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Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park

In common: Safari, Wildlife, Photography. Link to this comparison

Comparison of Tsavo East, Tsavo West National Park. Each fact shows its information label.
	Tsavo East	Tsavo West National Park
Region	Taita Taveta County Information status: Verified Source: The Star (Kenya) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026	Taita-Taveta County Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 Oct 2026
About	A national park of about 13,747 km², gazetted in 1948 and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, known for its herds of dust-red elephants. Information status: Verified Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); The Star (Kenya) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026	Kenya's second-largest national park, about 9,065 km² in Taita-Taveta County, with the Big Five, more than 600 recorded bird species and a volcanic landscape of lava flows and springs. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 Oct 2026
Highlights	Herds of dust-red elephants The Yatta Plateau, described as the longest lava flow in the world, about 300 km long About 500 recorded bird species Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026	Mzima Springs, where clear water rises from beneath lava rock The Shetani lava flow and its caves The Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary Lake Jipe, shared with Tanzania, for birdwatching Poacher's Lookout and Roaring Rocks viewpoints Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 Oct 2026
Good for	Safari Wildlife Photography KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.	Safari Wildlife Photography KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.
Suggested time	At least 2 days Information status: Unconfirmed KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.	At least 2 days Information status: Unconfirmed KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Road time from Nairobi	~5½ h, about 360 km Information status: Estimated Driving time on the road route from openrouteservice (OpenStreetMap data, built 2026-10-24), plus 20% for stops, towns and slower traffic. Real times depend on road condition, traffic and the time of day. Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.	~4½ h, about 270 km Information status: Estimated Driving time on the road route from openrouteservice (OpenStreetMap data, built 2026-10-24), plus 20% for stops, towns and slower traffic. Real times depend on road condition, traffic and the time of day. Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
When to go	Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December. Information status: Estimated A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet. For Taita-Taveta County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 3rd to 4th week of October and continuing into January. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026 A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.	Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December. Information status: Estimated A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet. For Taita-Taveta County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 3rd to 4th week of October and continuing into January. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026 A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Entry fees	KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Tsavo East for figures and their label.	KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Tsavo West National Park for figures and their label.
Confirm before booking	Park entry fees and payment methods Which gate is closest to your camp — the park is very large Road conditions inside the park, especially after rain	Which gate you will use — Mtito Andei on the Nairobi–Mombasa road, or Chyulu from Amboseli Visiting arrangements for the rhino sanctuary Road conditions inside the park after rain
Guides	Tsavo East: red elephants and the Galana River Tsavo West: Mzima Springs, lava and rhinos	Tsavo West: Mzima Springs, lava and rhinos
Next step	Plan a trip to Tsavo East Details for Tsavo East	Plan a trip to Tsavo West National Park Details for Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo East

Region

Taita Taveta County

Verified

About

A national park of about 13,747 km², gazetted in 1948 and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, known for its herds of dust-red elephants.

Verified

Highlights

Herds of dust-red elephants
The Yatta Plateau, described as the longest lava flow in the world, about 300 km long
About 500 recorded bird species

Verified

Good for

Safari
Wildlife
Photography

KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.

Suggested time

At least 2 days

Unconfirmed

Road time from Nairobi

~5½ h, about 360 km

Estimated

When to go

Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December.

Estimated

For Taita-Taveta County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 3rd to 4th week of October and continuing into January.

Verified

Entry fees

KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Tsavo East for figures and their label.

Confirm before booking

Park entry fees and payment methods
Which gate is closest to your camp — the park is very large
Road conditions inside the park, especially after rain

Guides

Next step

Plan a trip Details

Tsavo West National Park

Region

Taita-Taveta County

Verified

About

Kenya's second-largest national park, about 9,065 km² in Taita-Taveta County, with the Big Five, more than 600 recorded bird species and a volcanic landscape of lava flows and springs.

Verified

Highlights

Mzima Springs, where clear water rises from beneath lava rock
The Shetani lava flow and its caves
The Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary
Lake Jipe, shared with Tanzania, for birdwatching
Poacher's Lookout and Roaring Rocks viewpoints

Verified

Good for

Safari
Wildlife
Photography

KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.

Suggested time

At least 2 days

Unconfirmed

Road time from Nairobi

~4½ h, about 270 km

Estimated

When to go

Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December.

Estimated

Verified

Entry fees

KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Tsavo West National Park for figures and their label.

Confirm before booking

Which gate you will use — Mtito Andei on the Nairobi–Mombasa road, or Chyulu from Amboseli
Visiting arrangements for the rhino sanctuary
Road conditions inside the park after rain

Guides

Tsavo West: Mzima Springs, lava and rhinos

Next step

Plan a trip Details

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