Kenya Parks
By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
Wildlife densities in Tsavo West aren’t that great, but everything is there. There are many elephants, and they are often covered in red dust, giving them an eerie appearance. The park is also known for its maneless lions and big herds of buffalo. Despite poaching in recent years, black rhinos have been on the comeback in Tsavo since the late ’80s when they were close to being locally extinct. The drive-through rhino sanctuary increases your chances of spotting one.
Wildlife Highlights
The park is one of the best places to see the skittish lesser kudu. The rocky terrain is also a good habitat to look for klipspringers, often found in pairs. Antelope that thrive in arid conditions can also be found here, including the very localized fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
The best wildlife viewing in Tsavo West NP is in the Dry season (June to October), although the park is worth a visit any time of the year. During the Dry season, the vegetation is minimal, and animals tend to hang around the few available water sources.
Wildlife Rating Per Major Park
- Amboseli NP 4.6/5 147 Wildlife Ratings
- Buffalo Springs NR 4.3/5 19 Wildlife Ratings
- Lake Nakuru NP 4.3/5 176 Wildlife Ratings
- Masai Mara NR 4.9/5 302 Wildlife Ratings
- Samburu NR 4.6/5 81 Wildlife Ratings
- Tsavo East NP 4.4/5 62 Wildlife Ratings
- Tsavo West NP 4.1/5 54 Wildlife Ratings
