Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary at a glance
The Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a private sanctuary, founded in 1970, on the Mwatate to Taveta road. It covers about 28,000 acres. It is not part of Tsavo East or Tsavo West, and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Tsavo ticket does not cover it. The sanctuary sets its own entry fees and its own rules.
The name also causes confusion. The Taita Hills are a mountain region, and the sanctuary lies in the lowland below. This page covers the sanctuary first and then the hills. It is built for visitors who plan a Tsavo trip and want to add a private sanctuary, or who are comparing it with the national parks. For the parks themselves, start with Tsavo East and Tsavo West.
Our picks: safaris to the Taita Hills sanctuary
The two-day trip with the fees for Tsavo East and the Taita Hills in the price is the easiest to plan. On the three-day route, ask about park fees, and the four-day route adds Tsavo West and Mzima Springs with all fees included.
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 Taita Hills safari
- 4x4 safari vehicle
- Two nights, full board
- Hotel transfer
The route covers Tsavo East, Ngutuni and the Taita Hills sanctuary. Ask whether park fees are included before you book.
Check availability →
2-day Tsavo East and Taita Hills safari
- Tsavo East and Taita Hills fees
- Full board, one night
- Pop-up roof vehicle
Game drives in Tsavo East and in the private Taita Hills sanctuary, with both sets of fees in the price. A night drive and the Maasai village stop are extra.
Check availability →Taita Hills and Tsavo safaris
Safaris and day trips around the Taita Hills, Tsavo East and Tsavo West, with live prices and availability.
Taita Hills: the sanctuary and the hills are two places
Know which one a tour or a map means.
The private sanctuary
This is a private wildlife area in the lowland on the Mwatate to Taveta road, run by its own operator. You pay the sanctuary fee at its gate, not the KWS fee.
The Taita Hills region
The hills rise above the lowland. Wundanyi is about 40 km from Voi, and Vuria Peak rises to 2,208 m. Hiking there is a different trip from a game drive. Ask locally about trails, fees and guide requirements before you plan a hike.
The base town
Voi is a regional gateway town in Taita-Taveta County, and it is also the station for the Madaraka Express. Read the Voi and Mtito Andei guide for the town and its role as a gateway.
Sanctuary entry fees
Adults and children aged 5 to 11, as of 2026. Fees apply from age 5.
| Category | Adult | Child 5–11 |
|---|---|---|
| East African resident | KES 600 | KES 300 |
| Non-resident | $40 | $20 |
A vehicle also pays per night. A vehicle with 4 to 12 seats pays $5, 13 to 24 seats $10, 25 to 44 seats $15 and 45 seats or more $20. An overnight or full-board price does not include the sanctuary entry. The sanctuary uses its own child ages and not the KWS ones. For most foreign visitors who add the sanctuary to a Tsavo trip, budget the sanctuary fee on top of the national park fees, and check the current rate at the gate.
Birds and wildlife in the sanctuary
More than 300 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary. That is a figure for this private area and not for Tsavo East or West as a whole. For the larger animals of the national parks, such as the red elephants of Tsavo East, see the Tsavo animals guide.
As everywhere in Tsavo, good chances are not a promise. Distances, off-road rules and feeding bans apply in the national parks, and the sanctuary sets its own rules at its gate.
Getting to the Taita Hills
By train to Voi and then by road.
By train to Voi
The Madaraka Express Inter-County train from Mombasa leaves at 08:00 and reaches Voi at 09:49, which is 1 hour 49 minutes. From Nairobi it leaves at 08:00 and arrives at 12:02, which is 4 hours 2 minutes. The Express and night trains also stop at Voi. A one-way adult ticket from Mombasa to Voi costs KES 440 in economy and KES 1,320 in first class. From Nairobi to Voi it costs KES 1,050 and KES 3,200. Check the current timetable before you go.
Madaraka Express and roads →The station is not the gate
The station in Voi is not the sanctuary gate and not a Tsavo East gate. Plan the road transfer from Voi. Visitors starting at the coast can read about the Madaraka Express from Mombasa.
By road from Mombasa
Road distances from Mombasa to the Tsavo East gates are: Bachuma Gate 110 km, Voi Gate 156 km and Manyani Gate 191 km. These are distances to national park gates and not to the sanctuary. See safari from Mombasa for day trips and overnight options.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary: frequently asked questions
Is the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary part of Tsavo?
No. It is a private sanctuary with its own entry fees, and a KWS Tsavo ticket does not cover it.
How much is the entry to the sanctuary?
As of 2026, a non-resident adult pays $40 and a child aged 5 to 11 pays $20. East African residents pay KES 600 for an adult and KES 300 for a child. Vehicles pay per night.
What are the gate hours?
The gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00.
What is the difference between the sanctuary and the Taita Hills?
The sanctuary is a private lowland wildlife area. The Taita Hills are a mountain region with Wundanyi and Vuria Peak, which rises to 2,208 m.
How do I get there by train?
Take the Madaraka Express to Voi. The Inter-County train from Mombasa reaches Voi at 09:49 and the one from Nairobi at 12:02. Then arrange the road transfer.
Is this the official site of the sanctuary or of Tsavo?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the sanctuary, by the KWS or by any safari operator.