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Area:
Tsavo West National Park has an area of 9065 km2.
Separated
from Tsavo East Park by Nairobi- Mombasa road, the park extends from
Athi River in the North to Tanzania border. Tsavo
West Park is also the home of the man eaters of
Tsavo, the lions which brought the construction of the railway to a
standstill. The local people believed that the lions were
reincarnated chiefs protesting the invasion of their land by
foreigners. A visit to Tsavo West Game Park is best combined
with excursions to Chyulu hills National Park and Taita
Hills Game Reserve. Other attractions in the vicinity
include Lake Jipe and
Tsavo East National
Park.
Established: Gazetted
in 1948, Tsavo West is an ideal destination for those
interested in hard adventures. While game watching is ideal in
Tsavo West and particularly at Mzima Springs, the nearby Chyulu
Hills National Park (see below) offers hiking and
caving opportunities. Rock climbing is possible at Tembo peak and
Ngulia hills.
Climate:
In Tsavo West Park temperature ranges from 20o C - 30o
C and rainfall from 200mm - 700mm. The park Experiences two
rainy seasons: Long rains - March/April & Short rains- Nov/December.
Habitats:
Tsavo
West National Park has a variety of habitats including open
plains, savannah bush, semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands, rocky
ridges and outcrops, extensive ranges and isolated hills, belts of
riverine vegetation, palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain
forest.
Physical Features/ Attractions in Tsavo West ;
The main
physical features in are Shaitani lava flow ,
Chyulu hills,
Lake Jipe
, Mzima springs, Mt. Kilimanjaro
Chaimu crater, Roaring rocks.
Mzima springs are
perhaps one of the greatest wonder of Tsavo West. Water gurgles from the underground and
forms large expanse of pools, which provide habitats for colourful
fish, hippos and crocodiles. A
glass observation tank allows one to view this aquatic undisturbed. The springs are the main source of water
for Mombasa municipality. At its prime Tsavo's Mzima
Springs gurgled out 20 million litres of water daily.
Mammals: Besides the lions, the Park has a
large concentration of herbivores and predators. and other animals.
These include the Bush back, dik dik, duikers, eland,
gazelles, gerenuk, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, klipspringer,
lesser kudu, fringe eared Oryx, steinbok, suni, buffalo, elephant,
maasai giraffe, hippos, black rhino, cheetah, aardwolf, caracal,
hyena, lions, leopard, baboons
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary:
The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
covers an area of 62Km2. It has around 60 Black Rhinos.
Ngulia Rhino sanctuary is fully fenced.
Lake Jipe
Lake Jipe is reached from
Taveta. One can go for a boat ride in the lake. It is
also popular with migratory birds from Europe between February and
May.
With over 600 recorded species of birds, Tsavo West National
Park is a bird watcher's paradise.
Lake Jipe being one of the favoured sites of migratory birds.
Each year from September to
November the Ngulia region becomes the base for a large-scale
netting and ringing.
Getting Into Tsavo West
Roads:
The park can accessed by road from Nairobi or Mombasa.
Airstrips :
Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate and Maktau airstrips are in
good condition.
Park Gates:
Chyulu, Mtito Andei, Tsavo, Jipe, Maktau Gate, Kasigau
Gate.
Accommodation /Safari Lodges in Tsavo West National Park:
The first
lodge to be constructed in the park was Kilaguni/ Kilaguni.
It was opened in 1962 by the Duke of Gloucester. The lodge
affords panoramic views of the park. Its waterhole is
frequented by park animals. Others
include:-
Campsites & Camping in the Park:
Lake Jipe (public); Kamboya (public); Royal Little
(special); Lake Jipe; Chyulu Gate; Diani Camp; Finch Hattons Camp,
Kitani safari camp,
Bandas:
Lake Jipe; Kitani; Ngulia.
Picnic Sites:
Poachers look out; Chaimu Crater; Shetani caves; Roaring
Rocks.
Chyulu Hills National
Park
The combination of Beautiful scenery and rugged terrain makes Chyulu
Hills the best hiking destination in Kenya. The main
attraction is Leviathan Cave, the world's second-longest lava
tube. Animals include elephants, buffaloes, elands, forest hogs and
an occasional black rhinocerous.
Gates;- Makedo Gate, Kibwezi Gate,
Accommodation at Chylu Hills National Park
Public campsite at Kibwezi Gate (Bring your own camping
equipments. Outisde the park are Umani Springs Camp
( ideal for serious cavers), Ol Donyo Wuas (Very
exclusive and Campi Ya Kanzi and Nyati Safari Camp.
Taita Hills Game Reserve
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