Amboseli & Tsavo, Kenya

Amboseli & Tsavo : Traveller's Overview Category : Parks & Reserves, Safari Destinations

Travel to the southern part of Kenya to discover the vast game reserves of Tsavo and Amboseli and between them the Chyulu Hills National Park. The twin national parks of Tsavo East and West make up one of Africa’s largest wilderness reserves weighing in at 10 million acres of pure wilderness. The enormous amount of space just waiting to be explored by you offers an extraordinary luxury safari experience.

Choose luxury accommodation in the Tsavo region to make the most of the abundant game viewing opportunities. This is a paradise for birdwatchers with a large number of raptors, sunbirds, hornbills and weavers. Let the fascinating geological features capture your imagination. Lugard Falls boasts a series of spectacular rock formations and the volcanic Mzima Springs produce 50 million gallons of fresh sparkling water on a daily basis. At Mzima you can head underground to the underwater observatory for a really unique experience as you watch swirling shoals of fish. Tsavo East is a great destination particularly if you want to combine a visit here with a trip to Kenya’s coastline.

In Chyulu Hills National Park volcanic action has formed what is the youngest mountain range in the world and today extensive forests cover conical mountains and black solid lava is studded with brightly coloured indigenous plants. View the snow-covered peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro from the crest of the hills that also overlook the rolling plains of fertile volcanic soil. Look for leopards on the rocky heights, black rhino and white lion in the thick forests and on the plains and a multitude of bird species. There are also many Maasai communities living around the borders of Amboseli.  Have a look at where you can stay while in the Chyulu region.

For elephants and fabulous views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania you need to head to Amboseli. Large herds of elephants with enormous tusks roam the extensive, lush marshes of Amboseli. This 400 square kilometre park is also home to a diverse range of animals, bird species and the beautiful cheetah. The water supply is filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro’s ice cap to bubble up in the clear water springs in the park. The salt crystals from the ash of an ancient volcanic eruption shimmer and shine on the lakebeds during the dry season creating hazy mirages.

An out-of-this-world safari experience this region promises a magical African vacation; it can be combined with a tour of other areas in Kenya or look for luxury accommodation in these regions now.

What Tsavo & Amboseli are best known for:

Large herds of elephant

The herds of elephant found in the Amboseli National Park are particularly well-known for having some of the largest tusks ever seen. They have been honed on uprooting trees and shrubs to get to the tender stems and large herds of these ‘tuskers’ as they are known make for quite a sight.

Underwater Game Viewing

You can’t beat the opportunity to view African wildlife underwater! At Mzimi Springs the underwater observatory allows you to get right in the action and feel as if you are in the midst of the glorious swirling shoals of fish; if you are lucky you will spot a shy rhino or two passing by along the riverbed.

Off the beaten track:

Go tracking with bloodhounds

Head off into the bush at Ol Donyo Lodge with trained bloodhounds, and trained guides of course, for some thrilling game viewing. Not for the faint-hearted this is real African adventure and will make for some unforgettable stories and memories to take home with you.