Getting to Tsavo at a glance
The Madaraka Express is the standard gauge railway between Nairobi Terminus and Mombasa Terminus, and it passes between Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Voi is the station for Tsavo East. Mtito Andei is the station for Tsavo West. The A109 road from Nairobi to Mombasa follows the same corridor, so road and rail both separate the two parks.
A station is not a park gate. From either station you still need a road transfer to the gate and then to your lodge or campsite, so arrange it in advance. If you start on the coast, our guide to Tsavo safari day trips from Mombasa compares the options. Train times and fares below are for 2026. Check the current timetable before you travel.
Nairobi to Mombasa train: timetable and stops
Local time in Kenya. Three services run daily: morning, afternoon and night.
| Train | Departs terminus | Voi | Mtito Andei | Arrives at terminus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Mombasa, Inter-County | 08:00 | 12:02 | 10:50 | 14:00 |
| Mombasa to Nairobi, Inter-County | 08:00 | 09:49 | 11:18 | 14:10 |
| Nairobi to Mombasa, Express | 15:00 | 18:48 | – | 20:30 |
| Mombasa to Nairobi, Express | 15:00 | 16:38 | – | 20:18 |
| Nairobi to Mombasa, Night | 22:00 | 02:05 next day | – | 03:55 next day |
| Mombasa to Nairobi, Night | 22:00 | 23:45 | – | 03:55 next day |
All three services stop at Voi. Only the Inter-County train stops at Mtito Andei. Its other stops are Mariakani, Miasenyi, Kibwezi, Emali and Athi River. A dash means the train does not stop there.
On the morning train the running times are: Nairobi to Voi 4 h 02 min, Nairobi to Mtito Andei 2 h 50 min, Mombasa to Voi 1 h 49 min and Mombasa to Mtito Andei 3 h 18 min. The full morning run takes 6 h from Nairobi and 6 h 10 min from Mombasa. These are timetable figures, not a promise of punctuality. For most visitors, the morning Inter-County train is the most practical choice: it is the only one that serves both stations, and it arrives in daylight.
Mombasa Terminus, the round station building, is the coastal end of the line. For the coast side of the journey, see the Madaraka Express guide for the Kenyan coast.
Our pick: the train to Voi
This trip takes the train from Nairobi to Voi and hands you to a guide for Tsavo East, which fits the rail route into the park.
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.
Tsavo safaris and day trips
Game drives in Tsavo East and Tsavo West, from day trips to multi-day safaris, with live prices and availability.
SGR train fares to Voi and Mtito Andei
Adult fares for a single journey in 2026.
| Route | Economy | First Class |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Voi | KES 1,050 | KES 3,200 |
| Nairobi to Mtito Andei | KES 740 | KES 2,240 |
| Mombasa to Voi | KES 440 | KES 1,320 |
| Mombasa to Mtito Andei | KES 750 | KES 2,280 |
| Voi to Mtito Andei | KES 320 | KES 960 |
| Nairobi to Mombasa | KES 1,500 | KES 4,500 |
Children aged 3 to 11 pay half the adult fare when travelling with an adult, and younger children travel free. For a child who is exactly 3, confirm the fare when you book. Seat availability changes, so check your date before you plan around a train.
How to book
Book on the Kenya Railways online ticket site, or dial *639# on a Safaricom line. Pay with M-Pesa, and your seat is reserved only after full payment. Do not plan on paying by card.
Parking at a station
Station parking costs KES 200 per night, and you should tell station security beforehand. Ask about parking at Voi and Mtito Andei before you leave a car there.
By road: gates and distances
Road distances from Mombasa and Nairobi to the gates, not to lodges.
Tsavo East gates
The gates are Bachuma, Voi, Manyani and Sala. From Mombasa the road distance is 110 km to Bachuma Gate, 156 km to Voi Gate and 191 km to Manyani Gate. Sala Gate is reached on the C103 from the Malindi side.
Tsavo West gates
The gates are Mtito Andei, Chyulu (the link from the Amboseli side), Tsavo River, Lake Jipe, Maktau and Ziwani. Mtito Andei Gate is 250 km from Mombasa and about 233 to 240 km from Nairobi, depending on the measuring point.
Rules on the road
The speed limit in the parks is 40 km/h and driving off the existing tracks is not allowed in either park. Gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00 unless you stay overnight, and an overnight stay does not allow free night driving.
Paying the park fee
Pay through KWS eCitizen and do not count on a card or cash option at every gate. Non-resident adults pay $80 per park for 24 hours (2026), and you should not assume that one ticket covers both parks.
Tsavo park fees →Flying and getting into Kenya
Tsavo East has airstrips at Voi and Ithumba. Tsavo West has several, among them Kilaguni. An airstrip does not mean a scheduled airline serves it, so confirm any flight before you build a plan on it.
Entry rules for 2026 in brief: many visitors need an eTA, the electronic travel authorisation, before arrival, and exemptions depend on nationality and status. Since October 2026, most visitors staying under 12 months also need Kenyan health insurance, arranged through the eTA and eCitizen process. Foreign insurance does not replace it. Kenyan citizens and residents, East African Community citizens and transit passengers who do not enter Kenya are exempt. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for arrivals from yellow fever endemic countries, and not for every direct flight from Europe. Rules change, so check them before you book.
Once you land, Voi and Mtito Andei explains the two gateway towns, and where to stay covers lodges and campsites by location.
Plan the rest of your trip
From the station to the park.
Getting to Tsavo: frequently asked questions
Does the Madaraka Express stop at Voi?
Yes. Voi appears on the Inter-County, Express and Night services, so you can reach it at any of the three departure times.
Which train goes to Mtito Andei?
Only the Inter-County train. It leaves Nairobi at 08:00 and reaches Mtito Andei at 10:50, and the Mombasa departure at 08:00 reaches it at 11:18.
How much is the train to Voi?
An adult single from Nairobi costs KES 1,050 in Economy and KES 3,200 in First Class. From Mombasa it is KES 440 and KES 1,320 (2026).
Is the station next to the park gate?
No. A station is not a gate, and Voi and Mtito Andei stations are in towns. Arrange the road transfer to the gate and your lodge in advance.
Can I do Tsavo as a day trip from Mombasa?
Gate distances from Mombasa are 110 to 191 km one way, and gates close at 18:00, so a day trip needs careful timing. It does not allow a full visit of both parks. See the page on safari from Mombasa.
Is this the official site of Kenya Railways or the KWS?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of Kenya Railways, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) or Taita-Taveta County, and it is not connected to any safari operator or lodge.