from $570 (seasonal)
The three-day Tsavo East & Taita Safari takes you from Diani Beach or Mombasa to Kenya’s largest national park and one of Africa’s most spectacular safari lodges. See the famous red elephants of Tsavo East – around 12,000 to 15,000 elephants that bathe in iron-rich laterite soil, giving them their reddish colour – and stay at the unique Salt Lick Lodge, built on stilts above an illuminated waterhole.
Highlights of this safari:
- Red elephants in Tsavo East – spectacular colouring due to laterite soil, large herds of 50–100 animals
- Salt Lick Lodge – Wildlife viewing from rooms on stilts above an illuminated waterhole
- Galana River – Tsavo’s lifeline with hippos, crocodiles, large herds of elephants and buffalo
- Tsavo lions – Male lions often mane-less, world-famous thanks to the “Man-Eaters of Tsavo” (1898)
- Kilimanjaro view – Spectacular views from the Taita Hills of snow-capped peaks in Tanzania
- Short journey – Only 2.5-3 hours from Diani Beach, ideal for beach holiday guests
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights | Start/End: Diani Beach or Mombasa | Best time to travel: All year round, ideal January-March & July-October
Overview
The three-day Tsavo & Taita Safari is the perfect coastal safari from Diani Beach or Mombasa in Kenya’s largest national park. Tsavo East covers 13,747 square kilometres and is famous for its red elephants – around 12,000 to 15,000 elephants bathe in iron-rich laterite soil, giving them a spectacular reddish colour.
Large herds of 50 to 100 animals can often be seen along the Galana River. The park is less visited than the Masai Mara, allowing for authentic, undisturbed safari experiences. Salt Lick Lodge in the Taita Hills is architecturally unique: all 96 rooms are built on stilts above an illuminated waterhole.
At night, elephants, buffalo, and occasionally leopards come to drink – 24-hour wildlife viewing right from your bed. The Taita Hills are located at an altitude of 900 to 1,300 meters with dramatic views stretching as far as snow-capped Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Tsavo lions often have no mane – an adaptation to the hot climate.
This safari is ideal for beach vacationers who want to experience authentic wilderness without a long journey to Nairobi. Short journey: only approx. 3 hours hours from Diani Beach to Tsavo East.
