Tsavo’s Red Earth Plains
5 days · From $1690 per person · Easy pace · 2-8 guests
Overview
Tsavo is Kenya’s largest protected area, split into East and West by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, together covering more than 21,000 km2 of country. Tsavo East is flat, open, and red-earthed, the elephant herds here famously dust-bathed the colour of the soil itself; Tsavo West rises into volcanic Chyulu foothills, holds the Mzima Springs underwater viewing chamber, and the black lava fields around Shetani. We split the stay between one lodge in each half rather than a single fixed base, because the two sides genuinely look and feel like different countries, and five unhurried days is enough to properly sit with both.
Highlights
- Tsavo’s famous ‘red elephants’, dust-bathed in the park’s iron-rich soil
- Mzima Springs underwater viewing chamber for hippo and crocodile
- The Shetani lava field, a roughly 200-year-old flow you can walk onto
- Two genuinely different ecosystems, red open plains and volcanic hill country
- One of Kenya’s least crowded major parks relative to its size
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo East
Road transfer via the Mombasa highway (approx. 4-5 hrs). Afternoon game drive on the red plains, evening at a lodge near the Galana River.
Day 2: Full day, Tsavo East
Extended drive covering the Aruba Dam area and the Galana riverbank, prime elephant and lion ground.
Day 3: Cross to Tsavo West
Transfer across the highway corridor. Afternoon stop at Mzima Springs, evening at a lodge in Tsavo West.
Day 4: Full day, Tsavo West
Morning at the Shetani lava flow, afternoon game drive through the Chyulu foothills and the Ngulia rhino sanctuary area.
Day 5: Departure
Final morning drive, breakfast at the lodge, transfer back to Nairobi or onward to the coast.
What’s Included
- 4 nights across both lodges, full board
- All game drives with a driver-guide
- Tsavo East and West National Park entry fees
- Transfer between park sections
What’s Not Included
- Flights to/from Kenya
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Drinks beyond each lodge’s included house selection
- Gratuities for guide and lodge staff
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this combine with a coast extension?
Yes, Tsavo sits directly on the Nairobi-Mombasa corridor, so a beach add-on at the end is a common extension. Ask when booking and we’ll adjust the final day’s transfer.
Why split time between East and West instead of picking one?
They genuinely look and feel different, red plains against volcanic hill country, and both are large enough to earn their own days. Seeing only one would mean missing half of what makes Tsavo worth the trip.
Interested in the Tsavo’s Red Earth Plains? Get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.