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TSAVO NATIONALPARK
With 21,000 square kilometres, this park divided into two units- Tsavo East and Tsavo West- is one of the world’s large wildlife sanctuaries. Altitudes range from 300 metres in the Eastern section to 1,800 metres in the highest peaks of the Ngulia Hills. The most important river area is the Athi/Tsavo/Galana complex while the Mzima Springs is the interesting and remarkable source of fifty millions of gallons of crystal clear wate. Here there is an underwater observation chamber built so that the huge herbivore, the hippo, can be viewed as it moves through the water, surrounded by fish and crocodile, completely undisturbed. Practically all of Kenya’s wildlife is  represented in the two Tsavos, but the dominant park animal is the elephant. Lion and cheetah are frequently seen and the park is famous for its historical lions who developed man eating habits during the construction of the railroad at the end of the last century. The lesser Kudu is also common.Birdlife is legion in the park and new species are often met with. Sunbirds, hornbills, parrots, weavers, starlings, bustards and birds of prey are present in great numbers among the many species. Tsavo EastTsavo East National Park covers an area of about 12,000 km2, 40% of Kenya's parks' total area.
This vast park lies in low semi arid country at the eastern edge of the inland plateau, north of the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and railway. Much of the park is level, open country with scattered rocky ridges and outcrops. Due to its size, the park is one of the world's wildlife and biodiversity strongholds.
The Yatta plateau, a long, flat topped lava ridge, runs along the western boundary of the park. Beneath it flows the Athi river which joins the Tsavo river, just above the Lugard falls, to become the Galana river, a permanent river that cuts right across the park. The seasonal Tiva and Voi rivers are important features of the Northern and Southern sectors respectively. There are scattered seasonal pools, swamps and dams, but relatively few sources of permanent water.
One of the great spectacles of the park is the Mudanda rock between Voi and Manyani. This 1 1/2 km long outcrop is a water catchment area which supplies a natural dam at its base. In the dry season, hundreds of elephants come to drink and bathe here.
Tsavo West
Tsavo West national park covers 9000 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from the Athi river, North of the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern boundary along the Athi adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour.
The park's habitats include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest. There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava flows and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volacano.
In the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains.
At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.
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