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Tsavo National Park
This is the largest national park in Kenya covering about 21,000 Km square, it is in fact one of the largest parks in the world.. it is divided into two by the Mombasa – Nairobi highway, to Tsavo East and Tsavo west National Parks.
The Tsavo National Park is Kenya’s largest wildlife stronghold and it comprises a diversity of habitats including; open plains alternating with savannah bush and semi-desert scrub, acacia woodland, rocky ridges and outcrops, and more extensive ranges and isolated hills, belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets, and on the Chyulu Hills extension area, mountain forest. A section of Lake Jipe is included in the extreme south-west of the Park, an extremely rich bird locality where Pygmy Geese and Black Heron are common.
The Park is watered by two permanent rivers, the Tsavo River which flows through Tsavo West and the Athi River which crosses a corner of Tsavo East. The two unite above Lugard's falls to become the Galana River which flows all the way to Malindi and become the river Sabaki emptying it's waters in the Indian ocean. The Voi River, to the south of Tsavo East is a seasonal river.
Lava flows and cones, such as Shetani, near Kilaguni Lodge in Tsavo West, is a perfect example of a recent volcano. This volcanic zone also contains the famous Mzima Springs - a natural underground water system bubbling thousands of litres of water everyday proving a source of water for the Coast Province of Kenya. Hippopotamus and shoals of Barbel live in the springs and provide a dramatic spectacle The water is so clear that every action of these huge aquatic beasts under the water, and of their attendant piscine scavengers, may be watched from the lookouts or through the plate-glass windows of the submerged observation chamber.
The Mudanda Rock between Voi and Manyani is a 112km-long outcrop which supplies a natural dam at it’s base. In the dry season, hundreds of elephants come to drink and bathe. From a safe vantage point just above the water visitors may have the luck to sit and watch the activities of great beasts below them. A similar elephant spectacle may also be observed at Aruba Dam. Tsavo is also a good place to see one of our most beautiful antelopes, the Lesser Kudu with spiral horns and white striped coat. Whilst you may come across these graceful animals almost anywhere, the dry bush along the Galana River is their favourite haunt. Other animals likely to be encountered are Buffalo, Common Waterbuck, Eland, Gerenuk, Fringe-eared Oryx, Impala and Masai Giraffe. Black Rhinoceros, once numerous, are now less frequently seen. Birdlife is legion in the Park and the visitor is constantly meeting with new species. One of the most conspicuous is the White-headed Buffalo Weaver, brownish-black and white with a startling vivid red rump when it flies.
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