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Tsavo
West National Park - "The Land of Lava, Man-eaters,
Springs and so much more..."
Tsavo
West National Park covers 7065 km2, approximately
30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a
diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous
scenic landscape.
The
park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from
Mtito Andei, along the Mombasa-Nairobi road and
south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern
boundary along the Highway adjoins Tsavo East National
Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography
and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour.
The
park's habitats include open plains alternating
with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia
woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive
ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation;
palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain
forest.
There
are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part
of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent
volcanic origin with lava flows and ash cones including
the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volacano.
In
the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania
border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park.
This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from
Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains.
At
Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that
has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes
from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.
Location:
South Eastern Kenya, inland from Mombasa, and the
altitude ranges between 200 - 1000m.
Climate:
Temperature ranges from 20 - 30o C and rainfall
from 200mm - 700mm. Two ran seasons: Long rains
- March/April & Short rains - Nov/December.
HOW
TO GET THERE
Roads:
The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from
Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi (240
km) and Mombasa. Visitors from Mombasa also use
Tsavo Gate near Manyani. The park can also be reached
via Taveta-Voi road through Maktau, Ziwani and Jipe
gates.
Airstrips:
Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch
Hottons, Ziwani and Maktau airstrips are in good
condition.
Park
Gates:
Chyulu, Mtito Andei, Tsavo, Jipe, Maktau Gate, Kasigau
and Ziwani Gates.
MAJOR
ATTRACTIONS
Recent
volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for
geological and cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima
Springs & underwater hippo watching, Ngulia
Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, elephant,
rhino, diverse bird and plant species. And if lucky
- Wild dogs.
FACILITIES
Lodges:
Ngulia Lodge; Kilaguni Serena Lodge; Severin Safari
Camp/Lodge; Finch Hattons.
Campsites:
Lake Jipe (public); Kamboya (public); Royal Little
(special); Simba (special); Kenge (special); Kudu
(special).
Others:
Kamboyo guesthouse; Tsavo West Information Visitor
Centre.
Bandas:
Lake Jipe; Kitani; Ngulia.
Picnic
Sites:
Poachers look out; Chaimu Crater; Shetani Lava Flow;
Roaring Rocks; Mzima Springs; Visitor Information
Centre Picnic Site.
COMMON
VEGETATION
Most
of the northern sector is Acacia commiphora bushland
with scattered trees such as baobabs - Adansonia
digitata and Delonix elata. In the Ngulia area,
a range of craggy hills reaches around 1800m and
is heavily wooded. The southern sector consists
of open grassy plains. The permanent tsavo river
runs through the northern part of the park with
a fringe of riverine Acacia elatior and Hyphaene
compressa woodland. Lake Jipe is bordered by extensive
beds to Typha and has large permanent swamps at
its eastern and western ends. Mzima springs, is
fringed by Raphia farinifera and Phoenix reclinata
palms.
Visitor
Activities
Boat excursion at lake Jipe; Bird watching at lake
Jipe; Annual bird ringing at Ngulia lodge; Hill
and rock climbing at Chaimu and Ngulia Hills.
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