Tsavo National Park at a glance
Tsavo National Park is the common name for two separate national parks in southeast Kenya: Tsavo East and Tsavo West. They lie in Taita-Taveta County on either side of the A109 road and the railway between Nairobi and Mombasa. Tsavo East, founded in April 1948, covers about 13,747 km² of open, semi-arid plains and acacia bush. Tsavo West covers about 9,065 km² and is hillier and volcanic. Together the two parks add up to roughly 22,800 km².
This guide covers the differences between the parks, safaris and safaris from Mombasa, the man-eaters of Tsavo, park fees, Mzima Springs, the Taita Hills, Lake Chala and Lake Jipe, red elephants and other wildlife, the Madaraka Express, Voi and Mtito Andei, where to stay and the weather. Park fees for non-residents are in US dollars, fees for Kenyan residents and citizens and train fares are in Kenyan shillings (KES), as listed for 2026. They can change.
A few things to know before you go
Short facts that save time at the gate and at the station.
Entry fees since October 2025
Adult non-residents pay $80 per park per day and children $40. East African citizens pay KES 1,000 (children KES 500) and Kenya residents KES 1,350 (children KES 675). A daily fee covers one entry for up to 24 hours.
Park fees →Two parks, two daily fees
Tsavo East and Tsavo West each charge their own fee. For non-residents there are packages with Amboseli: Tsavo West and Amboseli for $150 (children $80), Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli for $215 (children $115). Read the terms of a package before you buy.
East or West →The train stops at Voi and Mtito Andei
Voi is a stop for the morning Inter-County train, the afternoon Express and the night train. Mtito Andei is a stop for the Inter-County train. A station is not a park gate, so plan a road transfer to the park.
Madaraka Express →An expanded rhino sanctuary in Tsavo West
KWS announced the official opening of the expanded rhino sanctuary in Tsavo West in September 2026. Ask at the gate or at your lodge which roads you can use.
Tsavo West →Entry rules for Kenya
Most visitors need an eTA before they travel. Most short-stay visitors also need Kenya's mandatory health insurance, and foreign travel insurance does not replace it. Government travel advice recommends lodges or guarded campsites and road travel in daylight. Check the rules for your nationality before you book.
Our picks: Tsavo East and West safaris
The four-day route is the one that covers both Tsavo parks, Mzima Springs and the Taita Hills with all park fees in the price. If you prefer a shorter trip from the coast, the overnight safaris with the fee included are the simplest to plan, and the day trip is the cheaper way in, with a long drive.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day Tsavo East and Tsavo West safari with Mzima Springs
- All park fees and taxes
- Three nights, all meals
- Mzima Springs and Taita Hills
A route through Tsavo East and Tsavo West, with Mzima Springs on the way and a day visit to the Taita Hills sanctuary. Everything you pay to enter the parks is in the price.
Check availability →
3-day Tsavo East and Amboseli safari from the coast
- Fees for both parks
- Two nights, full board
- Pop-up roof vehicle
Tsavo East and Amboseli in one trip, starting at your coast hotel instead of in Nairobi. Park fees for both are in the price, and the Maasai village stop is extra.
Check availability →
3-day Tsavo West and Tsavo East safari from Mombasa
- Entry to both parks
- Two nights inside the parks
- 4x4 or safari van
Day one is in Tsavo West, day two in Tsavo East, and day three takes you back to the coast. Mzima Springs and other Tsavo West sights are possible stops, not a fixed part of the programme.
Check availability →Overnight Tsavo East safari from the coast
- Tsavo East entry included
- One night, three meals
- Pop-up roof vehicle
Two days in Tsavo East with one night in the park area, so you are there for both an evening and a morning. The park fee is in the price.
Check availability →
Tsavo East day trip from the coast
- Game drives in Tsavo East
- Hotel transfer
- Lunch and guide
A van trip to Tsavo East with about three hours of driving each way, so the day is long. The park fee is extra.
Check availability →
Tsavo East early-access day safari
- Tsavo East entry included
- Extended game drives
- Pop-up roof vehicle
The park fee is already in the price, and the early start gets you into Tsavo East ahead of the day. Each way is about 3.5 hours by road.
