2-Day Tsavo East Safari: Red Elephants & Big Five

Red elephants are real, and Tsavo East is where you find them.

A 2-day private safari tour of Tsavo East National Park departing from Mombasa, Diani, or Nairobi, with two game drives, overnight lodge stay overlooking a waterhole, and all meals included. You travel in a customized 4x4 or van with a pop-up roof, spot the park's famous red elephants along with lions, cheetahs and the Big Five, and return to your hotel the following afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and afternoon game drive

• Early morning pickup from hotel
• Travel to Tsavo East National Park
• Check into lodge and have lunch
• Afternoon game drive to see wildlife
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive and departure

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive
• Depart park and drive back to hotel

The experience

Pickup happens early, around 6 a.m. from your accommodation, and the drive from the coast takes 2.5 to 5 hours depending on your starting point. You travel in a customized safari van or 4x4 with a pop-up roof built for game viewing, arriving at a park gate like Bachuma by mid-morning. After lunch at your lodge, you head straight into an afternoon game drive, your first chance to see the red elephants Tsavo is known for, along with lions, cheetahs, giraffes, buffalo and hundreds of bird species.

The overnight stay is at a lodge overlooking a waterhole: the kind of vantage point where you watch animals come and go without leaving your seat. Dinner is included. Day two starts before dawn with an early breakfast and a final game drive, timed to catch nocturnal animals heading back to their dens and predators still on the hunt. After the drive, you begin the return journey to your hotel, arriving in the afternoon.

All transportation by road is included, along with park entrance fees and all meals. A live guide speaks English, Italian, French or German depending on the option you choose. You pick between a jeep or van at checkout. Both are customized for wildlife viewing, so the choice comes down to group size and personal preference.

What’s included

• Early morning pickup from your accommodation in Mombasa, Diani, or Nairobi.
• transportation in a customized 4x4 or safari van with pop-up roof.
• park entrance fee.
• overnight lodge stay overlooking a waterhole.
• all meals including dinner and breakfast.
• two full game drives (afternoon on day one, early morning on day two).
• live guide in your choice of English, Italian, French, or German.

Options for this experience

2 options

Van OptionGuide in 4 languages · 06:00Van; pickup is included

Jeep optionGuide in 4 languages · 06:00Jeep option including 1 night of accommodation and all meals; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by black santa safaris

Is this one for you?Book the jeep option if you're traveling as a couple or small group and want a more nimble vehicle for navigating the park's terrain. Choose the van if you're a larger group or prefer more space and comfort during the long drives to and from the coast.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the red elephants of Tsavo East?

Tsavo East's elephants appear reddish because they dust themselves in the park's red volcanic soil, which also protects their skin from the sun and insects. The color is temporary but distinctive, and spotting them is one of the main reasons travelers choose this park.

How early does the morning pickup actually happen?

Pickup is usually around 6 a.m. from your accommodation in Mombasa, Diani, or Nairobi. The early start is deliberate. It gets you to the park by mid-morning and positions you for the afternoon game drive before settling in at the lodge.

What's included in the overnight stay?

Your lodge stay includes dinner overlooking a waterhole and breakfast the next morning. All meals throughout the 2 days are included, along with lunch on arrival day.

Can I choose between a jeep and a van?

Yes, you select either a jeep or van option at checkout. Both are customized safari vehicles with pop-up roofs for optimal wildlife viewing. The choice depends on group size and your preference.

How long is the drive back to the coast or Nairobi on day two?

The return journey takes the same 2.5 to 5 hours depending on whether you're heading back to Mombasa, Diani, or Nairobi. You depart after the morning game drive and arrive in the afternoon.