The Tsavo East National Park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust –red elephant, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
Experience Tsavo East National Park
In 1898, long before Tsavo National Park was created, a pair of maneless male lions terrorized the area. They reputedly killed 135 railway workers who were building the Kenya-Uganda railway. These man-eating lions dragged men from their tents, despite the thorn fences (bomas) built to keep them out. The maneless lions evaded traps and ambushes and were finally shot by Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson.
The animals of the Tsavo East National Park are numerous, with a variation in habitat giving a good range of animals. The Galana River is home to pods of hippo, and the rare and endangered Hirola antelope, as well as elephants that have a red colouration due to their habit of bathing in the red dust on the ground. The lion here are unusual and interesting, with the males having barely any mane, in contrast to their southern counterparts, who have thick and luxurious manes. The reason behind the baldness of the Tsavo lions is not understood, but is thought to be due to the thornbush which densely covers much of the Tsavo area, causing the lions to loose their manes to prevent them being pulled out by the thorns. The birdlife is incredible here, with over 500 species recorded in the area. These vary from the saddle-billed stork to the violet wood hoopoe, and it doesn’t take very long to rack up a large list of sightings.
