Practical questions
Tsavo: frequently asked questions
The questions visitors ask about Kenya's biggest park, answered with the current Kenya Wildlife Service figures.
Do I have to pay twice for Tsavo East and Tsavo West?
Yes, unless you buy a combination ticket. They are separately gazetted parks with separate tickets at $80 each for a non-resident adult. The combination of Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli costs $215, against $250 bought individually. Tsavo West plus Amboseli is $150. Almost no other site explains this, and it is the single most useful fee fact for a two-park trip.
Can I get there by train?
Yes, and it is excellent value, but only one train a day works. The 08:00 Inter-County service stops at Mtito Andei and Voi; the 15:00 and 22:00 Express trains stop at Voi only, and the afternoon one arrives after the gates close. Mombasa to Voi costs KSh 440 in economy. You cannot bring a vehicle, so arrange a lodge transfer: several lodges include Voi station pickups in their packages.
Which park should I choose?
Tsavo East if you want space, red elephants and easy driving on flat murram tracks, and if you are coming from the coast. Tsavo West if you want dramatic scenery, Mzima Springs, lava fields and Kilimanjaro views, and if you have a 4x4. Most people with three or more nights do both, using Voi as the hinge.
Do I need a 4x4?
In Tsavo East, not necessarily: the main circuits are graded murram and a high-clearance 2WD copes in the dry season. In Tsavo West a 4x4 is effectively essential because of the volcanic terrain and lava rock. Bear in mind Kenya Wildlife Service charges KSh 10,500 to pull you out.
Can I pay at the gate?
Kenya Wildlife Service directs visitors to prepay online through KWSPay, using M-Pesa, a Visa card or bank transfer, and issues an e-ticket. Whether gates still accept cash is not stated anywhere on their site, so prepay and avoid the question.
Is Tsavo good for a day trip from the coast?
Tsavo East works well. Bachuma gate is 110 kilometres from Mombasa, about ninety minutes, and Voi gate is 156 kilometres. From Malindi or Watamu the Sala gate is closer but the last stretch is rough. It is a long day, and staying a night inside will show you far more, but it is a real option.
When should I come?
Late June to October, peaking in September and October when the bush thins and the game piles onto the remaining water. January and February are a hot, dry second window. Avoid April, the wettest month, unless the half-price lodge rates outweigh the thick bush for you.