Tsavo East National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya

🐘 Red Dust Elephants of Tsavo
🌍 #93 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #41 in Africa #41 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Kenya 1695 spp. recorded

Tsavo East National Park is a protected tropical savanna situated in southeastern Kenya. This vast expanse differs from neighboring reserves through its striking red earth, semi-arid plains, and the winding Galana River, which cuts entirely through the dry bushland.

-2.428° S   39.165° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

40–50% · Likely
Bateleur ★
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

20–30% · Possible
East African Giraffe ★

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

50–60% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

40–50% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

40–50% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

40–50% · Likely
Kenyan Rock Agama
LC

Kenyan Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama lionotus

30–40% · Possible
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

30–40% · Possible
Hartebeest
LC

Hartebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus buselaphus

30–40% · Possible
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

30–40% · Possible
Grant's Gazelle
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

30–40% · Possible
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

40–50% · Likely
East African Giraffe ★

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

40–50% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

30–40% · Possible
Hartebeest
LC

Hartebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus buselaphus

30–40% · Possible
Grant's Gazelle
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

30–40% · Possible
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

30–40% · Possible
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

30–40% · Possible
East African Oryx
EN

East African Oryx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx beisa

30–40% · Possible
Lesser Kudu
NT

Lesser Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus imberbis

30–40% · Possible
Gerenuk

Gerenuk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Litocranius walleri

30–40% · Possible
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

20–30% · Possible
Blue Monkey
LC

Blue Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cercopithecus mitis

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Bateleur ★
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

50–60% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

40–50% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

40–50% · Likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

30–40% · Possible
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

30–40% · Possible
White-browed Coucal
LC

White-browed Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus superciliosus

30–40% · Possible
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

30–40% · Possible
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
LC

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus erythrorhynchus

30–40% · Possible
Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

30–40% · Possible
Parrot-billed Sparrow
LC

Parrot-billed Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer gongonensis

30–40% · Possible
Northern White-crowned Shrike
LC

Northern White-crowned Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eurocephalus ruppelli

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Kenyan Rock Agama
LC

Kenyan Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama lionotus

30–40% · Possible
Rock Monitor
LC

Rock Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus albigularis

20–30% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

10–20% · With luck
Böhme’s Two-horned Chamaeleon

Böhme’s Two-horned Chamaeleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kinyongia boehmei

10–20% · With luck
Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

10–20% · With luck
Speke’s sand lizard
LC

Speke’s sand lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Heliobolus spekii

10–20% · With luck
Sudan Plated Lizard
LC

Sudan Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Broadleysaurus major

10–20% · With luck
White-headed Dwarf Gecko
LC

White-headed Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus mombasicus

10–20% · With luck
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

10–20% · With luck
Rainbow Skink

Rainbow Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis margaritifera

10–20% · With luck
Flap-necked Chameleon
LC

Flap-necked Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo dilepis

10–20% · With luck
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Anchieta's Ridged Frog
LC

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena anchietae

10–20% · With luck
African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

5–10% · With luck
Taita Hills Caecilian

Taita Hills Caecilian

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Boulengerula taitana

5–10% · With luck
Gong Rock Frog
LC Endemic

Gong Rock Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyperolius glandicolor

5–10% · With luck
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
LC

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

5–10% · With luck
Taita Warty Frog

Taita Warty Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Callulina dawida

5–10% · With luck
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

5–10% · With luck
Garman's Toad
LC

Garman's Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys garmani

Insufficient data
Somali Running Frog
LC

Somali Running Frog

Amphibian

Kassina somalica

Insufficient data
Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog
LC

Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis petersii

Insufficient data
Common Squeaker
LC

Common Squeaker

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Arthroleptis stenodactylus

Insufficient data
Schilluk ridged frog
LC

Schilluk ridged frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ptychadena schillukorum

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Great Elephant Gathering at Aruba Dam

FebJun

Hundreds of elephants congregate at the dam to drink, bathe, and socialize, creating a spectacle of dust clouds and trumpeting calls.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Lion Prides on the Open Plains

AprJulAug

Lion prides hunt cooperatively in the vast grasslands, with cubs learning to stalk prey in the golden-hued savanna.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Migratory Raptors Over Lugard Falls

MarDec

Bateleurs and other raptors circle above the falls, hunting for fish and small prey in the riverine ecosystem during migration periods.

Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
African Bush Elephant
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Lion
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
40–50
40–50
Bateleur
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
East African Giraffe
30–40
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Fork-tailed Drongo
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Common Bulbul
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Cape Turtle Dove
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
Plains Zebra
30–40
60–70
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
Kenyan Rock Agama
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
20–30
20–30
10–20
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
Impala
30–40
50–60
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
Yellow Baboon
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
Hartebeest
30–40
50–60
30–40
40–50
10–20
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
10–20
Superb Starling
20–30
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
Grant's Gazelle
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
30–40
20–30
Waterbuck
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
20–30
Animal Events
🦌 Great Elephant Gathering at Aruba Dam
🦌 Lion Prides on the Open Plains
🐦 Migratory Raptors Over Lugard Falls
0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐘 Red Dust Elephants of Tsavo

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
1023
🐒 Mammals
346
🦎 Reptiles
245
🐸 Amphibians
81
1695 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
84 Threatened 9 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
45%
📊
Coverage (368 species at ≥5% of 1695 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 mammal, 4 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
72%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
249
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
33
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
8

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Tsavo East National Park?

The most likely sightings are African Bush Elephant (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Common Bulbul (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers), East African Giraffe (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers) — among 1695 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Tsavo East National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Tsavo East National Park?

Yes — about 59% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 254 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Tsavo East National Park?

Yes — about 44% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 134 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bateleur in Tsavo East National Park?

Yes — about 26% of wildlife watchers report a Bateleur sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 528 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

Yes — about 45% of wildlife watchers report a East African Giraffe sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 143 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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