Voi and Mtito Andei at a glance
Most visitors who arrive by train or by road along the A109 meet Tsavo in one of two towns. Voi, in Taita-Taveta County, is the regional access point for Tsavo East. Mtito Andei has a railway station and a park gate of the same name, and it is the entry point for Tsavo West. Both towns appear on the Madaraka Express timetable.
The towns are the base for the last stretch of your journey, not the attraction itself. A station is not a park gate, so from either town you still travel by road to the gate and on to your lodge or campsite. If you want a game drive arranged from the start, look at our Tsavo safari tours. Otherwise this page covers what you need to plan it yourself.
Voi: gateway to Tsavo East
Voi is the largest town in Taita-Taveta County. The 2019 census counted 53,353 people in the town area, and about 59,400 are projected for 2025. The wider Voi sub-county is larger at 111,831 residents and covers more than the town, so the figures should not be mixed.
For visitors, Voi matters for three reasons. It has a station that all three daily train services serve, so you can arrive in the morning, afternoon or at night. It is the town after which Voi Gate of Tsavo East is named, one of four gates in the park alongside Bachuma, Manyani and Sala. And it is a base for exploring the area: Wundanyi in the Taita Hills lies about 40 km from Voi, and the hills are covered on the Taita Hills page.
Tsavo East also has airstrips at Voi and Ithumba. An airstrip does not mean a scheduled flight serves it, so confirm any flight before you plan around it. For the park itself, see Tsavo East.
Our pick: a Tsavo East trip that starts in Voi
You reach Voi by train from Nairobi and a guide takes over there for the game drives in Tsavo East.
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.
Mtito Andei: gateway to Tsavo West
Mtito Andei is a town with a railway station and a park gate of the same name. The standard gauge railway is a convenient way to reach it for Tsavo West. Only the Inter-County train stops here: from Nairobi at 10:50 after the 08:00 departure, and from Mombasa at 11:18.
The station and the gate are two different places, so plan the road transfer between them. The gate is about 233 to 240 km from Nairobi, depending on the measuring point, and 250 km from Mombasa. Tsavo West holds attractions such as Mzima Springs and the Shetani lava flow. Other Tsavo West gates are Chyulu, Tsavo River, Lake Jipe, Maktau and Ziwani.
Voi and Mtito Andei compared
Two towns, two parks, one railway line.
| Voi | Mtito Andei | |
|---|---|---|
| Park | Tsavo East | Tsavo West |
| Gate | Voi Gate | Mtito Andei Gate |
| Road distance of the gate from Mombasa | 156 km | 250 km |
| Road distance of the gate from Nairobi | – | 233 to 240 km |
| Trains that stop | Inter-County, Express and Night | Inter-County only |
| Morning train from Nairobi | Arrives 12:02 | Arrives 10:50 |
| Morning train from Mombasa | Arrives 09:49 | Arrives 11:18 |
| Adult fare from Mombasa, Economy | KES 440 | KES 750 |
For most visitors who come from the coast, Voi is the easier choice: the train takes 1 h 49 min and any of the three services stops there. Choose Mtito Andei if you come from Nairobi and your plans centre on Tsavo West. Fares are adult single fares for 2026.
Planning the last stretch
What to arrange before you reach the station.
The transfer to the gate
Transfer times and costs between a station and a gate depend on the arrangement you make. Ask your lodge or tour operator to arrange it in advance, and plan to arrive at the gate between 06:00 and 18:00.
Car hire and luggage
Check car hire pick-up and luggage storage in advance rather than on arrival, since neither can be taken for granted at a small station.
Park fees
Non-resident adults pay $80 per park for 24 hours (2026), and children and qualifying students pay $40. Tsavo East and Tsavo West each need their own fee, so do not assume that one ticket covers both. Pay through KWS eCitizen.
Tsavo park fees →Timetable and booking
The full timetable, adult fares and the booking steps are on the Madaraka Express page. Rail seats are reserved only after full payment.
Madaraka Express to Tsavo →Plan the rest of your trip
From the gateway towns to the parks.
Tsavo East
Open plains, Mudanda Rock, the Aruba Dam and Lugard Falls.
Tsavo West
Hills, lava flows, springs and the rhino sanctuary.
Madaraka Express to Tsavo
Timetable, fares, gates and entry rules.
Where to stay
Lodges and campsites by location.
If your trip continues to the coast, Mombasa has its own guide.
Voi and Mtito Andei: frequently asked questions
Which town is the gateway to Tsavo East?
Voi. The town in Taita-Taveta County has a station and Voi Gate. Other Tsavo East gates are Bachuma, Manyani and Sala.
Which town is the gateway to Tsavo West?
Mtito Andei, which has a station and a park gate of the same name. Tsavo West has five other gates: Chyulu, Tsavo River, Lake Jipe, Maktau and Ziwani.
Does every train stop in Voi and Mtito Andei?
All three daily services stop at Voi. Only the Inter-County train stops at Mtito Andei.
Is the train station inside the park?
No. A station is not a park gate. You need a road transfer from the station to the gate and then to your lodge or campsite.
How many people live in Voi?
The 2019 census counted 53,353 in the town area, with about 59,400 projected for 2025. The sub-county figure of 111,831 covers a larger area than the town.
Is this the official site of Voi, the KWS or Kenya Railways?
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 safari operators or lodges.