Check availability →Tsavo safaris and day trips
Game drives, overnight safaris and day trips to Tsavo East and Tsavo West, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Tsavo trip
Start with the two parks, then pick the pages you need.
Tsavo East
Plains, Mudanda Rock, Aruba Dam, Lugard Falls and the red elephants.
Tsavo West
Mzima Springs, the Shetani lava flow and the rhino sanctuary.
Tsavo East or Tsavo West
Size, landscape, gates and train access side by side.
Tsavo safari
Day trips and trips of 2 to 3 days, and what the costs are made of.
Safari from Mombasa
Road distances to the gates and the train to Voi.
Man-eaters of Tsavo
The lions of 1898, the railway bridge and the numbers.
Tsavo park fees
Daily fees for each visitor group, vehicles and other charges.
Places, wildlife and practical pages
Springs, hills, lakes, animals, trains and towns.
Mzima Springs
Spring pools in Tsavo West and how to plan a visit.
Taita Hills
A private sanctuary and a mountain region near Voi.
Lake Chala and Lake Jipe
A crater lake and a border lake near the parks.
Tsavo animals
Red elephants, lions, rhinos and what counts say.
Madaraka Express and roads
Train times, fares, gates and airstrips.
Voi and Mtito Andei
The towns where most visits start.
Where to stay
Lodges near the gates, KWS campsites and the Taita Hills sanctuary.
Weather and best time
Dry months, rains and what they mean for a game drive.
Beyond the Tsavo parks
The coast has its own guide.
If you want Mombasa, the beaches and the rest of the coast, see the Kenya coast guide. This site stays with Tsavo East, Tsavo West and the places you reach from them.
More independent guides to Kenya
Separate guides from the same team.
Kenya Coast
Diani Beach, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi and safaris to Tsavo East.
Lamu
The Swahili old town, dhow trips and the islands of the archipelago.
Maasai Mara
Safaris, the Great Migration, balloon flights and park fees.
Amboseli
Elephant herds, Kilimanjaro views, safaris and park fees.
Nairobi National Park
Game drives in the capital, the Giraffe Centre and the elephant orphanage.
Lake Nakuru
Rhinos, flamingos, Rift Valley lakes and day trips from Nairobi.
Samburu
The Special Five, the Ewaso Nyiro River and northern Kenya.
Lake Naivasha
Boat rides with hippos, Crescent Island and Mount Longonot.
Hell's Gate
Cycling, the gorge walk and the Olkaria geothermal spa.
Ol Pejeta
Rhinos, the last northern white rhinos, chimpanzees and Nanyuki.
Mount Kenya
Treks to Point Lenana, the climbing routes and park fees.
Aberdare
Waterfalls, Treetops, mountain forest safaris and Nyeri.
Tsavo National Park: frequently asked questions
Is Tsavo one national park?
No. Tsavo East and Tsavo West are two national parks with separate gates and separate daily fees. The A109 road and the railway run between them. Tsavo East covers about 13,747 km² and Tsavo West about 9,065 km². There is no automatic combined ticket, so budget for one fee per park and day. See park fees.
How much is the entry fee in 2026?
Adult non-residents pay $80 per day and park, children $40. Kenya residents pay KES 1,350 (children KES 675), East African citizens KES 1,000 (children KES 500) and African citizens from outside the East African Community $40 (children $20). A vehicle with fewer than 6 seats pays KES 600 per day on top. Pay through KWS eCitizen where you can, because cash at the gate is not something to count on.
Why are the elephants red?
They coat themselves in dust from iron-rich soil. The colour comes from the ground, not from a separate kind of elephant. Read more on the wildlife page.
Can I see Tsavo East and Tsavo West in one day?
Not in a way that does them justice. Both parks are large, gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00 for day visits, and each park needs its own daily fee. Pick one park for a day trip and read Tsavo East or Tsavo West to choose.
How do I get to Tsavo?
By road, Bachuma Gate is 110 km from Mombasa, Voi Gate 156 km and Manyani Gate 191 km. By Madaraka Express you reach Voi on all trains and Mtito Andei on the Inter-County train, then continue by road. See getting there and safari from Mombasa.
Is tsavo-national-park.org the official website of the parks?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Railways or Taita-Taveta County, and it has no connection to any safari operator or lodge.