What are the two main attractions of Tsavo National Park? When you visit Tsavo National Park, you shouldn’t miss the major attractions there, which include the Mzima Springs. Four natural springs comprise the springs, which are located 48 kilometres from the Mtito Andei town in Makueni county to the west of Tsavo National Park. The Chyulu Hills to the north are the source of the Mzima Springs; the Chyulu range is made of volcanic ash and lava that is too porous for rivers to flow. The springs are home to large schools of hippos and crocodiles. The Chyulu Hills are made of various volcanic lava rocks. Rather than flowing directly into the ocean, rainwater seeps into the rock and may take up to 25 years to emerge 50 kilometres further at Mzima. A notably clear stream rushes through a series of pools and rapids in Mzima thanks to a natural filtration process. Two kilometres downstream from the springs, the stream disappears again due to a blockage caused by a solidified lava flow. One of the most popular wildlife sites in the Tsavo is Mzima Springs, home to herds of hippo and Nile crocodiles as well as a few other animal species. Because of Mzima Springs isolation, these species are reliant on its waters; they cannot travel overland to reach other sources, and the hippos also support an entire food chain.
The resident populations of hippo and Nile crocodiles at Mzima Springs, along with a few other animal species, make it one of the most popular wildlife attractions in the Tsavo. Because of Mzima’s isolation, both species are dependent on its waters; other sources are too far away for them to reach by land, and the hippos also support an entire food chain. During the day, they return to Mzima’s pools after spending the night browsing the surrounding savannah. Their excrement fertilises the water in the pools, and fruit plants like figs, date and raffia palms, and water berry trees grow next to the water, drawing nutrients from the soil with their buried roots. Fish and cormorants feast on the crustaceans that feed on the dung of hippos below the water’s surface, while velvet monkeys and a variety of birds eat these fruits.
The majority of Mombasa’s fresh water comes from the springs at Mzima Springs, an oasis of green in the Tsavo West National Park that produces an astounding 250 million litres of water per day. A walking trail runs along the shoreline, and although the population of hippos at the springs was severely impacted by the 2009 drought, it is now stable at about 20 individuals. Other wildlife at the springs includes crocodiles and a wide variety of birds. According to the Mzima Springs website, they are “unquestionably the greatest attraction in Tsavo West National Park,” offering a spooky glimpse of hundreds of fish that resemble prehistoric fish in the subterranean water.
There is a hiking trail that runs beside the ponds and Mzima Springs, the underground viewing room offer breathtaking views of the area’s flora and animals. At Mzima springs and the area around it, offers other great kenya safari tour activities like game viewing, bird watching, safari hikes and many more in Kenya safari activities.
The best time to visit Mzima Springs
While you are welcome to visit the Mzima Springs at any time of year, it is recommended that you do so during the dry and rainy seasons because of the increased likelihood of spotting wildlife in the area and the increased water level in the springs during the latter. Not only the Mzima Springs, but also the Tsavo National Park’s many other sites, such as Shetani Lava, Roaring Rocks, Poacher’s Hill, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Aruba Dam, Mudanda Rock, Yatta Plateau, Lugard Falls, Galana, and Tsavo River, among others, provide pleasant memories and moments upon visitation.
Shetani Lava
The Shetani lava is a feature in Tsavo West National Park and its main attraction for most tour safari visitors who come to enjoy the greatest possible kenya safari experience. The coastal province is home to Tsavo National Park, a merger of two separate national parks. With a total land area of over 22,812 square kilometres, Tsavo National Park is the largest national park in Kenya. To experience the thrill of a Kenyan safari, the park consists of two national parks: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park.
The breathtaking Shetani lava flows can be seen 4 kilometres west of Chyulu gate of Tsavo West National Park on the route to Amboseli. The term “Shetani” is a Kiswahili word which means “Devil,” it was given the name because of the formation of the lava flows a few centuries ago, and the locals thought that the devil himself was emerging from the earth. This vast expanse of folded black lava, spanning fifty square kilometres across the savannah near the Chyulu Hills, gives the strange feeling that this is where Vesuvius left its comfort blanket. The Shetani lava flows are said to have started about 500 years ago. The villagers observed “fire” exploding and “flowing” on the ground and thought it was the devil himself rising from the soil, thus the name Shetani lava flow.
It is possible to trace the lava flows back from the Amboseli-Tsavo west road to the wrecked cinder cone of Shetani. The last significant eruption in this area is thought to have occurred about 200 years ago, although there are still a few plants amid the cinders. Although the vistas are breathtaking, there are predators in the region, so you should exercise caution when approaching the wildlife. Not far from here , there are Shetani caves which were formed by volcanic activity. If you want to explore, you’ll need a torch, and you should be careful of the sharp rocks and also watch out for the wildlife. It is believed that hyenas in Tsavo West National Park live in the caves, and they don’t like to be disturbed.
If you are interested in guided tours within the park, there are lodges which charge USD 50 per person. On the Shetani lava and the areas surroundings it, there is nothing that grows here and because of that they don’t attract any animals or birds. The only sound you can hear there is of the wind blowing.
