Overview - Tsavo East National Park

The Park is home to a good population of Giraffe, many Zebra, Impala, and Gazelles, as well as irascible Buffalo. Predators are represented by a large pride of Lions, elusive Leopards, and the fastest animal on land - the Cheetah.

  • Huge herds of Elephants covered in red dust from wallowing and dust bathing
  • Mudanda Rock - these rock towers above a natural dam which draws many Elephants to slake their thirst every day.
  • Lugards Falls - these falls occur on the Galana River, passing over some interestingly shaped rocks.
  • Best Time To Go June to September & January to February
  • High Season December to March & July to October
  • Size 13747 Sq KMs

Pros & Cons

June to October: Dry Season

Pros:

  • Wildlife watching is better in the Dry season when the grass is shorter and animals gather at water sources
  • Sunny days with little rainfall
  • Malaria is less prevalent

Cons:

  • Dry and dusty conditions prevail
  • Scenically less enticing with hazy skies

November to May: Wet Season

Pros:

  • The park is beautiful with lush scenery
  • April to June is low season so lower rates may apply
  • Although wildlife viewing is better in the Dry season, there is still plenty of wildlife around
  • Best time for bird watchers

Cons:

  • Roads deteriorate with the increase in rainfall in April and May
  • Rain can interrupt your planned activities, especially in April

 

 

Best Time to Visit

A trip to Tsavo East is best planned in June to October and January to February when conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching, which is the same in Tsavo West. At other times of the year, conditions will be more challenging. This is particularly the case during the peak of the short rains (November) and the long rains (April and May). The vegetation at these times is denser and animals spread out, which makes spotting them more difficult.

 

Wildlife

Tsavo East offers great wildlife viewing in pristine wilderness. All of the Big Five are here. Elephants are common throughout the park, and their red dust coating makes them stand out against the arid environment. Of the big cats, lions are most easily spotted, but many of the males have particularly small manes. Buffalo, zebra and plenty of Masai Giraffes are some of the other animals you can expect to see.

Weather & Climate

Visitors to Tsavo East can expect a hot, dry climate. The average temperature fluctuates between 31°C/88°F during the day and 20°C/68°F at nighttime. Tsavo East has a wide variation in altitude: from 171 to 845m (561 to 2,772ft). Temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft), so there are significant climatic differences within the park itself. Rainfall peaks in April and November during the long and short rains, respectively. Rain tends to fall as short heavy showers.

No Record available.

Best time to Visit- Tsavo East National Park

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  •   Excellent
  •   Good
  •   Fair
  •   Poor

A trip to Tsavo East is best planned in June to October and January to February when conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching, which is the same in Tsavo West. At other times of the year, conditions will be more challenging. This is particularly the case during the peak of the short rains (November) and the long rains (April and May). The vegetation at these times is denser and animals spread out, which makes spotting them more difficult.

  • Best Time June to September & to January to February
  • High Season December to March & July to October
  • Low Season April to June
  • Best Weather June to October
  • Worst Weather March and April (Wet Season)

June to September

A trip to Tsavo East is best planned in June to October and January to February when conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching, which is the same in Tsavo West. At other times of the year, conditions will be more challenging. This is particularly the case during the peak of the short rains (November) and the long rains (April and May). The vegetation at these times is denser and animals spread out, which makes spotting them more difficult.

Dry Season

The Dry season months are the coolest. Days are full of sunshine and there is very little rain.

  • June & July – Days are normally sunny. Average afternoon temperatures are around 29°C/84°F.
  • August & September – The average September temperature is 30°C/86°F, although it does get much hotter. Temperatures during the day escalate prior to the rain.

 

Wet Season

The ‘short rains’ and the ‘long rains’ are separated by a drier couple of months in January and February. Road conditions are at their worst in April and May.

  • October, November & December – October usually signals the beginning of the rains. November is one of the wettest months of the year. Rain generally doesn’t last all day but expect afternoon storms. During daylight hours the average temperature is 32°C/90°F.
  • January & February – These months see a break between the short and long rains. The exact duration of this dry period is difficult to predict. February is reliably the hottest month – the average in the afternoon is 33°C/91°F with higher peaks.
  • March, April & May – The long rains usually begin in late March. It hardly ever rains all day, but fleeting afternoon showers should be expected. April receives the most rainfall. Temperatures in the afternoon are about 32°C/90°F.

Safety

In Kenya, the developed network of parks and reserves are generally crime-free. Tsavo East is therefore a very safe destination. However, visitors who drive around the country independently should take the usual precautions in cities and towns between parks. 

Medicine & Vaccines

Before coming to Kenya, you should see your doctor regarding vaccinations that you may require. Malaria is undoubtedly the main health concern. While taking antimalarials is advisable, a few sensible precautions – such as covering up at dusk, and using mosquito repellent (containing at least 30% DEET) – provide a good defense against contracting malaria. If your room doesn’t have a mosquito net, spray the room every evening. The risk from malaria is greatest at the peaks of the rainy seasons from April to May and from October to November.

Weather And Climate

 

Visitors to Tsavo East can expect a hot, dry climate. The average temperature fluctuates between 31°C/88°F during the day and 20°C/68°F at nighttime. Tsavo East has a wide variation in altitude: from 171 to 845m (561 to 2,772ft). Temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft), so there are significant climatic differences within the park itself. Rainfall peaks in April and November during the long and short rains, respectively. Rain tends to fall as short heavy showers.