TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK ON SELF DRIVE

The Tsavo East National Park is originally part of the Tsavo National park. This originated from the splitting of the park into two when the main road was passed through. The park is 13747 square kilometers in width along a highway that runs from Nairobi to Mombasa.

The beautiful, rugged wilderness, savannah ecosystems comprising of open grasslands, scrublands and Acacia woodlands put it as the most attractive park on self drive safari or Guided safari in Kenya.

BRIEF HISTORY OF TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

The Tsavo East Park was part of the Tsavo National Park before it was split into two to get the West Tsavo park too. Around the 19th century, the British and German explorers wrote about the people who lived in the Nyika lands. These were the Orma and the Waata who were hostile to them during their travels and against their interests.

In the late 19th century, the British began colonizing the lands of Kenya and built a Uganda Railway in 1898 that crossed the Tsavo land. The maneless lions at that time attacked the constructors and claimed their lives to a number approximated to be 135 Indian coolies. This led many to flee the place and Tsavo remained a homeland to the people of Orma and Maasai pastoralists and also doubled as hunter-gatherers until 1948.

During this year, the land was gazetteer a national park and the inhabitants relocated to Voi and Mtito Andei lands. Therefore, after the Kenyan Independence in 1963, the hunting of animals in the park was banned and its management was turned over to the authority of Kenya Wildlife Services up to today.
The construction of a main road through the Tsavo National Park gave rise to the East Tsavo National Park which was named after Tsavo River that flows from west to east throughout the park. This borders Mkomazi game reserve in Tanzania and Chyulu Hill national park.

ACCESS TO THE PARK ON SELF DRIVE

The park is located 230km east of Tsavo West Park from Nairobi, while its also 230km from Mombasa. Therefore, one can access the park using either road or air transport means.

Roads to access the park

One can access the park using the main entrance gate through Mtito Andrei which is 230km from Mombasa. Carrental4x4.com is availble to offer you the best car for the self-drive to the park for a game drive either with the driver or on self guided drive.

Using the road means is the best way to explore more things than using the air, because most of the attraction things can be accessed when your on the ground
Air. There are airstrips in the park that is Aruba, Satao, Safa, Ithumba, Sangayaya, Mopeo and Buchuma airstrip. These travelers can book their air tickets prior to the travel.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE PARK

There is no tourist who can travel such a long journey to see nothing. With all that in mind, Tsavo East national park had them catered for with attractions that include;
Animals on Tsavo East National Park.

The park is famous to have lions. These are commonly referred to as Tsavo Lions. These are estimated to be 675 in numbers were many adult lions lack manes entirely. These are a lot fascinated and tourists are attracted to see these animals.

Birds in the national park

The park has 500 bird species recorded in the park with the most common birds are weaver birds that shout beyond normal, the Ostriches whose legs can’t lift them high to taste the airs like other birds, Hornbills, Secretary birds, Kerstrels and Herons.
Aruba dam
This dam which was constructed in 1952 across the Voi Riverattarcts many animals to drink water from it. This gives a clear view to the tourists to see many of the animals that may be hard to find during safaris and game views.
Yatta plateau
This is believed to be the longest world’s lava flow from Ol Doinyo Sabuk mountain running along the western boundaries of the park. This is about 290 km in length. Such a relief can’t leave the tourists at peace minus seeing it.

Mudanda rock
This is an inselberg which is 1.6 km acting as a water catchment area later on turning out as a natural dam. This quenches the thirst of many wildlife animals at the end of the day, especially during the dry seasons of the times in the park inclusive of the large elephant herds.
Lugard falls
These are series of white water rapids on the Galana river that were named after Captain Fredrick Lugard

ACTIVITIES IN TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Bushwalks
These walks may not be common in most parks, but in Tsavo East Park travelers are allowed to travel by foot to meet the different wildlife close to them during their explorations.
Horseback safaris
The horse rides in the savannah grasslands with the protection of the game rangers give confidence to travelers to see the elephants, zebras,, impala during the different rides physically with a chance to touch them once chance avails.

Game Viewing self Guided drive

The game drive in the park, give tourists a chance to view the various wildlife animals inclusive of the African big five say the elephants, babbons, zebras among others. These drives can be both early morning and evening game drive is the best rewarding when most animals are resting with night game drives possibly the same for nocturnal wildlife.

Hiking

Climbing the Yatta plateau and Mudanda hills gives the tourists a different experience when at the top to view quite vast features in the park while on the top of the plateau and hill respectively.

Bird Watching

The park has over 500 species of birds. These include the migrant bird species owing to the park being in a migratory route of these birds. This fact increases the chance for one to spot a number of birds while bird viewing. The birds can best be viewed during the wet season when they are breeding. The Taita fiscal, Somali ostriches, and Narina Trogon are among the commonly sighted bird species.

Accommodation

Tsavo east national park has accommodation both within the park and outside the park, the park is surrounded by different hotels, lodges, and camping sites, the accommodation are for both high class, Middle class and low class, and this includes Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Voi Wildlife Lodge & Lion Hill lodge Tarhi Tented Camp, SataoTented Camp, Galdessa Camp, located at the boundary of the park, Ithumba Bandas, Voi Safari Lodge,