Tsavo East National Park at a glance
Tsavo East was founded in April 1948 and covers about 13,747 km². The landscape is open, semi-arid plains with acacia bush. The A109 road and the railway between Nairobi and Mombasa separate it from Tsavo West. Below you find safari tours first, then the main sights, the gates, the fees and the rules.
Tsavo East is a separate park from Tsavo West. Each has its own gates and its own daily fee, and a fee for one does not cover the other. If you are still choosing, read Tsavo East or Tsavo West. Prices below are as listed for 2026.
Our picks: Tsavo East safaris
The early-access day safari already has the park fee in the price and suits you if you only have one day on the coast. The two-day jeep safari adds a night in the park area, and the three-day route adds the Ngutuni sanctuary.
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.
3-day Tsavo East sanctuary safari
- Park entries included
- Full board, two nights
- Pop-up roof safari van
The route covers Tsavo East and the Ngutuni sanctuary, and the park entries are in the price. It starts early from the coast.
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2-day Tsavo East jeep safari with options
- Pop-up roof Land Cruiser
- Driver-guide
- Pickup and return
The Tsavo East park fee is only in the price with the entry option, and the night and meals only with the accommodation option, so check which option you book.
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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 East safaris and tours
Game drives, day trips and overnight safaris to Tsavo East, with live prices and availability.
What to see in Tsavo East
The main places and features of the park. Ask at the gate whether a road, viewpoint or water level suits your day.
Galana River
The Galana River is one of the main landscape features of Tsavo East. Rivers and dams draw animals in dry country, so riverside tracks are a natural place to slow down and scan the banks.
Mudanda Rock
Mudanda Rock is one of the park's main sights. A long red rock face rises above a water pool at its foot, which makes it a place to watch for animals from a distance. Get out of your vehicle only in designated areas.
Aruba Dam game viewing point
The Aruba Dam is a game viewing point. Bring binoculars and plan a longer stop rather than a quick photo, because animals come and go on their own schedule.
Lugard Falls
Lugard Falls, also written Lugard's Falls, is a sight in the park. Ask at the gate which paths and viewpoints are open on your day.
Yatta Plateau
The Yatta Plateau is said to be the longest lava flow in the world. Treat it as part of the landscape you drive through rather than as a single stop.
Red elephants and other wildlife in Tsavo East
The red elephants of Tsavo East owe their colour to dust. They coat themselves in dry earth from iron-rich soil, and the red does not mark a separate kind of elephant. The 2025 wildlife census counted 17,266 elephants in the Tsavo ecosystem as a whole, from an aerial count in 2024 and 2025. That number is not a count for Tsavo East alone, and it does not tell you how many you will see on one drive.
Lions are part of the picture too. Male lions in Tsavo East are known for being maneless, though you should not expect every lion to lack a mane. A full-day drive gives you good chances of a sighting, but nothing is guaranteed. The wildlife page has the counts for rhinos and other animals.
Gates and getting to Tsavo East
The gates are Bachuma, Voi and Manyani, and Sala from the Malindi side.
| Gate | Road distance from Mombasa | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bachuma Gate | 110 km | The nearest of the three gates from Mombasa |
| Voi Gate | 156 km | Voi town has the Madaraka Express stop |
| Manyani Gate | 191 km | The farthest of the three from Mombasa |
| Sala Gate | – | Reached by the C103 road from the Malindi direction |
These distances are to the gate, not to a lodge or a sight inside the park. For trains, Voi is a stop on all Madaraka Express services, but the station is not a park entrance, so you still need a road transfer. See getting there, Voi and safari from Mombasa. If you want to add the beach to a safari, the coast guide covers the combination.
Fees and rules in Tsavo East
Daily fees per adult and per child or qualified student, as listed for 2026.
| Visitor group | Adult per day | Child or student per day |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident | $80 | $40 |
| African citizen outside the East African Community | $40 | $20 |
| Kenya resident | KES 1,350 | KES 675 |
| East African citizen, including Kenya | KES 1,000 | KES 500 |
A daily fee covers one entry for up to 24 hours, so leaving and coming back means paying again. A vehicle with fewer than 6 seats pays KES 600 per day on top. Residents need a valid Kenyan residence status, and a tourist visa or eTA does not count. Pay through KWS eCitizen where you can. Children aged 5 and younger are exempt and the child rate starts at 5, so check the rate for a child of exactly 5 when you pay.
- Gates: open 06:00 to 18:00 for day visits.
- Speed: 40 km/h maximum.
- Animals: stay at least 20 m away and never feed them.
- Roads: stay on existing roads; driving off-road is not allowed.
- Plastic: single-use plastic is banned in the parks.
- Camping: Ndololo is a public campsite, and there are special campsites in the north and south.
See park fees for vehicles, rangers and other charges and where to stay for camping.
Go on from Tsavo East
The other park and the plans around it.
Tsavo East: frequently asked questions
How big is Tsavo East National Park?
About 13,747 km². Together with Tsavo West, which covers about 9,065 km², the two parks add up to roughly 22,800 km². The park is large, so plan one area per day rather than a dash across it.
Where can I see the red elephants?
Red elephants are a feature of Tsavo East, and the colour comes from dust. Water points such as Mudanda Rock and the Aruba Dam game viewing point are natural places to watch, but no sighting is guaranteed. See the wildlife page.
What does it cost to enter Tsavo East?
In 2026, adult non-residents pay $80 per day and children $40. Kenya residents pay KES 1,350 for adults and KES 675 for children, and East African citizens pay KES 1,000 and KES 500. The fee is for up to 24 hours and does not cover Tsavo West.
Which gate is closest to Mombasa?
Bachuma Gate, at 110 km by road. Voi Gate is 156 km away and Manyani Gate 191 km. All three are distances to the gate, not to any lodge.
Can I do Tsavo East as a day trip from Mombasa?
It can be done, but the drive to the gate alone is 110 km each way, and gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00. Plan an early start and a short loop. An overnight stay gives you more time. See safari from Mombasa.