While Kenya is vast and well-known for the Maasai Mara region, there is another area in the country that boasts only the best of the African savannahs and diverse wildlife.
Tsavo is a massive wilderness area located in Kenya’s southwest. Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks divide Tsavo, making it the biggest national park in Kenya. It spreads across 22,000 km2, or 13,671 miles, making it one of the largest game sanctuaries in the world.
One of the least populated game areas in Kenya is Tsavo. It is an ideal place to visit for quiet game viewing away from the tourist crowd and to enjoy the safari experience without any disturbance.
Tsavo National Park forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to a wide variety of wild animals. These include the Big Five, crocodiles, and waterbucks, as well as 500 recorded species of birds. But the abundant population of red elephants, which people can frequently sight, is one of the most significant highlights of the park.
A red elephant and its cub at Tsavo
Just like any other park, Tsavo holds exceptional accommodation options, ranging from camps to lodges. These are situated in the Tsavo wilderness area and allow constant views of animals in their natural habitats, along with sweeping vistas of the park.
Here are the top 6 hotels to consider while travelling to Tsavo:
Ashnil Aruba Lodge
Known for its premier location, Ashnil Aruba Lodge nestles in the heart of Tsavo East National Park. It is a couple of hours away from the coast of Mombasa and a 5-hour drive from Nairobi. The lodge lies on the banks of the Aruba Dam.
Ashnil Aruba has 46 rooms and 6 tents, offering the most comfortable accommodations categorised into Deluxe twin, deluxe double, and deluxe triple rooms. Traditional African décor inspires each unit and furnishes it with en-suite facilities.
The guest rooms at Ashnil Aruba Lodge
The lodge’s lounge bar features modern décor while also having an African touch, which makes it a relaxing place to spend time. At the lounge, guests can enjoy a variety of drinks while overlooking the park. For an incredible dining experience, the lodge has an open-seating restaurant that overlooks the dam. The restaurant serves set buffets, including traditional African, international, and oriental cuisine.
For guests, the lodge arranges activities such as guided walks with experts, lectures on wildlife conservation, game drives, sunset cocktails, and more.
Man Eaters Lodge
Offering the best views of Tsavo, Man-Eaters Lodge is set in Tsavo West National Park. The lodge’s unique name comes from two infamous man-eating lions who terrorised and killed many workers during the Mombasa-Kampala railway construction at the end of the 19th century.
Man Eaters Lodge is a unique lodge that has 31 fully furnished en-suite tents that face the Tsavo River and offer direct views from one’s private accommodation. All tents have modern amenities, remain spacious, and feature locally built furniture that blends seamlessly with the surroundings.
The swimming pool at Man Eaters Lodge
Moreover, the tents also have private balconies where guests can relax and spot the various animals that frequent the river, such as elephants, gazelles, crocodiles, and more.
The Man-Eaters lounge is rustically decorated and also displays vintage items from bygone eras. The Tsavo River restaurant offers fine dining at its best. Set in a natural ambiance, guests can savour Nouvelle’s continental cuisine. By the rock pool, guests can enjoy the luxury of the camp through the Simba Mbili bar. The bar offers a great viewing point to spot animals while serving delicious drinks.
Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Salt Lick Safari Lodge is a luxurious lodge, set in the middle of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary that overlooks a waterhole along with the beautiful Tsavo plains. It is famed for being one of the most photographed lodges in the world due to its unique design.
The lodge has spacious and well-appointed rooms and suites, all elevated on stilts. This allows guests to appreciate the amazing views of the wildlife from the comfort of their rooms. The luxuriously built and fully equipped bungalows overlook the waterhole and offer a panoramic view of the vast plains of Tsavo.
The unique Salt Lick Safari Lodge at night
The Bura restaurant at the lodge looks out over beautiful vistas of the surrounding area and has live cooking counters. Guests can enjoy specialty dishes as well as cuisines such as Pan African, Pan Asian, and Pan European.
Some of the famous activities of the lodge are game viewing, night game drives, walking safaris, traditional dance and music performances, and a reforestation program.
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, located in Tsavo East National Park, is a tranquil and hushed refuge set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Stunning beauty and exciting adventures surround the camp, along with modern comfort. It is a classic stone volcano lodge that offers deep green landscape views of the Chyulu Hills.
The spacious accommodations at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge feature 56 guestrooms, including five suites that overlook the waterhole or the hills. The units are beautifully appointed, decked with natural stone walls, and have locally inspired furnishings and artwork.
Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge provides an impressive dining experience through its beautifully decorated central dining room and alfresco rock-built bar. The lodge serves a wide range of international and local cuisines as well as typical safari-style meals.
Guests can embark on various activities such as daily game drives, visits to Mzima Springs, bush BBQ dinners, bush breakfasts, hikes, and much more.
Satao Tented Camp
Situated in a setting that overlooks a waterhole in the middle of Tsavo East National Park, this camp is a true oasis that attracts thousands of animals.
The camp offers ample tented accommodation, which further complements first-class hospitality. The 20 authentic safari-style en-suite tents are accompanied by private verandas and boast a beautiful African design. Luscious trees nestle the tents, and they encircle the camp’s watering hole. The builders strategically built the tents to allow constant views of the waterhole and wildlife.
A safari style room at Satao Tented Camp
Satao Tented Camp prepares a range of tasty dishes and caters to every guest’s preference. While lunch is served al fresco under a 200-year-old tamarind tree, dinner takes place at the camp’s restaurant.
Along with game drives and sundowners, the camp takes guests to nearby attractions such as Mudanda Rock and Lugard Falls.
Voi Wildlife Lodge
Set right in the middle of elephant country, Voi Wildlife Lodge is situated in the savannah grasslands of Tsavo East. The lodge is adjacent to a watering hole that attracts various animals and birds, making it easier to spot wildlife. The lodge is ideally placed near the coast for travellers wanting to combine a safari experience with a beach holiday.
The Baobab and Acacia wings divide 178 beautiful, locally decorated, and fully furnished rooms at Voi Wildlife Lodge. Each unit offers stunning views of Tsavo East National Park and the Tsavo Plains.
Guests enjoying at Voi Wildlife Lodge
The Tembo restaurant of the lodge is constructed using local ‘makuti’ thatch and provides a unique dining experience with views of the East Tsavo plains in sight. Other facilities provided by the lodge include an outdoor pool, two bars, a spa, a gym, and activities like badminton, volleyball, and billiards.
So, whether you prefer tents, lodges, or bungalows, keep these hotels in mind the next time you travel to Tsavo for the ultimate safari experience.
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