foot by taking part in the adventurous activity of a guided nature walk. Move to different destinations within the park like Lugard falls, Aruba falls, Yatta plateau, Mudanda rocks and others. Also, sight many animals in their habitats as you move around the national park.
Game drives: Move closure to the animals in the wild using 4*4 safari car and take clear pictures while on a game drive in Tsavo national park. The park is one of the few places where a night game drive is accepted. Tsavo national park habitats the world big five animals including lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, zebras, impalas and many others.
Bird watching: Tsavo hosts over 500 birds’ species which is almost half of the population of bird species in Kenya. Remember to move with your note book where you are to record the spotted birds including ostriches, buzzards, starlings, kingfishers, hornbills, secretary birds, herons, kestrels and many others.