3-day Tsavo East & Saltlick safari from Mombasa

Two nights watching elephants gather at the waterhole from your lodge

A 3-day safari from Mombasa into Tsavo East National Park and the Taita Hills, with game drives, full board accommodation and park entry included. Day one covers the 2.5-hour drive to Tsavo East, where you search for lion, elephant, giraffe and buffalo before an evening game drive. Day two moves to Saltlick Lodge, a 4-star property built around a waterhole that draws wildlife at dusk, especially elephants. Day three includes an early morning game drive before the 3-hour return to Mombasa with lunch included. Your guide speaks English and handles all transport from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tsavo East Safari from Mombasa

• Depart beach hotel at 07:30
• Drive 2h30 to Tsavo East National Park
• Enter park via Bachuma Gate
• Search for animals: lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hyena
• Have lunch
• Watch a game match
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 2: Tsavo East and Saltlick Lodge Safari

• Early morning game drive before breakfast
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Depart for Taita Hills Shrine
• Arrive at lunch time
• Enjoy afternoon safari
• Dinner and overnight at Saltlick Lodge

Day 3: Safari and Return to Mombasa

• Pre-breakfast safari
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Continue animal search: lions, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, monkeys
• Depart to Mombasa
• Lunch at hotel stopover
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

The route starts with a 7:30 departure from your beach hotel for the 2.5-hour drive to Tsavo East National Park. You enter through Bachuma Gate and spend the afternoon on your first game drive searching for lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hyena and other wildlife, then return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. The next morning begins with an early game drive before breakfast, then a one-hour drive to Saltlick Lodge in the Taita Hills. Saltlick is built around a waterhole where animals gather in the evening to drink. A moment the lodge is designed around, with oval-shaped rooms overlooking the trough so you watch from your room as elephants and other wildlife arrive at dusk. Your second night is there, with an afternoon safari before dinner.

The final day starts with a pre-breakfast safari, then breakfast at the lodge before you continue searching for lions, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and monkeys. Departure for Mombasa happens later in the morning, with lunch at a hotel stopover on the 3-hour drive back to your hotel. Park entrance fees, all game drives, full board accommodation and transport are included. Your guide is English-speaking and experienced. One of the guides carries a guitar for music lovers on the drive.

What’s included

• Park entrance fees.
• all game drives across the three days.
• full board accommodation for two nights (one at a 3-star lodge in Tsavo East, one at 4-star Saltlick Lodge).
• transport from your hotel in Mombasa and back.
• lunch on the return day.
• English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (17 to 75 years) · Senior (76 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 1): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African Memorable Safaris LTD

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day version if you want to split time between Tsavo East's open savanna and Saltlick's waterhole experience. The two-night structure fits a long weekend from the coast and keeps both parks inside a single trip without rushing either one.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 1): free.

What animals will I see on the game drives in Tsavo East?

Tsavo East is home to lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hyena, zebras, antelopes and monkeys. The park is known for its large elephant population and predators, though sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day.

What is Saltlick Lodge like, and why is it different from the first night's accommodation?

Saltlick is a 4-star lodge built around a waterhole in the Taita Hills, with oval-shaped rooms overlooking the water point. Animals, especially elephants, gather there in the evening to drink, so you can watch wildlife from your room. The first night is at a 3-star lodge in Tsavo East itself.

How long is the drive from Mombasa to Tsavo East, and what time do we leave?

The drive is 2.5 hours. Hotel pickup is at 7:30 in the morning, and you enter Tsavo East through Bachuma Gate to begin your first game drive.

Is lunch included on the final day when we return to Mombasa?

Yes, lunch is included at a hotel stopover on the 3-hour drive back to Mombasa on day three.

Can I choose different accommodation if the listed lodges don't suit me?

The operator offers different accommodation options and discusses your preferences before you book. Contact them with your interests so they can suggest alternatives to the lodges listed.