Attractions in Tsavo West National Park
Attractions in Tsavo West National Park : Tsavo West national park is one of the magnificent Kenya destinations offering excellent game viewing safaris, Tsavo West national park is part of the greater Tsavo national parks together with Tsavo East national park which they share boundaries with created by a railway line. Tsavo West national park located in the coast province stretching around an area of 9,065 square kilometers.
Tsavo West national park is a popular Kenya safari destination and one of the most visited Kenya safari destination generally because of the amazing features dotted around the landscape of the park. Attractions in Tsavo West national park include:
Wildlife
Tsavo west national park is popularly recognized as one of the great wildlife habitats in Kenya hosting various species of animals, the park is famously known for its elephants covered in red dust and man eater. Tsavo West national park is the only place/protected area where you get to spot red elephants and few remaining populations of hirola antelopes, animals in Tsavo West national park live in the various vegetation zones of the park such as open grasslands, scrublands, riverine vegetation and acacia woodlands.
Animals found in Tsavo West national park include lion, elephants, cheetah, wild dogs, antelopes, buffalo, black rhinos, hippos, zebra, hyenas, lesser kudu, klipspringers, gerenuk, mongoose, nocturnal porcupine, fringe-eared Oryx, giraffe, crocodiles among others.
Bird life
Tsavo West national park is one of the notable bird habitants in Kenya and a very rewarding Kenya birding destination, birds in Tsavo West national park are recorded to be over 600 species including resident and migrant species living in the various vegetation zones dominating the park such as forest galleries and savannah grasslands. Birds found in Tsavo West national park include thrush nightingale, Taita falcon, Taita fiscal, Somali bunting, Somali Ostrich, Somali bee-eater, Rufous chatterer, river warbler, Shelley’s starling, slender-tailed nightjar, red billed parrot, red backed shrike, Narina trogon, marsh warbler, Northern brownbul, pangani long claw, lesser kestrel, common white throat, Basra reed warbler, African finfootamong others.
Mzima springs
Mzima springs in Tsavo West national park are a series of springs and a natural reservoir of water feeding the ecological system of Tsavo West national park, Mzima Springs are also referred to as Mzima pool and they are located in the western region of the park and situated in a distance of 48 kilometers from Mtito Andrei. Mzima springs ae surrounded by thicket vegetation with fruit bearing trees attracting numerous birds and monkeys to the area and they can easily be spotted.
Chaimu volcanic crater
Among the beautiful features in Tsavo West national park is the magnificent Chaimu Crater, this volcanic feature is a tall rising hill featuring bright black colored lava stones. Chaimu volcanic crater creates a beautiful scenery in Tsavo West national park and perfect scenic viewing and photography, this spectacular volcanic crater gets its name from the local Kamba people slag “Chaimu” which means the “devil’s crater”. Chaimu volcanic crater is climbed on a hiking safari while on a Kenya hiking safari in Tsavo West national park.
Shetani lava flow
Shetani lava flow is magnificent feature in Tsavo west national park formed as a result of eruption process said to have taken place over 200 years ago, Shetani lava flow is a feature of 4 kilometers and it is apparently the only lava flow feature in existence where seeing magma on the earth’s surface is possible.
Shetani lave flow in Tsavo West national park lies adjacent to Shetani caves running about 4 kilometers west of Chyulu gate of the park. Shetani lava flow derives its name from a Kiswahili slag “Shetani” meaning devil and it was named by the locals and it was named out of belief by the locals that the devil himself emerged to earth through the lava flow.
Shetani lava flow features folded black lava spreading for about 50 square kilometers which cross through the savannah plains adjust to Chyulu hills.
Lake Jipe
Lake Jipe in Tsavo West national park is an inter-territorial lake stretching along the border of Kenya and Tanzania including Tsavo West national park in the Kenya part, Lake Jipe covers an area of 30 square kilometers of surface area.
Lake Jipe is a great site for both bird and wildlife viewing in Tsavo west national park, Lake Jipe is one of the water sources in the park and it is visited by many animals such as hippos, crocodiles, lesser kudus, elephants, hartebeests and many more to drink water most especially in dry season. Lake Jipe is also a habitat for birds and numerous species of birds can be sighted at the lake and these include storks, egrets, lesser jacana, African swamp hen, Madagascar squacco heron, black heron, African skimmers, Egyptian geese and many more.
First World War site- East African campaign
Tsavo West national park is famously known for wildlife and birdlife but it is more than that as it hosts the first world war monument of East Africa campaign, the first world war site – East African campaign commemorates the campaign of the world war fought by Kenyan natives. This campaign was the most bizarre of all campaigns and was fought in the thorny scrub and densely forested plains of Tsavo West national park, this campaign was referred to as “the last gentleman war waged under the code of honor” and while fighting this war the local people used guerilla tactics they had adopted from African tribal fighters.
First World War site is open for visitation by travelers on a Kenya safari in Tsavo West national park on a guided walking safari.
In conclusion, Tsavo West national park is one top destination you ought to visit while on your African safari in Kenya most especially for Kenya wildlife tours as it has more memorable and adventurous safari activities to offer. Book your safari now and have a magical experience.
