In a land where apex predators reign the savage kingdom only the fit and agile navigate the fierce lands to make it to dawn as the rule of these fierce savage lands states only the strong survive. East Tsavo National Park grassland plains are the podium of this great show of nature in the game of survival for fitness. The beautiful landscapes harbor the formable kings of the jungle as they defend their reign and throne from their nemesis. The park is given life by the ever-flowing Tsavo River which flows from west to east breathing life into this dry kingdom. The park was once a huge chuck of about 22,000 square kilometers combined with the Tsavo West National Park. As development kicked in there was a need to have better access to the park, and a road was constructed in between the park bisecting it into two. This led to the birth of Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. It was named after River Tsavo which feeds the park from the west.
Tsavo East National Park covers an area of about 13,747 square kilometers. It was established in 1948 in the Taru desert located in the Taita-Taveta county. Have you ever imagined a hardly unspoiled and virgin place, well this is Tsavo East National Park. It is one of the most rarely visited parks in Kenya. This park became popular in the 1800s during the construction of the Uganda railway. This is because of the unfortunate man-eaters that delayed the construction process due to the loss of lives of the workers. These man-eaters were the Tsavo lions which killed many workers of the railway.
The park is famous for its reddish-brown elephant herds that cannot be missed while on a safari experience. The landscape of the park is generally flat with a savannah grassland vegetation zone and some scattered trees. The vegetation in the park is resilient to the semi-arid conditions subjected to the harsh desert-like conditions.
What are some of the attractions in Tsavo East National Park?
The sheer size of Tsavo East National Park is vast harboring a wide range of wildlife species with diverse ecological systems that can interest the visitors to the park. Below are some of these epic attractions to look out for.
Wildlife
Tsavo East National Park’s size is vast accommodating over 50 wildlife species. These dwell in various ecosystems in the park, especially the savannah grasslands. The flat nature of the park is incredibly scenic unveiling the species that navigate its plains. The park harbors Africa’s Big 5 animals, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, wildebeests, hippos, giraffes, and zebra to mention but a few.
Birdlife
Tsavo East National Park is a bee hive of bird activity given it harbors over 500 bird species. These birds in the park include the migratory and endemic residents. Various sea birds also come to the park during their breeding season before returning given the park’s proximity to the coast. These birds are also categorized as migratory birds since they are seasonal visitors. Various birds harbor the park including golden-breasted starlings, black-faced sandgrouse, red-winged lark, black-headed lapwing, etc.
Yatta plateau
The Yatta plateau is a spectacular feature in the park that sugarcoats your safari adventure experience in the park to completion. The Yatta plateau is the longest lava flow in the world stretching for over 290 kilometers from the west to the east of Tsavo above River Athi from Mount Oldoinyo Sabuk.
Lugard Falls
Lugard Falls in the heart of Tsavo East National Park offers the best sightseeing with beautifully arranged rocks surrounded by lush vegetation. These falls are formed when the rapidly flowing River Galana pours into a large pool creating a roar as it escapes through a narrow gorge between large rock cliffs. The Lugard Falls were named after a British Explorer Captain Frederick Lugard.
What to do in Tsavo East National Park?
Tsavo East National Park offers a wide range of tourist activities to choose from. All these activities offer incredible encounters on nature’s finest stage. These include some of the following.
Game drives
Game drives in Tsavo East National Park offer an amazing opportunity to encounter some of the wildlife species in the park in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Visitors get an up-close picture of the park and animals on a game drive to experience. This is also a great chance to observe firsthand the ultimate game of survival of hunt versus hunted. Several animals can be encountered including Africa’s Big 5 animals, wildebeest, zebras, dik-dik, topi, kudu, impala, gazelles, baboons, etc.
Birding
With over 500 species of birds flying across the different ecological systems, birding is an opportunity to learn and spot the various birds in Tsavo East National Park. Birding in the park takes placeon the designated birding trails in the park across the ecosystem. An experienced birder guide with knowledge about most of the birds in the park guides visitors on this adventure to give them an incredible experience.
Guided nature walks
Tsavo East National Park offers epic walking or guided nature walk safaris take bring you up close to the action. There are various sites in the park to have guided nature walks such as Lugard Falls, Aruba Dam, and Mudanda Rocks. While on these walks you will also encounter several wildlife species in the park.