Tsavo West National Park Kenya
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Climate: Warm to hot and dry. Temperatures range from 20 - 30° C. Annual rainfall of 200 - 700 mm occurs in the "long rains" of March - May and the "short rains" of October - December.
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Ancient
land of lions and lava
World famous Tsavo West National Park, with it's Tsavo East neighbour,
combine to form one of the largest national parks in the world. Beckoning
are the ancient lands of lava and lions, resembling a masterpiece painted
on a sprawling canvas of endless skies, emerald hills and palm-fringed
rivers. Amidst abundant wildlife, sparkling oases blend with the unforgettable
sunrise or sunset backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro, "the roof-top of Africa".
Exhale, unwind and allow Tsavo West to cast it's everlasting spell!
Vast vistas and volcanic views
The immense Tsavo West stretches from the northeastern Athi river to the
southwestern Tanzania border. With rocky outcrops in it's northern parts,
most of the park is a vast tangled bushland savannah, laced with volcanic
ridges and lava beds. With it's sweeping hills reaching 1,800 metres high,
the Ngulia range offers dramatic vistas, while Chyulu Hills , adjuscent
to Tsavo West, feed the remarkable Mzima Springs where thousands of gallons
of crystal-clear freshwater gushes into palm fringed pools, filled with
hippos and crocodiles.
Ancient and recent volcanic activity is evident within and around the
park. Visit Shetani or Devils Lava Flow foremed a few hundred years ago
when a fiery molten fury spewed from the earth! Or climb to Chaimu Crater
- in a mere 10 minutes. And stop by the eerie "Roaring Rocks"
, named after the buzz of the cicadas that inhabit them and the howl of
the wind as it rushes past the sheer face of the scarp.
From the Park's many panoramic vantage points, absorb the vast vistas
as you monitor the movement of the wildlife herds below. The finest of
Poachers Lookout, a roofed hut high on a hill with views to eternity.
Wondrous wildlife
The world's most magnifient game viewing awaits you! Vast herds of dust-red
elephant, fat pods of hippo, giant crocodiles, teeming herds of savannah
dwellers plus a fantasia of birds and magical flora flourish here. The
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary protects Tsavo's growing population of endangered
black rhino, successfully inching their way back from the brink of extinction
caused by rampant poaching in the 1960's. Beautiful Lake Jipe, straddling
the Kenya/Tanzania border, offers memorable experiences of abundant aqautic
and bird life viewing - from a hired boat!
Mzima Springs Magic
The lush, hippo inhabited pools of Mzima Springs are a verdant cooling
oasis. An underwater hippo-viewing chamber, two nature trails and some
scenic picnic spots provide a refreshing and rewarding adventure. And
a romantic spot too!
Wildlife galore
Kenya's largets national park supports ALL the "Big Five"! Home
to the country's larget herd of elephant population, your exciting safari
is sure to include buffallo, lion, leopard and rhino too. Plus at Mzima
Springs, abundant Nile crocodile and hippo. Herds of giraffe, gerenuk,
oryx, zebra and impala range through bush and plains, as do hartebeest,
lesser kudu, eland, water buck, Steinbuck, Kirk's Dik Dik and kingspringer.
Don't miss yellow baboons and vervet monkeys as they cavort noisly around
acacia trees.
Birds
Prolific bird life - featuring over 600 recorded species - are a true
highlight. Birds of the semi-arid zone, such as somali ostrich and golden
pipit, slip by the the more conspicuous white-headed buffalo weaver and
it;'s vivid coral rump displayed in flight, or the brilliantly plumaged
golden-breasted starling. Raucous hornbill, with their lilting flight,
are also prevalent in the park as are hole-nested birds, such as orange-bellied
parrot, and D'Arnands's barbet that favour the thick-trunked baobab tress.
Roaring Rocks is an excellent
spot for raptors: eagles cruise by at eye level and Bateleur comb the
rocky scarp for unsuspecting prey. The Ngulia area, due in part to it's
geography, forms a focus for innumberable Eurasian and Palaeartic migrating
birds. A palaeartic migrartory bird-banding (bird-ringing) project is
at Ngulia Lodge.
Plants.
Ranging from woodland to semi-desert, Tsavo West covers a diverse array
of habitats. For the most part. the area is hot and dry, with acacia-commiphora
scrub broken by short grassy plains flecked with thorn trees. Wild flowers
appear with the short rains and the ground can be quickly carpeted with
delicate thnubergia, ipomoea and barleria. Watch for teh blazing fire-balllily
and the delonix, a sparsely branched tree with exquisite white blooms,
pollinated by nocturnal bats. Rivers are fringed with acacias as magnificient
baobabs rise leafless above the shimmering heat.
What to take with you.
Drinking water, picnic and camping equipment (if you camp overnight) ,
binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, anti-malarial
prophylactics, walking boots and field guides.
How to get there.
By road: Mtito Andei gate is 240 kms south of Nairobi and 249 kms north
of Mombasa on the main Nairobi - Mombasa highway.
Roads: The roads are well
graded and efficiently maintained
Gates: Chyulu, Mtito Andei
(Kamboyo HQ) , Tsavo, Jipe, Ziwani and Maktau
By air: Air strips are at
Kilaguni, Finch Hattons and Lake Jipe.
Source: Kenya Wildlife Service: http://www.kws.org