Tsavo Camping Trip
Two nights under canvas in Kenya's biggest wilderness — red elephants, Mzima Springs and a campfire under an unpolluted sky.
Tsavo is where you go when you want space. East and West together cover 22,000 square kilometres, and outside the main circuits you can drive for an hour without seeing another vehicle.
We camp rather than lodge, because Tsavo at night is the point — no light pollution, hyena calling somewhere out in the dark, and the Milky Way from horizon to horizon.
Between the campfires: Tsavo's famously red elephants, the underwater hippo chamber at Mzima Springs, and Lugard Falls where the Galana is forced through carved white rock.
Trip highlights
- Two nights camping inside the parks
- Tsavo's red elephants
- Mzima Springs underwater hippo viewing
- Lugard Falls on the Galana River
- Yatta Plateau — the world's longest lava flow
- Campfire dinners and unpolluted night skies
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Day 1
Nairobi to Tsavo East
Depart Nairobi at 6:00am on the Mombasa road, entering Tsavo East around midday. We game drive to camp along the Galana, stopping at Lugard Falls. Tents are pitched by the crew; dinner around the fire.
- 2
Day 2
Tsavo East to Tsavo West
A sunrise drive along the river, then we cross to Tsavo West through the Chyulu gate. The afternoon is spent at Mzima Springs, where the underwater chamber lets you watch hippo and barbel below the surface. Second night's camp in Tsavo West.
- 3
Day 3
Morning drive and return
A last game drive through the lava flows and Rhino Valley, breakfast at camp, then the road back to Nairobi with a lunch stop, arriving evening.
What’s included
- Return transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle
- All park entry fees for both parks
- Camping equipment — tents, mattresses, chairs
- Full board: all meals prepared by our camp cook
- Camp crew and driver-guide
- Drinking water
Not included
- Sleeping bag (hire available at KSh 800)
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Accommodation
Public campsites inside Tsavo East and West. Dome tents with mattresses provided, shared basic ablution blocks, meals cooked fresh at camp.
What to bring
- A sleeping bag or hire one from us
- A head torch — campsites are unlit
- Warm layers for the evening
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Dust-tolerant clothing in neutral colours
- A refillable water bottle
Upcoming departures
30 October – 1 November 2026
14 of 22 spaces left
Ksh 19,500
BookDeparture pattern: Monthly · Long weekends · Private groups on request. Private dates available on request for any group size.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with sense. Campsites are established KWS sites, our crew keeps a fire going and food secured, and you stay inside the camp area after dark. Wildlife passing through at night is normal and is part of the experience.
Basic. Public campsites have simple ablution blocks with cold water. If that is not for you, we can quote the same itinerary staying in lodges instead.
Tsavo is one of the hotter parks — daytime temperatures often reach the mid-thirties. Nights are pleasant. We game drive early and late and rest through the middle of the day.
