National Reserves in Makueni
Tsavo East National Park: Theatre of the Wild
Tsavo East, separated from Tsavo West by A109 Mombasa-Nairobi Road, is the larger of the two parks at 14,000 km2, and the largest National Park in Kenya. It is part of the Tsavo Conservation Area, together with Tsavo West National Park and Chyulu Hills National Park, forming one of the biggest protected wildlife areas in the world. Famed for its size and dais for big game, christened ‘theatre of the wild’, Tsavo East has larger elephant herds and its landscape wilder than in Tsavo West.
Tsavo East National Park is patrolled by over 60 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, and an assortment of flora. The Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) are present, though rhinos are rare. Other iconic game includes giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. The park is also guarded over by the imperial lava marches of the long-drawn Yatta Plateau, Kenya’s longest lava flow. A wondrous park, where the unending bushland is only transmuted by conical hillocks, it spans four counties – Kitui, Taita Taveta, Tana River, with only a small portion in Makueni.
Approximately 6,369 km2 of Tsavo East National Park sits in Kitui, but granting all this vast coverage of Kitui County there are no direct benefits, just thousands of square kilometres of bushland. In a bid to open up the low-key and untravelled northern area of Tsavo East Park, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service established Ithumba Elephant Nursery, Ithumba Camp and Ithumba Hill Camp. The Ithumba Conservation Area is located about 93 km from the junction to Kibwezi. The two popular entry points to Tsavo East National Park are Manyani Gate and Voi Gate and on a lesser extent Bachuma Park Gate.
Lugard Falls (rapids on the Galana River) are major attractions as is the Mudanda Rock Viewpoint. Aruba Dam, a man-made reservoir in the southern area of the park is popular for game viewing. While it is open year round, with the possibility of seeing varied wildlife on any instance, the best season to visit, for game drives, is in the dry season, June–October and January–February. There is a good range of lodges and camps, in both variety and specialty, to include but not limited to Voi Safari Lodge (scenic views), Ashnil Aruba Lodge (near Aruba Dam) and the Satao Camp (exclusive tented camp). All enjoy the open plains and dramatic scenery.
Kenya certainly has enormous touring resources. There are no less than sixty national narks, reserves and game sanctuaries, covering approximately 11% of the land surface. Each of these diverse and stunning national parks and reserves offers unique wildlife experiences and unique, breathtaking landscapes.
Index of National Parks & Reserves in Kenya
Baringo County - Lake Baringo National Reserve, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kerio Valley National Reserve, Lake Kamnarok National Reserve, Bomet County - The South Western Mau National Reserve, Busia County - Malaba Sanctuary, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Rimoi National Reserve, Embu County - Mount Kenya National Park; Irangi Forest Station, Mwea National Reserve, Garissa County - Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Rahole National Reserve, Arawale National Reserve, Boni National Reserve, Homa Bay County - Ruma National Park, Isiolo County - The Bisanadi National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, Kajiado County - Amboseli National Park, Kakamega County - Kakamega National Reserve, Kilifi County - Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi Marine Reserve, Kisumu County - Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Ndere Island National Park, Kitui County - Mwingi National Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve, Kwale County - Shimba Hills National Reserve, Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park & Reserve, Lamu County - Dodori National Reserve, Kiunga Marine National Reserve, Machakos County - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Makueni County - Chyulu Hills National Park, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Mandera County - Malka Mari National Park, Marsabit County - Losai National Reserve, South Island National Park, Marsabit National Park & Reserve, Sibiloi National Park, Meru County - Meru National Park, Mombasa County - Mombasa Marine National Reserve & Park, Nairobi County - The Nairobi National Park, Nakuru County - Mount Longonot National Park, Crescent Island Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nandi County - Bonjoge National Reserve, Narok County - Masai Mara National Reserve, Nyeri County - The Aberdare National Park, Samburu County - Samburu National Reserve, Maralal National Reserve, Siaya County - Lake Kanyaboli Reserve, Tana River County - Kora National Park, The Tana Primate National Reserve, Taita Taveta County - Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tharaka Nithi County - Mutejwa National Reserve, Trans Nzoia County - Mount Elgon National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Turkana County - Central Island Reserve, South Turkana Reserve, West Pokot County - Nasolot National Reserve
outlook
Flanked by the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa Road on its eastern flank, Makueni County is part of the Lower Eastern Kenya region. Major towns like Mtito Andei and Emali serve as trade hubs along the A109, the former being the traditional halfway stop and rest. Other towns enroute are; Sultan Hamud and Kibwezi. Home to Akamba people, it is so commonly referred to Ukambani – alongside Kitui and Machakos.
You Are Here: Tsavo East National Park
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations Nearby Tsavo East National Park
A Guide to Makueni County
A Summa Digest of Makueni
About Makueni Way Back When
50 Destinations in Makueni County, arranged as one would visit these - north, east, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mbooni Hills, Konza Technopolis, Kilima Kiu Manor, Mulima Dam, ACK Resort Salama, Makongo View Point, Katithini, Wote Green Public Park, Thwake Dam, R. Kaiti Bridge, Kampi ya Mawe, Kusyombunguo Hotel, Nzueni Hill, Nzaui Heritage Trail, Nzaui Rock, Mii Project, Makueni Cultural Center, AIC Kalamba, Kalamba Fruit Factory, Virgin Mary Rock, Emali Hills, Emali Trig, Ka Kindui Falls, Dare Devil's Rock, Kyanzizi Falls, Ilovoto Falls, Kyale Catholic Church, The Kenze Gorges, Kilungu Hills, Hunter's Lodge, Makindu Handicrafts, Makindu Sikh Temple, Mbiu Nzau Hills, Kambua Resort, Kivungoni Springs, Kibwezi Forest, Umani Springs, Chyulu Hills National Park, Kisula Caves, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Yatta Plateau, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Kilalinda Conservancy, Tsavo Safari Camp, P. Cameron Camp, Patterson's Safari Camp
Know More About Makueni County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Makueni County’s terrain is generally low-lying, falling to 600 ms near Tsavo at the southern region. That is to also say, land rises from low-lying terrain of about 600 meters above sea level in the southern Tsavo area to higher elevations in the hills. Prominent ranges include the volcanic Chyulu Hills in the south-west, Mbooni Hills and Kilungu Hills.
Climate about Makueni varies based on altitude – with the north being cooler – 20oC to 24oC, while the south, more so during the dryer months, between May and October, experience generous heat.
