5 Day Tsavo East/Tsavo West/Amboseli

PARKS TO VISIT:

1.Tsavo East National Park

Quick check

ACCESS:

Can be accessed by well-carpeted roads from Nairobi, Mombasa, or Malindi.

Most common gates: Voi Gate, Manyani Gate, Buchuma Gate.

Distance from Nairobi: ~330 km (Approx. 6 hrs drive)

Distance from Mombasa: ~160 km (Approx. 3 hrs drive)

Fly-in options available to several airstrips (Voi, Aruba, Satao, etc.).

WEATHER:

Hotter and drier compared to other parks because it lies in a semi-arid region.

Dry season (June – October & January – February): Hot, dry, dustier; great for wildlife sightings around water points.

Wet season (November – December & March – May): Light to heavy rains; vegetation becomes thicker in April–May.

WILDLIFE:

Animals: Red elephants (famous for red dust), lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, impala, gerenuk, lesser kudu, waterbuck, dik-dik, hartebeest, zebra.
Birds: Somali ostrich, African finfoot, Golden-breasted starling, Taita falcon, Martial eagle.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

All year round

Best wildlife viewing from June to October and January to February during the dry season — animals gather at the Galana River and waterholes.

April and May rains may make some areas difficult to access.

2. Tsavo West National Park

Quick check

ACCESS:

Easily accessible by road from Nairobi or Mombasa via the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.

Distance from Nairobi: ~250 km (Approx. 5 hrs drive)

Distance from Mombasa: ~200 km (Approx. 4 hrs drive)

Fly-in access to many airstrips including Kamboyo, Kilaguni, and Ziwani.

WEATHER:

Warmer temperatures with more varied landscapes (springs, lava flows, hills).

Dry season (June – October & January – February): Pleasant for game viewing, clear skies.

Wet season (November – December & March – May): Rains can make some routes slippery; lush vegetation.

WILDLIFE:

Animals: Leopard (especially around Kilaguni), lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino (in Ngulia Sanctuary), hippo, crocodile, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, giraffe.
Birds: Verreaux’s eagle, Somali bee-eater, Fischer’s starling, Eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Narina trogon.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

All year round

Dry months (June to October) offer the best wildlife viewing.

Wet months (April–May) may affect road conditions but the scenery is beautiful and green.

3. Amboseli National Park

Quick check

ACCESS:

Accessible by good road network from Nairobi via Email/Sultan Hamud route.

Distance from Nairobi: 215 km (Approx. 4 hrs drive)

Fly-in access available via the Amboseli Airstrip.

WEATHER:

Hot and dry most of the year but cool mornings and evenings due to altitude and open plains.

Dry season (June – October & January – February): Clear views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, superb wildlife sightings.

Wet season (November – December & March – May): Short and long rains bring greener landscapes; may affect some tracks.

WILDLIFE:

Animals: Large elephant herds (famous tuskers), zebra, wildebeest, hyena, cheetah, lion, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, serval cat.
Birds: Grey crowned crane, African fish eagle, Lesser flamingo (seasonal), White-backed vulture, Goliath heron.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

All year round

Best from June to October for guaranteed wildlife sightings and clear Kilimanjaro views.

March–May rains may create muddy conditions.