TSAVO WEST
The main attraction in this this park is the Mzima springs 40 km from Mtito Andei. From these springs, which are fed underground from the nearby Chyulu Hills, flow an estimated 97 million gallons of water a day and the palm fringed oasis attracts animals from all around to drink in the clear waters including hippos, crocodiles and shoals of barbet from a different view point.
Around this area are flows of lava and the most spectacular is the Shetani Lava flow, believed to have formed the Chyulu Hills.
An excellent network of roads offers opportunities to explore deeper into the park where predators and herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and gazelle may be found.
In the scenic area of Ngulia is a rhino sanctuary where numbers of black rhinos browse in safety.
Tsavo West is best visited in the dry months from June to October and January to February. Although the park can be visited any time of year, wildlife viewing during the height of the Wet season (November, April and May) is not recommended. In the wet months animals tend to spread out due to the abundance of water.
If you prefer your vegetation green instead of brown, and want a clear view of Kilimanjaro, then the Wet season (October to May) is when you’ll want to visit. Migratory birds also offer a great spectacle at this time. But for wildlife watching in general, you should really go in the drier months, when a lack of water sees animals gather at local rivers and waterholes.
THE TAITA HILLS
Taita Hills lies to the South West and on the fertile land in the saddles between the main peaks the Taita Tribe grow a variety of vegetables.
On the plains below the Hills, the Taita Hills wildlife sanctuary has been established and is home to elephant,lion,oryx,lesser kudu and a wide variety of smaller animals.
The smaller animals which live in this small 110sq.km sanctuary are often much more easy to spot than those in the larger Tsavo Parks.
Tsavo East/West And Taita Hills
By far the largest of all National parks, the combined areas of Tsavo East and West National Parks is more than 21000sq. km and is watered by the Galana River. This was originally one huge national park, split in two by the main Nairobi/Mombasa highway for administration purposes.
This area has a large variety of animals, more difficult to see because of the seasonal depth of vegetation and because they are spread over such a large area.
During the terrible poaching years of the nineties the huge elephant herds of Tsavo East were decimated but strict controls have seen a great reduction in poaching activities and large herds can be found in both parks.
There are over 60 different mammals in the parks and the bird life is equally varied.
Taita Hills sanctuary is to the South of Tsavo West and South West of the main highway. High standard accommodation as well as camping sites are available.
TSAVO EAST
Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya at 13,747 square kilometres. Situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert dominated by flat bush and huge baobab trees. It was the main area for poaching in the past and some parts still remain closed to the public.
The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust –red elephant, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
The most localized of the many dry country specials that can be found here is the fringe-eared oryx.
Other features include the Yatta Plateau and Lugard Falls. Another scenic highlight is Mudanda rock, a towering and quartzite (hard, metamorphic rock) formation.
Conditions stay hot and dry throughout the year at Tsavo, with the exception of the park’s higher altitudes where it gets progressively cooler as you head up the hills. The Wet season gets particularly hot, especially  between the so-called ‘short rains’ at year’s end and those of the later ‘long rains’. The Dry season (June to September) brings a little relief from the heat.
The park doesn’t look its best in the Dry season (June to September), when the sky is hazy from the dust, but this is the best time to spot animals. The grass is much shorter than in the Wet season (October to May), so the wildlife can’t easily disappear into the bush when your vehicle approaches.
Explore Tsavo East/West And Taita Hills