3-Day Tsavo East Safari: Red Elephants & Saltlick Lodge

Parks, game drives, and nights in the bush: Aruba Dam's waterhole, then the salt lick where animals gather at dusk

A 3-day safari from Diani Beach that moves through Tsavo East National Park and into Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, with game drives at Aruba Dam and from Saltlick Lodge, full board accommodation at two lodges, and a live English-speaking guide. Pickup from your hotel and park entry are included. You choose between a safari van or a four-wheel-drive Jeep at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Tsavo East and game drives

• Pick up from hotel at 6:30 am
• Drive to Buchuma gate, Tsavo East
• Begin game drive at Aruba Dam
• See elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras
• Drive to lodge and check in
• Have lunch at lodge
• Rest for 2 hours
• Afternoon game drive until sunset
• Return to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2: Tsavo East to Taita Hills sanctuary

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Tsavo East
• Depart for Taita Hills at 9:30 am
• Arrive at Saltlick Lodge and check in
• Have lunch and relax
• Evening game drive until sunset
• Return to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 3: Morning game drive and return

• Morning game drive in Taita Hills until 8:00 am
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Depart sanctuary and travel back
• Arrive and drop off at hotel around 2:00 pm

The experience

The drive from Diani Beach to Tsavo East takes the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and arrives at Buchuma gate around 10 a.m., where your first game drive begins. You'll visit Aruba Dam, a waterhole built by the British Army in 1952 where elephants, lions, buffalo and zebras come to drink, then continue searching for wildlife until 1:30 p.m. After lunch and a rest at your lodge, you head out again for an afternoon and evening drive, watching for lions, ostriches, giraffes and gazelles until sunset.

On day two you start before dawn with an early game drive in Tsavo East, then leave the park around 9:30 a.m. for Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. You arrive at Saltlick Lodge by 1 p.m., have lunch, and after a four-hour rest, go out for an evening game drive until sunset. The lodge sits on a salt lick where animals gather to feed, giving you views from the property itself as well as from the vehicle. Day three begins with a final morning game drive in Taita Hills until 8 a.m., then breakfast and the drive back to Diani Beach, arriving around 2 p.m.

Full board means all meals at the lodges are included, along with water during the game drives. You can add a night game drive, extra drinks, or a Maasai village visit at checkout if either appeals to you. The choice between a safari van and a four-wheel-drive Jeep affects how many travelers share the vehicle and how the ride handles the park roads.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Diani Beach.
• park entrance fees for both Tsavo East and Taita Hills.
• three game drives (morning and afternoon on day one, morning on day two, evening on day two, morning on day three).
• full board accommodation at two lodges.
• water during game drives.
• a live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

By safari vanGuide in English · 06:30Pickup is included with the safari minivan

By safari Jeep(landcruiser4x4)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup is included with the safari in a Land Cruiser 4x4

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 06:30

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 40

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bushdwellers Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?The 3-day length lets you move through two distinct parks and see how the landscape and wildlife change between them, rather than staying in one place. If you have only two days, you'd skip Taita Hills. If you have four or more, you could add more time in either park or visit a third destination.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals am I likely to see on a Tsavo East game drive?

Tsavo East is known for its red elephants (colored by the iron-rich soil), along with lions, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and gazelles. Aruba Dam, where you stop on day one, is a waterhole where many animals gather, especially in the dry season.

How early do I need to be ready for pickup on day one?

Your driver picks you up from your hotel at 6:30 a.m., so you'll need to be ready by then. The drive to Buchuma gate takes about three and a half hours.

What's included in the full board accommodation?

Full board covers all meals at the lodges (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus water during the game drives. Tips, alcohol and any optional activities like a night game drive or Maasai village tour are separate.

Can I choose between a van and a Jeep, and does it matter?

Yes, you pick either a safari van or a four-wheel-drive Jeep at checkout. The Jeep is smaller and more maneuverable on rough park roads, while the van typically carries more passengers and offers different sightlines from the vehicle.

Where do I stay on each night of the safari?

Night one is at Voi Wildlife Lodge or Ngutuni Lodge in Tsavo East. Night two is at Saltlick Lodge in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Both are full board, so meals are provided at each location.