Map of Kenya › Tsavo
Tsavo on the Map: East and West Parks, the Gates, and the Airstrips Between Them
Tsavo is actually two separate parks sharing a single name, divided by the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and rail line. Combined, they stretch across roughly 22,800 km², the largest protected area in Kenya and bigger than several countries put together. This Tsavo map lays out both boundaries, the gates strung along the A109, the airstrips, and why settling ‘East or West’ is the first thing to sort out before you plan a trip here.
Interactive map of Tsavo East and Tsavo West
On the map, the large green outlines mark Tsavo East on the right and Tsavo West on the left, with the A109 highway running through the gap between them. Chyulu Hills sits at the northwestern edge of that gap. Airstrips are marked with blue pins, while the gate towns of Voi and Mtito Andei are shown with dark pins.
The interactive map could not load on this connection.
You can still use the guide and tables below, or open the area on Google Maps.
East or West: Two Different Kinds of Safari
Tsavo East is textbook red-earth savannah: wide open views, the Galana River cutting through it, large elephant herds stained rust-orange from dust baths, and the flat-topped Yatta Plateau, among the longest lava flows anywhere on earth. Tsavo West is a greener, hillier, volcanic landscape where wildlife is harder to spot but the terrain itself does more of the work: Mzima Springs, which sends millions of litres of clear water to the surface every day (an underwater hide lets you watch the hippos), the Shetani lava field, and a fenced rhino sanctuary at Ngulia.
| Tsavo East | Tsavo West | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 13,747 km² | 9,065 km² |
| Landscape | Flat, open and red | Hilly, green and volcanic |
| Signature sight | Rust-red elephants along the Galana | Mzima Springs and the Shetani lava flow |
| Game spotting | Easier, wide sightlines | Tougher, dense bush |
| Main gates | Voi, Manyani, Bachuma, Sala | Mtito Andei, Tsavo Gate, Chyulu |
Reaching Tsavo: Gates and Roads
Every main entrance sits directly on the A109 highway, which makes Tsavo the most accessible of Kenya’s large parks from the coast. Driving from Mombasa, Bachuma Gate on the Tsavo East side is roughly 100 km away; Voi, where the park headquarters is based, is about 160 km. Coming from Nairobi, Mtito Andei, the principal gate for Tsavo West, is around 230 km, and Voi around 330 km. The SGR railway also calls at both Voi and Mtito Andei, and a number of lodges will pick guests up from the station, a real option for travelers watching their budget.
If you are arriving from Amboseli, the Chyulu gate track links across to Tsavo West in around four hours; the Amboseli map covers that side, and the Map of Kenya shows how it all fits together.
Best Time to Visit Tsavo
The driest stretch runs from June through October, when animals cluster around rivers and waterholes and are easiest to find. January and February are good options too. During the rains (November to December, and March to May), Tsavo East’s red dust turns green almost overnight; wildlife spreads out and sightings become less predictable, but the light is often beautiful and the roads are quiet, a fair trade for photographers who don’t need a guaranteed sighting.
Tsavo map questions
How large is Tsavo overall?
Add Tsavo East’s 13,747 km2 to Tsavo West’s 9,065 km2 and you get about 22,800 km2 total, close to 4 percent of Kenya’s land area and easily the country’s largest protected area.
What sets Tsavo East apart from Tsavo West?
Tsavo East offers open red savannah where wildlife is generally easier to see; Tsavo West is greener, volcanic terrain with more dramatic scenery, plus Mzima Springs and a rhino sanctuary. Note that they operate as two distinct parks, each requiring its own entry ticket.
How far is Tsavo from Mombasa?
From Mombasa, Bachuma Gate at Tsavo East is around 100 km away, about a two-hour drive. Because it’s so close, Tsavo is the go-to safari extension for travelers already based on the coast.
Where is Mzima Springs?
It’s located in Tsavo West, on the Mtito Andei side of the park. Roughly 200 million litres of water, filtered through the Chyulu Hills, rise to the surface here each day, and an underwater viewing chamber lets you see the hippos and crocodiles below the waterline.
Fit Tsavo Into Your Itinerary
Starting on the beach and heading inland, or the other way round? Tsavo is the natural link between the coast and the rest of Kenya, and SafariPure runs the route both ways. Get in touch and we’ll tell you which side suits your plans.
Book a Tour With UsPark and reserve boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under ODbL. Basemap © OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite imagery © Esri. Terrain tiles by Mapzen and AWS Open Data. Boundaries for Chyulu Hills National Park from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2026), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK. Available at protectedplanet.net.
