Tsavo East & West
Four days across Kenya's two greatest wildernesses — Tsavo East's red-dust elephants and vast open plains, then Tsavo West's Mzima Springs, lava flows and Kilimanjaro views.
4 days · 3 nights · Best Jun – Oct & Jan – Mar
About this experience
Together, Tsavo East and Tsavo West make up the largest protected area in Kenya — over 40,000 square kilometres of raw, cinematic bush that most itineraries skip. Tsavo East is classic Africa: open red-earth plains where the famous dust-red elephants roam and the Galana River draws big herds. Tsavo West is greener and more dramatic — the crystal-clear Mzima Springs where hippos and crocodiles laze underwater, the Shetani lava flows, and Kilimanjaro on the southern horizon. It's an easy 4x4 hop from either Nairobi or the coast, which makes it the ideal wild add-on to a Diani or Mombasa beach stay.
Best for
- Off-the-circuit wilderness
- Bush-and-beach add-on
- Red elephants & big landscapes
Trip features
- Private vehicleYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- Starts any dayPick your own date, 7+ days ahead
- Can be tailoredChange lodges, add days or parks
- Children welcomeAges 3–12 at half price
- Pickup in NairobiAirport or your hotel
- English · SwahiliGuide languages
Signature experiences
Optional extras we can add to this trip. Prices are per person and confirmed when you book.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
Chilled drinks on a ridge as the sun drops and the sky turns — a quiet, golden end to a day of game drives.
On foot with an armed ranger — tracks, plants, birds and the small details a vehicle drives straight past.
Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.
Day by day
What each day looks like, from pickup in Nairobi to drop-off.
Morning pickup and the scenic drive south-east to Tsavo East, arriving for lunch. Afternoon game drive across the open plains toward the Aruba area — the red elephants dusting themselves are the signature sight, alongside lion, buffalo, giraffe and vast herds of zebra. Dinner and overnight at a safari lodge inside or bordering the park.
Ashnil Aruba Lodge (or similar) · Full-board
A morning drive along the Galana River — hippo, crocodile and the palm-lined banks — then transfer across to Tsavo West. The landscape shifts to green hills and volcanic rock. Afternoon visit to Mzima Springs, where an underwater viewing chamber lets you watch hippos and fish beneath the surface. Overnight at a Tsavo West lodge.
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge (or similar) · Full-board
A full day exploring Tsavo West — the Shetani lava flows, the Chaimu crater, and game drives with a chance of the elusive leopard and the park's black rhino in the Ngulia sanctuary. On a clear morning Kilimanjaro floats on the horizon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge (or similar) · Full-board
A final morning game drive, then transfer out — north-west back to Nairobi, or south-east down to Mombasa and the Diani beaches to continue your trip. We arrange the onward connection either way.
Where you'll stay
Lodges we book on this trip. If one is full on your dates, we'll offer a comparable property before you pay anything.
What's included
Included
- 3 nights full-board accommodation
- All Tsavo East & West park entry fees
- Private 4x4 · experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- Mzima Springs visit
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- 24/7 WhatsApp support
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA (USD 30 government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional experiences (see below)
- Drinks, tips & personal expenses
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you. Pickup is confirmed the day before you set off.
Drag to pan · pinch or buttons to zoom
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 Tsavo EastDay 1 · National park & reserve
- 03 Tsavo WestDay 2 · National park & reserve
- 04 NairobiDay 4 · City
Good to know
Bookara started running trips in 2026, so there are no guest reviews on this trip yet. Ask us anything on WhatsApp before you book; you'll talk to one of the two founders.
A 30% deposit holds your dates, and the balance is due 45 days before you travel (book closer than that and you pay in full). Cancel 90+ days before departure for a full refund, 60–89 days before for 50% back. Full terms.
Common questions
Can I do this from the beach instead of Nairobi?+
Yes — Tsavo sits right between Nairobi and the coast, so we run it in both directions. If you're staying in Diani or Mombasa, we pick you up there, do the safari, and drop you back at the beach (or on to Nairobi). Choose the 'From the coast' option.
What's the difference between Tsavo East and Tsavo West?+
East is big, open and red — endless plains and the famous dust-red elephants. West is greener and more scenic — Mzima Springs, lava flows, rhino in the Ngulia sanctuary, and Kilimanjaro views. Doing both gives you two very different sides of the same wilderness.
Is it good for a first safari?+
It's excellent value and far less crowded than the Mara, with strong elephant, lion and buffalo sightings. Leopard and rhino are possible but shyer here. If seeing the Great Migration is your priority, pair it with a Mara leg — otherwise Tsavo is a wonderful, wild first safari.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Run from Nairobi
We plan and run your trip ourselves, with driver-guides we know, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Taxes and park fees are in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Full refund up to 90 days before departure; a 30% deposit holds your dates.
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