Covering 9,055 km², Tsavo West National Park offers a far more varied landscape than its larger counterpart, Tsavo East National Park. Open bushland dominates the scenery, interspersed with forested hills, lush riverbanks, lava flows, and volcanic craters.
The most beautiful setting in Tsavo West can be found at the Mzima Springs. In the midst of the hot, dry landscape lies a dense woodland oasis centered around two crystal-clear spring pools. These are fed by underground streams carrying meltwater from Mount Kilimanjaro.
Up to 280,000 liters of water flow from the springs every minute. A large portion is piped to Mombasa as drinking water. Visitors can stroll along a well-maintained path beside the water and observe the activity around this vital lifeline. From an underwater viewing chamber, you can even watch what happens beneath the surface — including hippos and crocodiles.
Other highlights of Tsavo West National Park include:
- Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, where you have a good chance of spotting the rare black rhino
- Roaring Rocks, named for the almost constant whistling wind
- And finally Poacher’s Lookout, a hill offering stunning views of the green Chyulu Hills and, on clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro
