Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park is a natural wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world. The park is one of the oldest and largest in Kenya, covering an area of 13,747 square kilometres. Together with Tsavo West, it forms an area larger than Wales, and it is regarded as one of the last untouched wildernesses remaining on earth. The park is located near the town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County of the former Coast Province and is divided into east and west sections by the A109 road and a railway.Tsavo East National Park is named after the Tsavo River, which flows west to east through the park. The river, along with the Athi River, converge to form the Galana River inside the park. Most of the park consists of semi-arid grasslands and savanna, making it one of the world’s biodiversity strongholds. It is home to the famous ‘big five’ – lion, black rhino, cape buffalo, elephant and leopard, making it a must-visit for any safari enthusiast. Visitors can also spot a great variety of birdlife such as the black kite, crowned crane, lovebird and the sacred ibis.The park’s geography is generally flat, with dry plains across which the Galana River flows. However, the park is not without its features, including the Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava flow, which runs along the western boundary of the park above the Athi River. The park is also home to the Lugard Falls, a series of white water rapids on the Galana River, and the Aruba Dam, which was built in 1952 across the Voi River.History and archaeology buffs will find Tsavo East National Park to be a treasure trove of information. The park has evidence of thriving Late Stone Age economy from 6,000 to 1,300 years ago, with Late Stone Age archaeological sites found close to the Galana River in high numbers. The park was also an important trade route for Swahili merchants who traded with the inhabitants of Tsavo for ivory, catskins, and slaves as early as 700 AD. The park also played a vital role in the construction of the railway through Kenya, with two “man-eating lions” terrorising the construction crews, who eventually shot the pair not before they had killed one hundred and thirty-five Indians and local workers.Visitors to the park will find Mudanda Rock to be a must-visit attraction. The rock is a 1.6 km inselberg of stratified rock that acts as a water catchment that supplies a natural dam below. It offers an excellent vantage point for the hundreds of elephants and other wildlife that come to drink during the dry season.Tsavo East National Park is a national treasure, and a visit here is a must for anyone looking to experience the vastness of the wilderness and incredible terrain of Kenya.