Which Park is better Tsavo East or West? -A Kenya Safari Guide 

Tsavo East or West are great wilderness destinations and the question of which one is better is common to help travelers choose a Kenya safari destination of their best interest. The two parks and adjoining ranches combine to form the Tsavo Conservation Area.

Tsavo East is slightly larger and less accessed, it is a better option than the western side for game viewing. Tsavo West has the best rock climbing options. However, both offer great scenery with very good game viewing and birding experiences.

Tsavo East National Park covers 13,747 square kilometers and is one of the oldest and largest Kenya safari national parks. It was opened in April 1948.

The Park is situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert, near the town of Voi in the Tata-Taveta County of the former coast province.

The park is half of the large Tsavo National Park, the other section is referred to as the Tsavo East National Park. The park is named after the Tsavo River which flows from west to east of the park.

Within the park is a place that is referred to as one of the world’s biodiversity strongholds where the Tsavo Rivers converge to form the Galana River.

The Tsavo East National Park is generally flat and with dry plains across which the Galana River flows. Mostly the park consists of semi-arid grasslands and savanna.

The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is host to most of the larger mammals and prolific birdlife. With its vastness, the park feels undiscovered with its vast open spaces.

The park is good to visit because of the good wildlife viewing and present big five, excellent birding opportunities, great wilderness appeal, and the beautiful landscape.

Wildlife/Animals 

The biodiversity of the park also lets it be home to vast amounts of diverse wildlife that can be seen. Some of the animals that can be spotted include, but are not limited to the famous “big five” which are the lion, black rhino, Cape buffalo, leopard, and elephant.

Famous in the park are the Tsavo Lions, a kind of population whose adult males often lack manes entirely. The lion population in the park is estimated to be up to 600 within the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem.

Other animals that can be seen in the Tsavo East National Park include the aardwolf, Senegal bushbaby, bushbuck, caracal, African wildcat, southeast African cheetah, African civet, African wild dog, blue duiker, common eland, African bush elephant, bat-eared fox, general giraffe, African savanna hare, yellow-spotted rock hyrax, side stripped jackal, klipspringer, lesser kudu, mongoose, clawless otter, serval, common warthog, plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra and many more

Bird species

A great variety of birdlife resides in the park and these include the black kite, crowned crane, lovebird, and the sacred ibis.

Over 500 bird species have been spotted within the park. Some of them are ostriches, kestrels, buzzards, starlings, weaver birds, kingfishers, secretary birds, hornbills, herons, and many more.

Wildlife and bird species usually top the, to see list of many tourists, however, there are also other attractions in the park and these include the Mudanda Rock (a 1.6km inselberg), Yatta plateau (the world’s longest lava flow), Lugard Falls (a series of white water rapids on the Galana River) and Aruba Dam.

Tsavo West National Park

Also referred to as the land of lava, springs, man-eaters, and magical sunsets, Tsavo West National Park covers an area of about 9,065 square kilometers divided from the Tsavo East National Park by a Nairobi-Mombasa road.

Tsavo West is such a beautiful rugged wilderness with the beautiful Mzima springs that are formed from millions of gallons of crystal clear water that gush out from under a parched lava rock.

The scenery is consistent with open grasslands, scrublands, acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation, and rocky ridges.

Being part of the Tsavo National Park, the section of Tsavo West is more mountainous and wetter, with swamps, with swamps, Lake Jipe, and the Mzima Springs.

The park has magnificent scenery, Mzima Springs, varied wildlife, rhino reserve, rock climbing potential with guided walks, and good road systems.

This park is a great wilderness destination with a variety of animals including the Big Five, excellent birding with many dry-country specials, and great rock climbing opportunities.

Best time to visit Tsavo East or West National Parks 

The best time or month of the year to visit the Tsavo East or West National Park is from June to September and January to February.

However, the park is open all year round and tourists are free to visit. The months of December to March and July to October are not very busy and can be good to visit too.

To have much more experience, take Kenya wildlife safaris and tailor them with Tanzania wildlife safaris, Uganda gorilla safaris, or Rwanda gorilla tours. Here are sample best packages for the ultimate Uganda or Rwanda tours;

3 Days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi

3-Day Murchison Falls Safari Uganda

3 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth

4 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari to Kidepo Valley

5 Days Gorilla Safari Uganda Tour

6 Days Rwenzori Uganda Safari

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